Apply KASU

and good democracy Center for governance

KASU

Kaduna State University

CDGG

Center for Democracy and Good Governance

Center for Democracy and Good Governance (CDGG)

Advancing democratic ideals, accountable leadership, and inclusive development.

Welcome to the Center for Democracy and Good Governance.

At CDGG, we believe that democratic progress is both a journey and a shared responsibility. From the polling unit to the policymaking table, and from the local council to the halls of state and federal institutions, our mission is to empower the people and the public sector to work together for transparent, fair, and responsive governance.

Our approach is practical: listen, co-create, pilot, measure, and scale what works. We ground every initiative in local realities while benchmarking our methods to international best practice. Whether you are a student eager to learn, a public official seeking solutions, a civil-society partner, a journalist, or a citizen advocate, there is a place for you here.

We invite you to explore our programs, collaborate on research, apply for our visiting scholar and internship opportunities, and join our community of changemakers.

— Director, Center for Democracy and Good Governance, Kaduna State University

About Center for Democracy and Good Governance

The Kaduna State University (KASU) Center for Democracy and Good Governance (CDGG) is a multidisciplinary academic and practice hub dedicated to strengthening democratic culture, accountable institutions, and citizen-centered governance across Nigeria and the African region. The Center integrates research, policy advisory, innovation, and capacity-building to address systemic governance challenges and expand inclusive participation in public life.

Based in Kaduna, Nigeria, CDGG convenes scholars, policymakers, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, the private sector, and citizens—especially youth and women to co-create evidence-based solutions that improve public trust, service delivery, and the legitimacy of democratic processes

Core Pillars

Research & Policy Innovation: Rigorous, context-sensitive studies leading to actionable policy briefs, legislative memos, and governance prototypes.

Civic Education & Engagement: Literacy programs, leadership academies, community dialogues, and digital platforms that equip citizens to participate meaningfully.

Institutional Strengthening: Technical assistance, training, and diagnostics for public institutions to improve transparency, accountability, and performance.

Technology & Data for Governance: Open-data initiatives, election observation tools, civic-tech experiments, and misinformation countermeasures.

Ethics, Equity & Inclusion: Programs that mainstream gender equity, disability inclusion, intergenerational leadership, and conflict sensitivity in all our work.

Mission

To generate knowledge, foster partnerships, and deliver programs that strengthen democratic processes, enhance institutional performance, and expand meaningful citizen participation.

Vision

A Nigeria where democratic values are internalized, institutions are accountable, and citizens prosper through inclusive, rights-based governance.

Core Values

Committed to empowering citizens, strengthening institutions, promoting justice, and safeguarding human rights while fostering participation, dialogue, and resilience to build equitable, sustainable, and democratic societies for all.

Justification & Rationale
To contribute to the institutionalization of democratic ideals by identifying and addressing challenges that inhibit good governance and obstruct the acceptance of values foundational to a strong democracy.

Electoral Integrity Gaps

Irregularities, low voter confidence, and limited accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Civic Literacy Deficits

Limited understanding of rights, responsibilities, and the mechanics of governance.

Corruption & Weak Accountability

 Insufficient oversight, opaque procurement, and limited public participation in budgeting.

Digital Disinformation & Harmful Speech

 Misinformation undermines trust, fuels polarization, and weakens public health and security responses.

Institutional Capacity Constraints

Skills and systems gaps across MDAs, local governments, and oversight bodies.

Youth Disengagement & Underrepresentation

Barriers to youth leadership, entrepreneurship, and policymaking pathways.

Gender & Social Exclusion

Structural limitations on women, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities in political and civic spaces.

Conflict Sensitivity & Social Cohesion

 Intercommunal tensions and violent extremism risk undermining democratic practice.

Policy Incoherence & Discontinuity

Weak policy cycles and transitions diminish reform sustainability.

Service Delivery & Trust Deficit

 Judicial Independence & Rule of Law Concerns

Strategic Goals & Objectives

Goal 1: Advance Electoral Integrity & Inclusive Participation

Objectives

  1. Develop and deploy civic education curricula and tools that increase voter literacy and participation, especially among youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
  2. Support election integrity through observation, data analytics, and incident-reporting tools, in collaboration with electoral bodies and CSOs.
  3. Promote inclusive political leadership by building pipelines for youth and women candidates and campaign staff across parties.
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Programs & Projects by Objective

Goal 1 Programs

Civic Literacy Accelerator (Obj. 1): Modular curriculum, local-language toolkits, school clubs, and radio/WhatsApp micro-lessons.

Accessible Elections Initiative (Obj. 1 & 2): Polling accessibility audits, disability-inclusive voter education, and ASL/accessible formats.

