About 250 youths cutting across the 17 local government areas of Plateau State are streamline to undertake rigorous training on Information Communication Technology (ICT), Leather and Shoe making as well as fashion design.

A one-month scheme champion by the Plateau State ministry of youths and sports development is targeting at equipping youths with requisite skills on technology innovation for greater productivity and wealth creation.

The Plateau State Youths Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition (PLAYESA), Skills for Wealth is aimed to add value for the youths to be self reliant and compete with their peers globally.

Speaking on Monday during the official take off at the national youth centre, Sheree Hills, Jos North LGA, the commissioner ministry of youths and sports development, Hon. Ibrahim Musa Ashoms, revealed that the empowerment programme is in two phases; in which the first 150 participants will be spending two weeks while the second batch of 100 participants follow suit.

Ashoms governor Caleb Mutfwang's administration placed high premium on youths development as participants will be empowered with laptops and industrial machines at the end of the training. He said government are seeking for the N2 billion approval by the state Assembly from the supplementary budget.
"In this batch, we have 150 participants, and another 100 will join soon, making a total of 250 youths drawn from the 17 local government areas of Plateau State. You don’t have to be an indigene of Plateau to benefit; as long as you live here, you have access. That is why we brought our youths to the National Youth Centre, Shere Hills, Jos, to expose them to this training.

"The programme will last for one month. The first batch will train for two weeks, while the second batch will take the remaining two weeks, running from the 1st to September 30th, 2025. The goal is for them to acquire skills that will enable wealth creation. It is deliberate, it is intentional, because His Excellency, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, places a lot of value on our youths and on wealth creation.

"At the end of the programme, young people will have gained ICT skills, fashion design, leatherwork, shoemaking, and bag production. These are trades people have made fortunes from, and we cannot be left behind. That is why, as a government, we are exposing our young people to this opportunity. We believe they will come out better skilled and better positioned to contribute to the wealth of our state.

"The supplementary budget season is here, and there are projects that require attention. As a Ministry, we have requested the House of Assembly to approve ₦2 billion for youth empowerment across different sectors. In agribusiness, for example, there are immense potentials we want to tap. In ICT, we want Plateau State to become a hub. That is why the Governor has donated the Joseph Gomwalk House to serve as an ICT centre for our youths.
"The Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy has also committed to laying 30km of fibre optic cables across Plateau. This will make Plateau a true ICT hub, and we want our youths to take full advantage of it.

"We are also exploring partnerships with fashion houses such as Shivodi and other popular brands to give our young people practical exposure. If you look at the richest man in Spain, he started from tailoring — Zara. One of the wealthiest Nigerians today is Shivodi, also from fashion. We should not despise humble beginnings."

The zonal coordinator Federal ministry of youth development, Debora Simon Pittmang, who is saddle with the responsibility of galvanizing technical training to the participants acknowledged the scheme is segmented into three categories which include;ICT, Leather and shoe making, and fashion design.

She charged participants to be dedicated and diligent as anyone found wanting will be withdrawn from the training.

Some of the participants that spoke witt our correspondent, Lekshak Jonathan who drive passion on ICT, Bigwan Peret Benshak-Fashion, Sumanya Musa- leather work as well as Aisha Abubakar- Fashion designer, appreciates Plateau State government for the opportunity, promised to take advantage of the scheme for the betterment of their future.