Empowering Young Voices for Transparency: The Impact of CITAD’s “Report a Project” Initiative

In a country where abandoned and poorly executed projects continue to hinder development and service delivery, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) recognized a powerful yet underutilized resource in the fight against corruption, young people. In response, CITAD launched the “Report a Project” initiative, a youth-driven campaign that aims to promote transparency, accountability, and active civic participation among students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The initiative is designed to encourage students to monitor, document, and report abandoned or substandard projects within their communities. By doing so, the project amplifies youth voices in demanding accountability from elected representatives and public institutions at both state and federal levels.
At the core of the initiative is a competition. Students are invited to submit detailed reports, often with photos, videos, and geolocation data, highlighting specific public projects that have either been abandoned or executed below acceptable standards. These reports serve as crucial evidence to draw the attention of government agencies, anti-corruption bodies, and the wider public to issues that often go unnoticed.
Beyond the competition, the initiative has had tangible impact. Several reported projects have drawn the attention of local media, government oversight bodies, and anti-corruption agencies. In some cases, community leaders and project contractors have returned to project sites to resume work after public pressure generated through the campaign. This highlights the power of citizen-led monitoring and the critical role young people can play in governance.
Moreover, the initiative fosters important civic values among Nigerian youth. It equips them with knowledge about their rights, the importance of public accountability, and the tools to effect change within their communities. For many participants, this was their first experience engaging with governance processes and it has inspired a sense of responsibility and activism that extends beyond the competition itself.