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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.
President Donald Trump on Saturday posted footage of Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Plateau State, conducting a mass burial for victims of a terrorist attack, while calling on the United Nations and the United States to stop the killing of Christians in Nigeria.
Mr Trump posted the video on Truth Social without adding any text.
In the video, Mr Dachomo, a cleric known for speaking out against alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria, is seen lamenting as he buries his church members killed in attacks in a mass grave.
“Look at it today. Is there any Muslim here?” Mr Dachomo said, pointing to scores of corpses piled in a mass grave as he conducted the mass burial.
Calling on the international community to stop the alleged killing of Christians in Nigeria, Mr Dachomo said: “United Nations, I know you are watching me. American Senate, I know you are watching what I am doing here. Please tell Trump to save our lives in Nigeria. They are killing Christians in Nigeria. They are massacring Christians.”
Mr Trump’s posting of the video comes a day after U.S. and Nigerian forces eliminated ISIS second-in-command Abu-Bilal al-Manuki and his fighters in an airstrike.
The government of Mr Trump had said that the execution of Mr Al-Manuki and his foot soldiers on Nigerian soil was a reminder that American forces will go after enemies of the country and those killing Christians around the world.
“So, for months, we hunted this top ISIS leader in Nigeria who was killing Christians, and we killed him — and his entire posse,” U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on X, praising American and Nigerian forces for the successful operation.
He added, “Operations like last night’s demonstrate the exceptional lethality, patience and skill of U.S. forces, amplified alongside willing and capable partners, to address shared threats. This should serve as a reminder that we will hunt down those who wish to harm Americans or innocent Christians, wherever they are.”
The killing of Mr Al-Manuki comes five months after Mr Trump ordered airstrikes against terrorists in their enclave in Sokoto State on December 25, 2025, following a months-long campaign over alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria.
Though the Nigerian government has repeatedly denied allegations of a Christian genocide in the country, it confirmed that it collaborated with U.S. forces to eliminate Mr Al-Manuki.
Mr Trump had also redesignated Nigeria as a country of particular concern last year, warning of continued military action against terrorists in Africa’s most populous country.
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