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AdvoKC Foundation has secured the formal commitment of Dr. Najeem Salaam, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) gubernatorial candidate for the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election, to the AdvoKC Women and Youth Manifesto, a citizen-authored policy document built from direct consultations with women and young people across the state.
The commitment was secured at a meeting held at Dr. Salaam's residence, where representatives of AdvoKC Foundation formally presented the manifesto on the organisation's behalf, through one of the candidate's aides. The presentation walked through the manifesto's vision and its core policy recommendations, the product of extensive engagement AdvoKC conducted with women, young people, civil society organisations, and other key stakeholders across Osun State.
Discussions at the meeting centred on the need for inclusive governance, greater participation of women and youth in decision-making, and public policy that responds directly to citizens' needs, the same principles that have anchored AdvoKC's advocacy work throughout the Women and Youth Project.
After reviewing the manifesto and engaging AdvoKC's representatives on its objectives, Dr. Salaam expressed his full commitment to the document. He commended AdvoKC for producing a citizen-driven framework that reflects the genuine concerns and expectations of women and young people in Osun State, and pledged to fulfil every provision of the manifesto if elected, including its commitments on gender equality, youth empowerment, inclusive governance, and sustainable development.
"This commitment is a validation of the model AdvoKC has built with this project: that manifestos should not be written in political war rooms, but drawn directly from the priorities of the people they are meant to serve," Zayyad Musa, Project Officer at AdvoKC Foundation said. "Dr. Salaam's endorsement gives the women and young people of Osun State a clear, public benchmark to hold his campaign and, if he is elected, his government accountable to."
AdvoKC Foundation notes that this commitment adds to the organisation's expanding record of non-partisan political engagement, which has previously delivered similar milestones through initiatives such as PromiseTracker.ng and its accountability instruments, including the BAT-O-Meter and the Legislative Agenda Meter. By securing Dr. Salaam's endorsement, AdvoKC continues to demonstrate that sustained, evidence-based advocacy can shape the terms on which political leaders campaign and govern.
The organisation says the commitment also establishes a clear benchmark for post-election accountability, reinforcing AdvoKC's broader position that campaign promises must translate into measurable governance outcomes.
AdvoKC Foundation will continue engaging other gubernatorial candidates and stakeholders across Osun State ahead of the election, advocating for wider adoption of the Women and Youth Manifesto and reinforcing the principle that the voices of women and young people must remain central to governance before, during, and after elections.
