International Youth Day: Plateau Council Rallies Youths to Shun Violence, Embrace Peace

Jos Afrik24 – The Plateau State Youth Council has urged young citizens across the state to resist political manipulation, reject violence, and actively foster peace, religious tolerance, and constructive dialogue.

​This was stated on Wednesday in Jos during an event to mark the 2026 International Youth Day.

Commemorating the global event themed “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” the Council cautioned that sustainable progress and local development remain impossible while fear, division, and insecurity persist.

The Council, led by its Chairman, Panan Gongden Dapar, said peace and security must remain at the heart of the aspirations of young people in Plateau State, urging them to become ambassadors of peaceful coexistence.

It stressed that the diverse ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds of Plateau youths should be a source of strength rather than division, calling on young people to lead efforts to build bridges across ethnic, religious and political differences.

The Council said the prevailing security challenges made it imperative for youths to resist attempts by individuals or groups to manipulate them into acts capable of undermining peace and stability in the state.

According to Dapar,, “No meaningful development can take place where fear, violence, intolerance and division are allowed to thrive.”

It urged youths to embrace dialogue and peaceful means of resolving differences while contributing positively to the growth and development of their communities.

Dapar said the theme of this year’s International Youth Day aptly reflected the Plateau experience, noting that despite differences in backgrounds and circumstances, young people across the state shared common aspirations for meaningful employment, quality education, economic empowerment, peace, security, dignity and opportunities to build a better future.

It said, “Although our circumstances may differ, our hopes and aspirations across Plateau are remarkably similar. “

“We all desire a society where hard work is rewarded, where young people can access opportunities and where every youth can look to the future with confidence.”

The Council called on the Plateau State Government, development partners, private sector operators, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to deepen investments in youth employment, skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation and inclusive empowerment.

It also urged young people to position themselves for emerging opportunities by acquiring relevant digital and technical skills, embracing entrepreneurship, developing their talents and participating constructively in civic and political processes.

“The Plateau we desire cannot be built by others alone; we must take ownership of its future and play our part in building it,” the Council said.

Also speaking, the Plateau State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Musa  Ashoms, conveyed the goodwill of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang to the youths of the state.

Ashoms saluted Plateau youths for their contributions to the growth and development of the state, urging them to continue to serve as good ambassadors of Plateau in education, sports, business, agriculture and other spheres of life.

The Commissioner said the Mutfwang administration remained committed to supporting youths in areas capable of projecting the state positively.

He said, “His Excellency, the youth-loving Governor of Plateau State, extends his goodwill and admonishes the ebullient youth to continue to be the ambassadors of our dear state in education, sports, business, agriculture and other spheres of life.

“We will continue to support our youths in areas that will project our state in good light.”

The Commissioner appreciated Plateau youths for their “immense and immeasurable contribution” to the growth and development of the state, assuring them of continued government support for initiatives aimed at promoting their talents and creating opportunities for their advancement.

The Plateau State Youth Council also celebrated young people building businesses, acquiring skills, pursuing education, creating innovations, serving their communities and contributing to the development of the state.

It urged government and other stakeholders to create an enabling environment where the potential of young people could be fully realised.

The Council said the 2026 International Youth Day should renew the collective hope of Plateau youths and strengthen their resolve to build a peaceful and prosperous state.

It added: “Despite our different contexts, our aspirations are common and our future is shared.”