News
Chief Sarah Dagah Advocates Skills-to-Livelihood Support, Receives Award at Jos Summit
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De Sele of Jos, Chief Mrs Sarah Dagah, has called for greater investment in mentorship, financing, market access and other support systems to help young people turn acquired skills into sustainable livelihoods.
Dagah, an entrepreneur, philanthropist and mentor, made the call while presenting a paper titled “Skills Acquisition: Unlocking Opportunities for Young People” at the Jos Summit and Award Night, organised by the One Plateau Unity Forum at the Millennium International Event Centre, Jos.
She argued that skills acquisition, while important, cannot by itself solve the challenge of youth unemployment unless young people are also connected to the resources and opportunities required to put their skills to productive use.
According to her, the process should be viewed as an “opportunity chain” that moves from skills acquisition and practice to mentorship, access to finance, markets, business growth and ultimately employment.
“What happens to talent when opportunity is blocked? What happens to that young woman who cannot afford a sewing machine? And what happens to that young man who has acquired technical skills but has no tools with which to work?”
Dagah noted that the challenge cuts across different sectors of the economy, pointing to farmers who struggle to find profitable markets for their produce and entrepreneurs who have quality products but lack the financing and market reach needed to grow their businesses.
She urged stakeholders to pay closer attention to what happens after training, stressing that practical experience, mentorship, tools, financing and access to customers are critical to transforming skills into productive ventures.
However, she also emphasised the importance of personal responsibility, noting that support programmes can have limited impact when beneficiaries are unwilling to apply themselves or make effective use of the opportunities provided.
Reflecting on her work through the Sarah Dagah Foundation, she disclosed that some beneficiaries had received resources and support but failed to maximise them.
Rather than allowing such experiences to discourage further interventions, Dagah encouraged young people to take greater responsibility for their personal and economic development.
“My call today to Plateau youth and to the women is: be self-sufficient. Develop yourself. That is what I call capital development.”
She further called on successful young people to mentor others and become positive examples within their communities, saying visible success could inspire more youths to pursue productive and sustainable paths.
“The one person that is doing well or that has done well, may they continue to do well and identify others to do well, because if they do well and people see them doing well, the other youths will also be encouraged and determined to do better.”
Dagah stressed that the ultimate goal should be to ensure that skills do not end with certificates or training, but translate into productivity, entrepreneurship, economic independence and job creation.
She urged Plateau youths to combine their talents with discipline, willingness to learn, persistence and a strong commitment to building sustainable livelihoods.
At the event, Chief Mrs Sarah Dagah was also honoured with an award in recognition of her contributions and impact in entrepreneurship, philanthropy, mentorship and youth development.
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JOS GHETTO STORIES
Your Beginning Is Not Your Ending.
Welcome to Jos Ghetto Stories — a new Jos Events series created to tell the stories that are often overlooked, but should never be forgotten.
From the narrow streets of Gangare, Nasarawa, Angwan Rogo, Jenta-Adamu, Congo-Russia, Tudun Wada, Katako, Dadin Kowa, Bukuru and other communities across Jos, there are children growing up surrounded by challenges many of us may never fully understand.
Some wake up without knowing where their next meal will come from.
Some go to school with torn shoes.
Some live in crowded homes, struggle to afford basic needs, or watch their parents battle every day just to keep the family going.
And some are already beginning to believe that because they were born into hardship, hardship is all life has to offer them.
But we are here to tell them something different.
YOU CAN STILL BECOME GREAT.
Your address does not determine your destiny.
The street you grew up on does not decide the height you can reach.
Poverty may be part of your story, but it does not have to be the final chapter.
Look at Jos.
This city has produced and nurtured people who have gone on to make their mark far beyond the streets where their journeys began.
John Obi Mikel and Ogenyi Onazi, Ahmed Musa went from Jos to becoming aome of Nigeria’s most recognisable footballers, they all grew up from the Ghetto streets of Jos and made it in life through football to the point of representing Nigeria at the highest level.
Jeremiah Gyang, M.I Abaga and Ice Prince carried the sound and creativity of Jos into the Nigerian music industry and beyond.
P-Square and 2Baba are among the major names whose stories are connected to Jos.
Saint Obi,Dayo Okeniyi took their journey from Jos into international acting, while filmmakers Dimbo Atiya and Kenneth Gyang, have used film to tell stories that travel far beyond home.
And there are many more whose names may not yet be famous—but whose stories prove that greatness can rise from ordinary beginnings. 
So when we walk through the streets of Jos and meet these children, we are not looking at “ghetto children.”
We are looking at future doctors, engineers, footballers, musicians, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, teachers, leaders, creatives and nation builders.
We are looking at potential.
We are looking at dreams waiting for an opportunity.
Because sometimes, all a child needs is somebody to look them in the eyes and say:
“I believe in you.”
That is what Jos Ghetto Stories is about.
We will tell the stories of the streets.
We will show the struggles.
We will celebrate the talent.
We will listen to the dreams.
And most importantly, we will remind every young person watching that you can become the best version of yourself, regardless of where you started.
Your parents may not have everything.
Your environment may not be perfect.
You may not have the opportunities others have.
But never allow your circumstances to convince you that you cannot become somebody.
The world may see a child from the slum.
We see a future star.
The world may see a difficult beginning.
We see a story waiting to become extraordinary.
This is Jos Ghetto Stories.
Stories from the streets.
Stories of struggle.
Stories of hope.
Stories of talent.
Stories of resilience.
Stories of people who refuse to let their circumstances define them.
Because from the streets of Jos, greatness can rise.
And perhaps, the next great story is the child standing beside you.
JOS EVENTS PRESENTS: JOS GHETTO STORIES.
Your Beginning Is Not Your Ending.
Dream. Believe. Rise.
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