Stakeholders Advocate for Youth Engagement in Plateau

Stakeholders in Plateau State are urging for stronger youth engagement to promote peace and religious freedom. This call was made during a multi-stakeholder policy dialogue held on a Monday at the Crest Research Development Institute.

The dialogue, part of the Youthforb project sponsored by the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office, aimed to examine indicators of emerging conflicts and discuss measures to prevent local tensions from escalating into broader ethnic and religious confrontations. Representatives from three communities—Angwan Rukuba, Bulbula, and Gamajigo in the North Bassa Local Government Area—presented findings from a youth-led interfaith hub.

They identified early warning indicators threatening social cohesion, including rising cases of rape, gender-based violence, school dropout rates, and drug abuse. The stakeholders emphasized the importance of early warning mechanisms and sustained engagement to manage emerging tensions.

The Youthforb project is set to commence in January 2026, aiming to strengthen youth-led peacebuilding initiatives across Nigeria's Middle Belt.