By PALANG KASMI
IN a major boost for youth empowerment and job creation, 153 young people from Plateau State have graduated from a two-week intensive training programme under the Plateau Youth Employment and Skills Acquisition (PLAYESA) scheme, jointly organised by the federal and state governments.
At the graduation and starter pack distribution ceremony, held on September 15, 2025, at the Federal Youth Centre in Jos, the beneficiaries received 150 starter packs, including industrial sewing machines, HP touchscreen laptops and seed capital to enable them to start their own businesses.
Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Musa Ashoms, who represented Governor Caleb Mutfwang at the event, congratulated the graduands and urged them to put the knowledge and equipment provided to practical use in building sustainable livelihoods.
“I feel elated. Like every responsible Plateau citizen, I’m proud that we have a responsible and responsive governor who has made youth empowerment a priority. I’m especially happy that youths are now being given a place in governance.
“And for those who aren’t directly involved in governance, they are being empowered with skills. This is a practical way of delivering the dividends of democracy,” Ashoms said.
He explained that the programme, initially targeted 150 youth, but due to overwhelming demand, the number was increased to 153, with beneficiaries drawn from all 17 local government areas, representing both indigenes and long-term residents.
“You must understand the pressure we faced; there are thousands of youths out there. Training 250 out of so many is not easy. It’s a privilege, and those selected should not take it for granted. Initially, we planned to train 150, but due to high demand from various LGAs, we stretched the capacity. Today, we are graduating 153 from this batch,” he stated.
Ashoms commended Governor Mutfwang’s passion for youth development, citing other initiatives such as the deployment of 1,000 youths to BARC Farms and leadership exposure at the National Defence College.
He pointed out that parents were also involved in the process to monitor and encourage sustainability, warning beneficiaries against misuse or sale of the starter packs.
THE NIGERIA STANDARD reports that PLAYESA is one of several initiatives of the Mutfwang administration aimed at building a generation of skilled, self-reliant young people who can meaningfully contribute to the socio-economic development of Plateau State.
Mrs. Deborah Simon Pitmang, Zonal Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, commended the Plateau State Government for fully utilising the Federal Youth Centre in Jos. She urged the beneficiaries to form cooperative clusters to strengthen resilience and attract more customers.
“One key counsel we gave them is to form clusters. For example, if you are in fashion design, form groups of four, five, or ten and run a shop together. By the time you have ten industrial machines, you will attract customers.
“In the North Central zone, there are centres in Benue, Kwara, Niger, and here in Plateau. But the most viable of all of them is the one we have here. This is the very first time Plateau has fully utilised the Federal Youth Centre in Jos,” she explained.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Peter Daboer described the programme as life-changing.
“We were trained in structured bag-making, digital literacy, and sewing. We promise to utilise the starter kits and work hard to make a difference. This programme has rekindled our dreams and given us the confidence to pursue our goals and contribute to Plateau’s growth,” he said.