The vice chancellor, Plateau State University, Prof Yohana Izam on satuday 1st June 2019 at the Anaguta annual festival of arts and culture identified active political participation as a panacea for minority emancipation in Nigeria.

In a paper titled “PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF THE CORPORATE SURVIVAL OF ETHNIC NATIONALITIES IN THE NIGERIAN POLITY” the University don identified that even though the issue is sensitive inview of the negative ethnicity that pervade the politics for while he says ” I dare admit that this is a very broad and volatile theme to speak on given the plurality and sensitivity of issues surrounding ethnicity in our contemporary Nigerian society. But I will nonetheless attempt to make some efforts at ventilating my thoughts and perhaps in the process stir our imaginations towards some positive actions on the problems and prospects of ethnic groups in the context of development in Nigeria”

professor Izam identified the fear of ethnic minorities to include a battle for space and a share for the national cake…. “the first major fear of ethnic minorities is the heterogeneity of the ethnic groups that make up Nigeria and the inter ethnic jostling for the control and distribution of national wealth which puts them at a disadvantage and undermine their survival” he said

professor Izam who himself is a minority when placed within the large frame of the Nigerian political space identified education as basic, “The content of education is controversial because it affects both the preservation of minority identity and socialization into the common values of the national society. Guidance can now be taken from Article 29 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which spells out the requirement to education: it shall be directed to “the development of respect for the child’s parents, his or her own cultural identity, for the national values of the country in which the child is living, the country from which he or she may originate and for civilizations different from his or her own.” Also important is “the preparation of the child for responsible life in a free society, in the spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, equality of sexes, and friendship among all peoples, ethnic, national and religious groups and persons of indigenous origins. Conversely, this implies that ethnic nationalities can use education to liberate their people from the oppression of poverty and other ills of the society.

on politics , prof. Izam position maintain that, “Government by the people” means that everyone is entitled to take part in political decision-making, either directly or by freely chosen representatives. Democracy should ideally serve as the best way of ensuring the peaceful resolution of conflicts, in that everyone can make their interests felt in the common political arena. The dilemma is that majorities can easily overlook the interests of minorities

professor Izam commended the Anaguta community for their peace loving nature, emphasizing their place in Jos North. the guest lecturer congratulate the Ujah of Anaguta over the first class statues while calling on all the people to support the administration of Gov. Simon Lalong who he said is committed to improving the quality of education in the state

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VC, PLASU advocates for political participation as panacea for minority emancipation