Gabriel Dewan, the Speaker, Plateau House of Assembly, has commended Gov. Caleb Mutfwang for initiating policies and programmes aimed at empowering young people in the state.

Mr Dewan said this during the finals of a football tournament organised by Gyang Bere, the director of press and public affairs (DOPPA) to the governor, on Sunday in Vom.

The speaker particularly said that the governor had appointed young people into key positions in his government, hence the need for the citizens to support his administration to succeed.

“The youths of Plateau have never been appointed into key government positions like in the current administration; heads of agencies and parastatals, ministries, academic institutions, among others are largely headed by young people.

“The governor has openly demonstrated his willingness to ensure Plateau youth occupy their rightful places in the state and beyond.

“This is why I’m calling on the youth of Plateau to support the governor to succeed, irrespective of political, ethnic or religious affiliations.

“As you know, I’m not in the same party with the governor, but as a young man, I cannot shy away from the fact that this governor is giving the youth of this state a sense of belonging,” Mr Dewan said.

The speaker, who commended Mr Bere for organising the tournament, said that the competition would not harvest only talents, but promote unity, cohesion and peaceful coexistence among residents of the state.

Earlier, Mr Bere said that the football tournament aimed at promoting peace, unity and grassroots sports in the state.

According to him, the competition was in tandem with the vision of the current administration toward promoting sports activities in the state.

The DOPPA, who explained that the tournament would also serve as a ground for talent hunt, added that the move would provide greater opportunities for the teeming youth of the district.

“The administration of Gov. Caleb Mutfwang has prioritised sports as a cornerstone toward fostering peace, unity and youth development; this tournament aligns with this vision.

“This is not just a competition, it is a peace and unity tournament designed to bring us together as a community while discovering and nurturing the abundant talents among our youth.

“Vwang district is blessed with vibrant and talented youth, so, this tournament is a deliberate step to harness these talents, promote unity and empower our youth with opportunities that will prepare them for greatness.

“The primary aim of this initiative is to uncover and nurture talents within our community, and today, we have taken the bold step toward bridging that gap by providing a platform where the potentials and dreams of our youth can be realised,” he said.

Mr Bere, who thanked Mr Mutfwang for appointing him as his media aide, called on the people of Vwang to support the governor to succeed.

Speaking, Suleiman Kwande, the chairman of Plateau Football Association (PFA), commended Mr Bere for the initiative.

“I want to thank the DOPPA for bringing football closer to his community; I encourage others to do the same.

“Football is a game that unite the people, particularly the youths; we will continue to take advantage of it to promote peace and tranquility in our dear state,” he said.

The participating teams in the competition were drawn from various communities in Vwang District of Jos Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

Wunato FA of Turu defeated Chugwi United 1-0 at the finals to emerge overall winner of the tournament.

(NAN)