Plateau State’s new Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Prince Miaphen, has announced plans to embark on a statewide tour of the 17 local government areas to engage youths at the grassroots and understand their concerns and aspirations.
Miaphen made the commitment on Wednesday as he formally assumed office, shortly after youths from across the state staged a solidarity walk from Secretariat Junction to welcome him to the ministry.
The commissioner, a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), said the planned engagement would take him beyond the ministry’s offices to youth structures across the state, where he intends to listen directly to young people and seek their views on how best to represent their interests.
“I want to meet all the youth structures at the grassroots level, interact with them and seek their opinions on how best we can represent them,” he said.
For Miaphen, however, grassroots engagement must go hand in hand with greater unity among Plateau youths, particularly at a time when political differences can easily divide young people.
He called on youths to look beyond political affiliations, ethnic identities and religious differences and work together in the interest of Plateau State.
“We need unity. Plateau youths need to be more united than ever before,” he stressed.
The commissioner also urged young people to pay greater attention to how they portray the state on social media, warning that irresponsible narratives could damage Plateau’s image.
His message came against the backdrop of the warm reception from youths who accompanied him to his new office, signalling expectations that his administration will maintain close contact with the people it is expected to serve.
Beyond youth mobilisation, Miaphen pledged to strengthen grassroots sports by promoting competitions and creating better structures for identifying and developing young talents.
He recalled attending the Chairman’s Cup finals before his formal resumption, where he said he witnessed promising talents that could be developed into athletes capable of competing at higher levels.
“We will encourage grassroots competitions. When I came, even when I had not resumed, I attended the Chairman’s Cup finals and we saw talents,” he said.
The commissioner consequently pledged to work with sporting associations and other stakeholders to build a stronger development pathway from communities through the local government areas to the state.
He also assured ministry staff, athletes and stakeholders of an open-door administration, describing himself as a team player committed to working with everyone.
“I am a team player. I want to work and I will work. I belong to all,” Miaphen added.
As he begins his tenure, the planned 17-LGA tour could provide the first major test of his promise to make grassroots engagement a central feature of the ministry’s approach to youth development in Plateau State.
