In a bid to strengthen youth entrepreneurship across the state, the Plateau State Government has graduated 450 young people from a comprehensive financial literacy and digital marketing training program designed to enhance business growth and sustainability.
The initiative was implemented by the Plateau State Microfinance Development Agency (PLASMIDA) in partnership with the Plateau Youth Council (PYC), with support from GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) and FCMB. The closing ceremony was held on October 15, 2025, at Eliel Centre, Jos, under the theme: “Plateau Youths Mastering Financial Literacy and Digital Skills for Business.”
Representing Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the Secretary to the State Government, Arch. Samuel Nanchang Jatau, described the program as a step toward “liberation and economic renewal” for Plateau youths.
“This means bigger opportunities and fulfilled promises,” Jatau said. “During the campaigns, Governor Mutfwang promised to give youths a new lease of life, and today’s empowerment shows that the government is walking that talk. In the coming months, more initiatives including grants and entrepreneurship programs will be launched to boost youth participation in the economy.”
He further revealed that the state is also taking proactive measures to improve security through youth recruitment into Operation Rainbow. A total of 1,450 recruits are set to begin training to support security efforts across Plateau communities.
“Security is not entirely in the hands of state governments, but Plateau is taking proactive steps. We’ve trained 600 personnel previously and will now train 1,450 more to complement federal security agencies,” he said, adding that Jos is gradually reclaiming its reputation as one of the safest cities in northern Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of PLASMIDA, Hon. Bomkam Ali Wuyep, highlighted that the training represents another major step in the state’s efforts to promote entrepreneurship and reduce poverty.
“We trained 450 youth entrepreneurs drawn from all 17 local government areas on financial literacy and digital skills to prepare them for today’s evolving business environment,” Wuyep said. “Our goal is to ensure sustainability, scalability, and economic prosperity across Plateau State.”
He explained that the training covered business management, access to finance, and digital marketing key areas aimed at reducing business failure rates among small enterprises.
“We expect to see thriving businesses and increased job creation. We’ve linked participants with financial institutions like FCMB to help them access MSME-friendly products. Those who met the requirements have already received POS machines to support their operations,” he added.
The Plateau Youth Council Chairman, Mr. Panan Gongden Dapar, commended the state government and its partners for initiating the program, describing it as both timely and transformative.
“This program comes at a time when many youths lack productive engagement. Training 450 young Plateau entrepreneurs on financial and digital literacy will undoubtedly impact the state’s economy in the years to come,” he said.
He also encouraged beneficiaries to share their knowledge within their communities, ensuring that the impact spreads to the grassroots.
This training aligns with the Mutfwang administration’s Seven-Point Policy Thrust particularly the pillar on education and human capacity development focused on empowering citizens, creating jobs, and reducing poverty across Plateau State.