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Plateau Government Graduates 450 Youths in Financial Literacy and Digital Skills Training
In a bid to strengthen youth entrepreneurship and business sustainability, the Plateau State Government has graduated 450 young entrepreneurs following a comprehensive financial literacy and digital marketing skills training program.
The initiative, organized by the Plateau State Microfinance Development Agency (PLASMIDA) in collaboration with the Plateau Youth Council (PYC), held its closing ceremony on October 15, 2025, at Eliel Centre, Jos. Themed “Plateau Youths Mastering Financial Literacy and Digital Skills for Business,” the program received support from GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) and First City Monument Bank (FCMB).
Representing Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the Secretary to the State Government, Arch. Samuel Nanchang Jatau, described the initiative as a move 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 also disclosed that the state government is taking proactive measures to enhance security through youth-focused recruitment into Operation Rainbow, with 1,450 new recruits 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,” Jatau stated, adding that Jos is steadily regaining its reputation as one of the safest cities in northern Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Bomkam Ali Wuyep, Director General of PLASMIDA, said the program represents another milestone in the state’s drive to promote entrepreneurship and reduce poverty.
“We trained 450 youth entrepreneurs drawn from the 17 local government areas of Plateau on financial literacy and digital skills to prepare them for today’s evolving business environment,” Wuyep explained. “Our aim is to ensure sustainability, scalability, and economic prosperity across the state.”
He added that the training, which covered business management, access to finance, and digital marketing, was designed to reduce 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 enable them to access MSME-friendly products. Those who met requirements have already received POS machines to support their operations,” he said.
The Plateau Youth Council Chairman, Mr. Panan Gongden Dapar, commended the state government and its partners for what he described as a “timely and transformative” intervention.
“This program comes at a time when many youths lack productive engagement,” he noted. “Training 450 young Plateau entrepreneurs on financial and digital literacy will undoubtedly impact the state’s economy in the years to come.”
Dapar also encouraged the beneficiaries to extend the knowledge gained to others within their communities to ensure the benefits reach the grassroots.
The training aligns with the Mutfwang administration’s Seven-Point Policy Thrust, particularly its focus on education and human capacity development, aimed at empowering citizens, creating jobs, and reducing poverty across Plateau State.
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed a couple, Iliya Gyang, 30, and his pregnant wife, Grace Iliya, 25, in a fresh attack on the Angwan Ishaku community in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.
Rwang Tengwong, spokesperson for the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), told Peoples Gazette that the incident occurred at about 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
In a statement sent to the Gazette, Mr Tengwong condemned the gruesome attack carried out by terrorists on Wednesday evening.
“The couple were both shot by the assailants while the husband was working in front of their home, leading to the immediate death of Mrs Grace Iliya at the scene, while her husband, who sustained serious gunshot injuries, was rushed to the hospital but sadly later gave up while receiving treatment,” he said.
Mr Tengwong noted that the attack came a day after the State Security Council meeting, where the Plateau government announced decisive measures aimed at addressing persistent attacks and destruction of farmlands across communities.
According to him, the attackers arrived on a motorcycle, opened fire on the couple and others in the area, and fled through the road leading to Fulani settlements in Fass along the Rakung-Sho road.
“The deceased woman had only recently finished breastfeeding their one-year-old twin boys and was pregnant again. The tragic killing of the couple has now left the innocent twins orphaned and devastated their entire family.
“Two other persons also sustained gunshot injuries during the attack, while their health conditions are yet to be confirmed,” Mr Tengwong said.
The group described the attack as barbaric, wicked, and inhuman, saying it reflects the worsening insecurity confronting residents of Barkin Ladi and surrounding communities.
Mr Tengwong also called on the Plateau government to immediately provide support for the orphaned twins left behind by the deceased couple.
Efforts to reach the police spokesman in the state, Alfred Alabo, were unsuccessful. Text and WhatsApp messages sent to him remained unattended as of press time.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, sentenced a former Minister of power, Saleh Mamman to 75 years imprisonment for money laundering charges.
Mamman, who was absent in court, was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503,73( Thirty Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, Seventy Three kobo).
Justice Omotosho convicted him last week on all the 12-count charges preferred against him by the EFCC but deferred his sentence to Wednesday.
Count one of the charges reads:
“That you, SALEH MAMIVIAN {Male), sometime in 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, whilst you were the Minister of Power conspired with other officials of your Ministry and some private companies to indirectly convert the total sum of =N=33,804,830,503.73
{Thirty-Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, and Seventy-Three Kobo) through various private companies which sums you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity, to wit: criminal breach of trust in relation to the funds released for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant Projects by the Federal Government of Nigeria; and you thereby commit an offence contrary to Sections 18(a), 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 {as Amended), and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”
Count two reads:
“That you, SALEH MAMMAN (Male), sometime in December 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, conspired with SAMSON BITRUS to make a cash payment of US$665, 700:00 (Six Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand and Seven Hundred United States Dollars) to MOHIBA INVESTMENT LTD (acting through Mohammed Asheik Jidda), without going through a financial institution, and that you thereby commit an offence contrary to Sections 1 and 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as Amended), and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”
At Wednesday proceedings, Prosecution Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo,SAN informed the court that the convict again was not in court and no reasonable excuse was given from his lawyers about his whereabouts. He urged the court to continue with the sentencing in his absence citing Section 266 and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which provides guidelines for such an occasion.
Oyedepo also urged the court to order the forfeiture of properties traced to the convict to the Federal Government. The properties are, two units of four- bedroom detached apartments located at 93 Ahmed Joda Crescent, Kado Estate, Abuja and a property located at No 12A & B, Lingo Street, Wuse, Abuja.
Also, Oyedepo, who is also the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, urged the court to order the forfeiture of cash recovered from Mamman’s house: $13,890, €19,960, £10,000 , 42,390 Doran, R35,000, ₹50,60,00 and 247 Saudi Arabia Riyadth . He also urged the court to direct that the convict refund the difference of the amount recovered and the amount remaining in the N22bn for which he was found guilty.
Delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho sentenced Mamman to 75years imprisonment: seven years each on counts 1,2,3,6,7,8,9,10,11& 12 without an option of fine, three years on count 4 with an option of fine of N10m and two years on count 5 without an option of fine. The sentence will run consecutively from the date of his arrest.
Justice Omotosho ordered all national and international security agencies to arrest and handover the convict to the Nigerian Correctional center.
The post Court Jails Saleh Mamman 75 years for N33.8billion Fraud appeared first on Business Today NG.
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