New Dawn For Plateau Youths: One Hectare At A Time

Over a month ago, the air at the Azi Nyako Youth Centre, Dadin Kowa in Jos, Plateau State was filled with the buzz of excitement, as hundreds of young people gather, eyes gleaming with anticipation, not just for another State government’s event; but the start of a journey that could change their lives for the better.

The occasion was the official launch of the Plateau Youths Agricultural Empowerment Programme (PLA-YAEP), an initiative to engage 1,000 youths in commercial agriculture, offering them the tools, the land, and the support to become successful agripreneurs.

At the heart of this programme lies a simple but powerful idea aimed to give the youths the land, equip them with the means, so they can feed the State, and perhaps, the nation.

Sowing the seeds of hope as he addressed the youths, Musa Ashoms, the State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, painted a picture of the Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s vision on the empowerment of youths through agriculture.

“We have set aside 1,000 hectares at BARC Farms for our young people. Each participant will receive one hectare of land, free seedlings, fertilizers, tractors, and extension services. We are not just handing out tools; we are building a future,” he said.

“We have set aside 1,000 hectares at BARC Farms for our young people. Each participant will receive one hectare of land, free seedlings, fertilizers, tractors, and extension services. We are not just handing out tools; we are building a future,” he said.

Ashoms also announced that free transportation from Jos to BARC Farms and back would be provided daily. Some of the youths will also enjoy accommodation, feeding, and security on-site, ensuring that their focus remains on farming without distraction.

“This programme is more than farming,” Ashoms emphasized. “It’s about restoring dignity, building self-reliance, and unlocking the potential of Plateau’s fertile land.”

Hitler Pwajok, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Youth Mobilization and Empowerment, told the excited youths, “This is the first time in the history of Plateau that young people will not only farm but also process and benefit directly from the harvest.”

He said. “The vision is clear, we want this model to spread to all 17 Local Government Areas.”

For many of the young people, the initiative is a lifeline, it offers hope.

Yari Kumchi, the Lead Focal Person for PLA-YAEP, explained that the programme is about creating a generation of self-sufficient, empowered youths who can drive economic growth in Plateau State.

“Governor Mutfwang’s vision is to see youths become producers, not just consumers. We want them to become entrepreneurs who can contribute meaningfully to society,” Kumchi noted.

The inclusive programme targets the engagement of the 340 youths trained in agriculture last year, youths from the different ethnic nationalities, displaced communities, and persons with disabilities.

However, the initiative can be seen as a fulfilment of Governor Mutfwang’s promise to ensure every citizen has a stake in Plateau’s future.

At the moment, the programme is in the process of cultivation. Hundreds out of the 1,000 hectares have been covered, and crops like maize, rice, and soyabean will be planted.

For Plateau’s youths, the message is clear, the future is in their hands, and the time is now to farm the land for wealth.

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