“PLA-YAEP: A Brilliant Idea on the Road to Nowhere?” When the Plateau State Government announced the launch of the Plateau Youths Agricultural Empowerment Program (PLA-YAEP), it sounded like a dream: 1,000 youths, 1,000 hectares, fully funded by the state — land, seedlings, fertilizers, tractors, transportation, feeding, accommodation, even security. On the surface, this initiative had all the right ingredients: economic empowerment, youth inclusion, food security, and development. But beneath the applause and fanfare lies a harsh truth — this program, though noble in intent, is likely headed for disaster. Why? Because it’s not rooted in reality. Let’s be brutally honest: you don’t throw 1,000 hectares of land at 1,000 random young people — many of whom have no agricultural background — and expect magic. That’s not empowerment; that’s blind gambling with taxpayers’ money. A Crisis of Execution, Not Intention The question isn’t whether empowering youth through agriculture is a good idea. It is. But good ideas without smart execution become wasteful ventures — and in a state still grappling with insecurity, displacement, and economic recovery, we can’t afford another failed government program dressed in good PR. The government says the selection process will be “nonpartisan, non-ethnic, and non-religious.” That’s great. But is it also non-political? Is it based on track record or passion, or is this just another youth-pacifying scheme where slots are shared among political loyalists, friends, and “connected” youths who will abandon the program the moment the money stops flowing? We Already Have Farmers — Why Not Start There? Here’s the painful truth: Plateau State already has farmers. Serious, dedicated, experienced farmers. From the Rice Farmers Association to Maize Growers, from organized cooperatives to smallholder farmers across Bokkos, Mangu, Langtang, and Barkin Ladi — these are the people already contributing to our food economy. They know the land. They understand weather patterns. They’ve failed, learned, and improved. Yet, instead of investing in their growth, we’re building from scratch with amateurs? Imagine what could happen if these associations were empowered to scale — if an existing farmer producing 3 tonnes of maize per hectare was given improved seedlings, mechanization, and extension support to increase to 9 or 12 tonnes. That’s real economic empowerment. That’s measurable impact. One Hectare Is No Joke A hectare of land is not a small piece of land. It’s 10,000 square meters — about the size of 2 football fields. Even small-scale farmers don’t just wake up and manage a hectare without months of preparation, training, labor planning, water access, and market linkage. What makes us think first-timers can? This is agriculture, not a tech bootcamp. You don’t wing it. And if this initiative doesn’t factor in proper technical onboarding, mentorship, and phased learning (perhaps through greenhouse clusters or smaller plots), it will collapse under its own weight. Sustainability? Or Sensationalism? The Honorable Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Musa Ashoms, means well. But we’ve seen this movie before. A flashy launch, emotional speeches, a few months of hype… and then? Reality hits. People abandon their farms. Tractors break down. Inputs disappear. Extension workers stop showing up. The land lies fallow. Money is gone. Meanwhile, the real farmers — who have survived for years with little or no support — remain unsupported. We’ve failed to build on what we already have. That’s not sustainable development; that’s political showmanship. 1/2

Lessons From Elsewhere In Kenya, the Youths in Agribusiness Strategy 2017–2021 focused on training, mentorship, access to finance, and gradual integration into commercial agriculture. In Nigeria, successful agricultural youth schemes like NIRSAL AgroGeoCoops start with structured cooperatives, not individuals. Because when you group young farmers in clusters under experienced guidance, you reduce risks and multiply impact. Where is PLA-YAEP’s version of this structure? A Wake-Up Call Governor Caleb Mutfwang has shown good intentions in involving youth in governance and prioritizing empowerment. But this is a call to rethink execution. We’re dealing with public funds, land, and the future of our youth. If we get it wrong now, we will only breed frustration and apathy. If we get it right, we can set the tone for youth-led food security and prosperity in Plateau and beyond. Empowerment must go beyond announcements. It must be strategic, data-driven, and rooted in logic. We must stop giving people fish when they’re not even ready to hold a hook. In Conclusion PLA-YAEP can succeed. But only if it shifts from populism to pragmatism. From tokenism to transformation. From handouts to hands-on, sustainable systems. Let’s stop decorating problems with flowery language and start fixing them. The youth don’t just need land. They need training, mentorship, incubation, and scale — on their terms, not government’s schedule. Let’s empower those who are ready, train those who are not, and stop wasting our time, land, and resources on nice ideas with no backbone.