Jos, Plateau State — June 14, 2025

Hope is taking root across Plateau State as young people — many who were jobless for years — march into fields, not with despair but with purpose. Under the guidance of a determined leadership, the Plateau Youth Agricultural Empowerment Program (PYAEP) has kicked off with a powerful orientation and onboarding session for beneficiaries at BARC Farms, following a brief convergence at Government College Jos, from where participants were transported to BARC Farms.

The event marked the official start for the first cohort of 1,000 youths, carefully selected from over *ten thousand (10,000) applicants across the state. Each youth will be given a hectare of land within a sprawling 4,500-hectare “BARC Farms” site, equipped with machinery, seedlings, fertilizers and other farm inputs, the promise of a new future in sure.

Speaking to journalist on the farm during the orientation and onboarding, Lead Focal Person for the Project Mr Yari Kumchi had this to say;

“This program is about reintroducing agriculture to the youth in a way that is attractive, engaging, and inspiring. We want the youth to see agriculture not as a fallback but as a first choice — a profitable and respected career. Agriculture is the future, and the youth must lead.”

Kumchi was candid about the the urgency to create alternative sources of employme nt for youtts, stressing that agriculture had the capacity to employ the teeming youths.

“Employment opportunities are scarce, there are hardly any jobs left anywhere. But agriculture? It can employ all the youths in Plateau State — and beyond. Our goal is simple: start with 1,000 hectares, cultivate maize, rice, and soyabeans, and prove that farming can sustain lives and communities.”

“When you visit the farm, you’ll see enthusiasm. You’ll see potential. And that is why we are committed to this project — to create a future where the youth don’t have to leave their homes in search of jobs. They can build their lives right here.”

The orientation and onboarding event drew high-level participation, including Hon. Musa Ibrahim Ashom, Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, who delivered a stirring message on behalf of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang before the participants departed for BARC Farms.

“The governor has made it clear: the youth are the centerpiece of his administration,” Ashom said. “You are at the beginning, the middle, and the end of everything we do.”

He revealed a game-changing plan including the recent Memoranda of Understanding signed between the Plateau State Government and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAN) seeking to upgrade the Yakubu Gowon Airport Heipang to an International Cargo Airport.

“We are upgrading Yakubu Gowon Airport to an international cargo airport. This means the produce you farm here at BARC Farms will find buyers not only in Nigeria but across the world.”

“There is no grain you produce that won’t be bought. There are off-takers lined up, ready to buy maize, rice, soya beans, and more. Plateau is fast becoming Nigeria’s agricultural hub.”

Ashom urged unity and focus, stressing the nonpartisan stance of the initiative:

“This initiative is not political. It’s intentional. It’s about creating wealth — deliberate, sustainable wealth for our youths. Once the youths are empowered, Plateau State is empowered.”

“As you go to BARC Farms, remember: we have a new sheriff in town. The government is serious, and so must you be.”

Also speaking at the event, Hon Hitler Joshua Pajok, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Mobilization and Engagement in his own words emphasized the scale and vision of the initiative.

“This is the start of something big,” Pajok said. “It’s not just about one farm or one season. We plan to expand this to the Central and Southern Zones of Plateau State in coming years.”

“Over time, we’ve observed that government space to actually accommodate youths in different employment spaces are insufficient, inadequate. His Excellency, in his magnanimity, has graciously granted the youths access to a BARC farms, a location of over 4,500 hectares of land.”

“For 1,000 youths to cultivate 1,000 hectares. Each will be allocated 1 hectare and government is providing imputes such as seedlings, herbicides, pesticides, while also providing machines and in the end after cultivation government will extract the cost of production and then the profit will be the seed money for each youth that participated in this project to now go back to their various localities, their various local governments and be able to invest or reinvest this money in the business of farming.”

“…the plan is to ensure that it is an annual program where we keep expanding and that means we keep enlarging the numbers of youth that will be participating. The future plan would be that will extend to Central Zone and also Southern Zone of Plateau State. And before the end of His Excellency’s tenure, the goal is to ensure that we have nothing less than 15,000 to 20,000 youths who will be independent in the business of farming.”

“That will be an extra source of income aside the certificates, you know, most of the youths do have and are lying at home, you know, idle without employment.”

He re-echoed the non partisan and transparent selection which every youth the opportunity to be selected.

“Yes, we selected them across the various local governments irrespective of indigenous and non-indigenous status. Its a mix, there is no barrier. The youths were actually invited to apply, those who were successful got selected and we now generate generated the 1000 that are on this farm. We had over 10,000 who had applied for this…”

To ensure peace and progress of the project began with dialogue with the host community. Also speaking at the event, Mr Ishaku Jilensam, Program Manager, PADP explained the engagements with the host community further.

“We engaged everyone — youth, women, traditional leaders, farmers, and herders. The success of this program depends on community support.”

“We allocated space for the locals to do their own business and ensured security with lighting and personnel on site. You can see the results: over 1,000 hectares have been cultivated, with more than 500 hectares already planted with maize, soyabeans, and rice.”

“The enthusiasm among the youth is inspiring. They are eager to learn and work. We are on course.”

As the youths were transported from Government College Jos to BARC Farms for orientation and onboarding, there was no mistaking the sense of purpose — many had waited to take advantage for this kind of opportunity.

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“We Have a New Sheriff in Town” says Youths Commissioner as Plateau Youths Turnout at the start of a Farming Revolution