BBYDI trains Kwarans on budget tracking to boost civic engagement

Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), on Thursday, trained Kwarans in budget literacy to strengthen civic engagement and promote accountability in governance.

The capacity-building workshop, according to the organization, sought to empower citizens, especially women, youth, and marginalized groups, to understand, monitor and influence the budget process.

Participants were introduced to the stages of budget formulation, monitoring, and performance tracking, with the goal of fostering an informed citizenry capable of advocating for fair and transparent policies.

Held in Ilorin, the state capital, the programme formed part of BBYDI’s ongoing project, Fostering Inclusive Economic Just Recoveries in Kwara State, Nigeria, which seeks to expand public participation in governance.

Speaking at the event, Nurah Jimoh-Sanni, Executive Director of BBYDI, underscored the importance of budget literacy.“

The budget is a tool that affects our daily lives,” she said. “Whether it’s the education system, healthcare services, or infrastructure development, all are shaped by budget decisions. It is essential that citizens understand how these decisions are made and how they can hold the government accountable.”

The first session, facilitated by Salihu Ayatullahi, Editor-in-Chief of The Informant247, focused on understanding budget processes.

He explained the stages of the budget cycle, from preparation to evaluation, and highlighted how citizens can influence decisions and ensure allocations reflect essential public services.

In the second session, Prof. Abdulateef Alagbonsi, Coordinator of ENetSuD, took participants through Budget Performance Analysis & Evidence-Based Advocacy. He demonstrated how to interpret budget performance reports, identify gaps in implementation, and use data to press for better governance.

A practical session on using citizens’ scorecards, facilitated by Sanni Alausa, offered hands-on training in tracking budget performance and assessing delivery of services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure, using the Kwara State 2025 budget as a case study.

The workshop concluded with group presentations, where participants shared recommendations for improving budget transparency. Peer reviews and feedback helped them refine their analyses and develop action plans for monitoring budget implementation at the community level.

Participants, including representatives of CBOs, CSOs, and local citizens, expressed satisfaction, noting that the training had deepened their understanding of how public funds are planned and spent.

BBYDI said it will continue to support participants in sustaining civic engagement and ensuring accountability in governance.