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“Plateau Women Are Powerhouses” — Mrs Gagdi, Laylah Othman Praises Resilience, Unveils Plans to Boost Local Economy
In the quiet setting of her residence in Jos, Plateau State, Laylah Ali Othman speaks with a conviction that reflects both admiration and purpose. The CEO of the Gagdi Foundation and wife of Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi does not just see Plateau as a place—she sees it as a land of promise, strength, and untold stories waiting to be shared.
“Plateau is a beautiful city,” she says, her voice calm but assured. “The land is green. Whatever you plant grows here.” She gestures toward her surroundings, even pointing out apple trees she has personally planted—thriving, she notes, as a symbol of the region’s fertility and potential.
But beyond the lush landscape, it is the people—especially the women—that have captured her heart.
In a media chat, Othman painted a vivid picture of the Plateau woman: resilient, industrious, and self-reliant. Unlike what she describes as the norm in parts of the far North where she hails from—where women often stay at home—she says Plateau women have carved out a different narrative for themselves.
“They don’t wait for men to provide,” she explains. “They go out, they farm, they sell, they even work as labourers at construction sites. It’s inspiring.”
Her admiration is unmistakable. For Othman, these women are not just surviving—they are building lives with dignity and determination. She contrasts them with those who, in her words, “waste their lives,” stressing the importance of celebrating hard work and self-reliance.
“The Plateau woman needs to be spotlighted,” she insists. “When we celebrate them, more women will be encouraged to follow that path.”
She speaks passionately about economic empowerment, urging stakeholders to look beyond the surface. According to her, the transformation potential is enormous.
“Imagine a woman earning just ₦2,000 a day from carrying logs. Imagine what she could do with ₦1 million. Their hands are blessed,” she says, underscoring her belief in grassroots enterprise and the impact of targeted support.
Beyond individual success stories, Othman is also concerned about the broader image of Plateau State. She challenges the dominance of negative narratives, often shaped by outsiders, and calls for a shift in perspective.
“The media is powerful. We see how countries like America and France promote their good sides, and we believe it,” she notes. “We need to tell our own stories—the good things happening here, not just the bad.”
She emphasizes unity across ethnic and religious lines, highlighting the everyday cooperation among residents as a strength that deserves amplification.
“We do business together. We live together. We must not allow people outside Jos to define us with only negative stories,” she says. “If we work together, we will all prosper.”
That vision is not just rhetorical. Othman revealed plans to launch a new project in Jos aimed at creating jobs and stimulating the local economy. While details remain under wraps, she hinted at a significant impact.
At the same time, she announced an ongoing rebranding of the Gagdi Foundation, with a renewed focus on women, girls, and vulnerable groups across the state.
Her closing words carry both pride and commitment: “I believe in Plateau, and I love and support the Plateau women.”
In a region often defined by its challenges, Laylah Othman is choosing to spotlight its strength—one story, one woman, and one opportunity at a time.
The Young Leaders Network (YLN) has called for stronger citizen participation in the budget and development planning process in Plateau State, urging communities to clearly identify, document and communicate their priority needs to government.
The call was made on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, during a stakeholders’ roundtable on strengthening the integration of Community Charters of Demands (CCDs) into planning and budgeting in the state.
The engagement, organised by YLN with support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), was aimed at promoting greater citizen participation in the state budget process and ensuring that community priorities are reflected in government plans and budgets.
Speaking at the event, Plateau State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Ishaku Maren, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to incorporating citizens’ needs into the budgeting process.
Maren disclosed that the state had already commenced consultations ahead of the 2027 budget, with community leaders being engaged to identify and communicate the needs of their communities.
“The first thing we start with is citizens’ engagement. There is a point in time where citizens, most especially community leaders, will be invited to interact with us so that we get to know their felt needs,” he said.
According to the Commissioner, the integration of Community Charters of Demands would promote ownership, accountability and informed decision-making in the allocation of public resources.
Also speaking, YLN Executive Director, Seun Onarinde, said the roundtable was designed to equip citizens with the knowledge and tools required to effectively present their priorities to government at both state and local government levels.
Onarinde advised communities to identify their three most pressing development needs, document them through Community Charters of Demands and submit them to the relevant government agencies.
“It ensures that government is able to budget for the needs of the communities and able to meet those needs,” he said.
He noted that YLN had continued to promote citizen participation through initiatives including citizens’ budgets, the MyGovWatch platform and joint monitoring missions.
Onarinde urged citizens not to withdraw from the civic space, stressing that sustained engagement was necessary to make the budget process more open and responsive.
“The more we engage, the more the budget process becomes open. So I will not encourage citizens to pull back but rather to engage further so that the civic space can open up for engagement,” he added.
The OGP Secretariat in Abuja, represented by Uche Arisuku, also highlighted practical entry points for integrating Community Charters of Demands into state and local government development planning, sectoral planning, budget preparation, public consultations and implementation monitoring.
Arisuku stressed the importance of creating effective links between community priorities and government planning processes to ensure that citizens’ demands translate into measurable development outcomes.
The District Head of Nabor Gwong, Bala Haruna, commended YLN and its partners for organising the engagement, describing citizen participation as critical to achieving responsive and accountable governance.
The roundtable ended with stakeholders resolving to strengthen citizens’ engagement in the budget process and promote the wider adoption of Community Charters of Demands as a tool for ensuring that government plans and budgets reflect the actual needs of communities across Plateau State.
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The member representing Pankshin Kanam Kanke constituency, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, has said his achievements in office should be the primary basis for judging his leadership, declaring that his record of service speaks for itself as he embarked on his ward-to-ward consultations across his constituency ahead of the APC primary election.
Gagdi made the remark during his recent visits to federal wards, in Pankshin, Kanam and Kanke LGAs, where he met with party members, traditional leaders, and constituents.
Addressing stakeholders in the various wards, the lawmaker said he prefers to rely on his track record rather than make fresh promises, insisting that residents have already seen the impact of his representation.
“My record speaks for me. The people have seen what I have done already. If given another opportunity, I will do even better than what I have done in the last seven years,” he said.
He cited ongoing and completed projects across the constituency, including the modern primary healthcare centre in Gyangyan and community hall projects in several wards, as evidence of his commitment to development.
Gagdi who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Navy, also stressed that leadership must remain rooted in the grassroots, explaining that his consultations were designed to keep him connected to the people who elected him into office.
“This visitation is not even about campaigning. It is about keeping in touch with the people who voted me into office. I do not want to feel too big to relate with the people the way I have always done,” he added.
He urged constituents to reject divisive politics and instead prioritize performance, capacity, and tangible contributions to community development when choosing leaders.
According to him, his interventions have also included educational support programmes, empowerment initiatives, and payment of WAEC, NECO, and JAMB fees for students across the constituency.
Gagdi further assured residents of continued development support in communities such as Dawaki, Nemel, and Kabwir, including planned community hall projects where land has already been secured.
He also pledged neutrality in future local government chairmanship contests, while reaffirming his commitment to peace, unity, and progress in the constituency.
Party leaders across the visited wards commended his developmental efforts and expressed support for his continued representation, calling for unity within the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
The ward-to-ward consultations, according to him, are part of efforts to strengthen grassroots trust, consolidate support, and maintain close contact with constituents ahead of the party’s primary election.
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