Electoral Data Hub (Obj. 2): Real-time incident mapping, analytics dashboards, and observation training.

Women & Youth Leadership Pipeline (Obj. 3): Candidate bootcamps, campaign management labs, mentorship networks.

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Affiliates

Research Fellows (Postdoctoral / Senior)

Visiting Scholars

Graduate & Undergraduate Research Assistants

Advisory Board (Distinguished academics and practitioners)

Staff of the Center

Leadership

Director — Provides strategic vision, partnerships, and oversight.

Deputy Director — Program coordination and quality assurance.

Personal Trainer

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia.

Programs & Research

Head, Research & Policy — Leads research agenda and policy translation.

Program Manager, Civic Education & Engagement — Designs and delivers civic programs.

Program Manager, Institutional Strengthening — Oversees OpenGov and service delivery labs.

Lead, Digital Integrity Lab — Coordinates counter-disinformation and digital citizenship work.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Lead — Impact measurement and adaptive learning.

Data Scientist / Analyst — Dashboards, analytics, and data governance.

Operations & Partnerships

Communications & Outreach Lead — Media, publications, and events.

Finance & Administration Officer — Grants, compliance, procurement.

Partnerships & Resource Mobilization Officer — MoUs, proposals, donor relations.

Field Coordinators (Zonal) — Community implementation and liaison.

Visiting Scholar Opportunity

Overview: CDGG welcomes local and international scholars for residencies (4–12 weeks) to advance research on democracy, governance, peacebuilding, and civic technology.

Eligibility

PhD or equivalent professional standing in relevant fields.

Demonstrated publications or policy impact.

Commitment to mentorship and public engagement.

What We Offer

Office space, library access, and research support.

Opportunities to teach masterclasses and co-author policy briefs.

Field access via our community and institutional partners.

Expectations

At least one public lecture and one policy brief.

Collaborative seminar with KASU faculty/students.

Contribution to a working paper or toolkit.

How to Apply

1–2 page concept note, CV, two references, and preferred dates.

Email: cdgg@kasu.edu.ng (sample) with subject line: Visiting Scholar Application.

Internship Opportunities

Tracks: Civic Education; Research & Policy; Open Government; Digital Integrity; Communications; MEL; Data & Visualization; Administration.

Who Can Apply

Final-year undergraduates and postgraduates in social sciences, law, public policy, IT/data science, communication, and related fields.

Strong writing skill, teamwork, and ethical standards.

Benefits

Mentored project work, field exposure, and portfolio development.

Certificates, references, and potential pathway to fellowships.

Duration

8–24 weeks (full- or part-time). Limited stipends may be available subject to funding.

Application

CV, statement of interest (max 500 words), sample work (optional), and availability.

Email: internships.cdgg@kasu.edu.ng (sample) with subject line: Internship Application.

Collaboration & Partnership

We collaborate with government agencies, legislature, judiciary, civil society, media, community leaders, traditional and religious institutions, private sector, donor agencies, and international organizations. Our partnerships focus on co-creation, local ownership, and sustainability.

Partnership Modalities

Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for joint programming and exchanges.

Technical Assistance & Secondments to MDAs and oversight bodies.

Joint Research & Data-Sharing Agreements with universities and think tanks.

Consortia & Grant Partnerships with development partners.

Priority Partners

Kaduna State and other state governments, National Assembly committees, judiciary bodies.

INEC, anti-corruption agencies, public procurement bureaus, and local governments.

CSOs, faith-based and community organizations, youth and women networks.

Media houses, fact-checking organizations, and technology platforms.

Regional and global centers working on democracy, peace, and governance.

Invite to Partner: Email partnerships.cdgg@kasu.edu.ng (sample) with a brief on your objectives and collaboration idea.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CDGG only for Kaduna State?

No. While our base is Kaduna, we work across Nigeria and collaborate regionally.

How can organizations partner with CDGG?

 Send a brief concept to our partnerships email; we will respond with steps for co-creation

Can students get course credit for internships?

Where departmental policies allow, we will support credit recognition

How does the Center ensure neutrality

 Nonpartisan governance, transparent methods, and ethics oversight.

Does the Center provide training for public officials?

Yes. Through our Public Service Excellence Academy and OpenGov Fellowship.

Contact Us

Center for Democracy and Good Governance (CDGG) Kaduna State University (KASU), Kaduna, Nigeria

Office Hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00–17:00 (WAT)

Email: cdgg@kasu.edu.ng  | Partnerships: partnerships.cdgg@kasu.edu.ng  | Internships: internships.cdgg@kasu.edu.ng