Plateau State Government has earmarked ₦2 billion in a supplementary budget to boost youth empowerment through skills training and entrepreneurship programmes.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Musa Ashoms, disclosed this on Monday during the flag-off of a new batch of trainees under the Plateau Youth Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition scheme. The programme, which is in partnership with the Federal Government’s Skills for Wealth initiative, was held at Lamingo, Jos North Local Government Area.
Ashoms explained that the funds would be used to support youth development in agribusiness, information and communication technology, and the creative industry. He noted that Plateau State was positioning itself as an emerging hub for digital technology.
“As a Ministry, we have requested the House of Assembly to approve ₦2 billion for youth empowerment across sectors. In ICT, for instance, we want Plateau to become a hub. That’s why Governor Caleb Mutfwang has donated the Joseph Gomwalk House as an ICT centre, while the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy has committed to laying 30km of fibre optic cables across the state,” he said.
He further explained that 250 youths drawn from the 17 local government areas of the state will benefit from the current training, which covers ICT, fashion design, leatherwork, shoemaking, and bag production. The one-month training will run in two batches between September 1 and September 30, 2025.
Ashoms stressed that the initiative was aimed at wealth creation, describing it as “intentional and strategic.”
The Zonal Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Deborah Pitmang, said the training was strictly focused on skills acquisition. She added that participants would receive start-up kits after completing the programme.
Some of the trainees expressed excitement over the opportunity. “This is a very good programme. With the ICT training, it will open our eyes to opportunities in the digital world,” said one of the participants, John Davou.