CATYCOI Empowering Youths, Promoting Sustainable Democracy
The Non-Governmental Organisation Catch Them Young Community Initiative (CATYCOI) says it is intensifying efforts to build a society where empowered youths play leading roles in promoting sustainable democracy, community development, and sustainable livelihoods.
The Executive Director of CATYCOI, Mr. Nonso Orakwe, stated this in Awka during a two-day regional Organisational System Strengthening Workshop for representatives of Civil Society Organizations in the South-East Zone, supported by the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund.
Mr. Orakwe explained that the organisation works closely with young people to inspire democratic participation and community development through research, advocacy, policy engagement, and strategic management.
He urged participants to develop genuine passion for social impact rather than focusing solely on potential grants from international organisations. According to him, true development work is driven by commitment, not by expectations of external funding.
The Executive Director encouraged the participants to remain focused and dedicated to serving the public interest despite the challenges that often accompany civic and community-based interventions. He noted that CATYCOI has been actively supporting young people to take leadership roles in local governance within their communities.
According to him, “When youths take ownership of governance at the local level, political office holders will be compelled to perform better, operate within the law, and deliver real benefits to the people.”
The workshop targets beneficiaries of grants from the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund, with the goal of equipping them to implement the programme’s objectives in their respective states.
One of the programme consultants, Mr. James Laman of Abuja, advised participants to ensure that their organisational goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely (SMART) in order to strengthen sustainability and enhance societal impact.
Mr. Laman, a specialist in Organisational Capacity Assessment and Evaluation, noted that the training—organised by CATYCOI—brings together representatives from nine organisations that received funding approval to implement governance-related projects in areas such as health, gender, civic engagement, and disability inclusion, among others.
He emphasized that the overarching aim of the programme is to empower young people to actively participate in governance processes within their communities. He therefore urged the beneficiaries to uphold integrity, continually build their capacity, and leverage knowledge gained from the training to achieve meaningful and lasting results.
