2023 PLATEAU STATE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY CELEBRATION IN JOS: YOUTHS ARE THE FUTURE OF PLATEAU STATE - BASHIR LAWANDI DATTI.
...WE SHALL ENSURE EQUAL LEADERSHIP AND GENDER BALANCING VIA A PEACEFUL, UNITED AND PROGRESSIVE YOUTHS DEVELOPMENT-BASHIR LAWANDI DATTI. 

The 10th-12th of August,2023 marked the 2023 International Youths Days Celebrations. 
This saw the Plateau State Youths Council and its leadership in the 17 LGA on the Plateau,Civil Society Organisations,Local, National and International  Media Executives coming to register their solidarity with the Ministry of Youths and Sports in the State Secretariat to attend an International Prees Conference by the Honourable Commissioner,Alh Bashir Lawandi Datti flanked by the Permanent Secretary of the Plateau State Ministry of Youths and Sports, Barr Rebecca Shasset,the Director of Administration, Mrs Rotmwa Kefas,the Director of Youths Development, Mr Salis Abdullahi Mohammed, the Executive Director of Face of Peace on the Plateau, Mr Emmanuel Jugu,the Deputy Chairman of the Plateau State Youths Council, who represented the State Chairman, Mr Walshak Kumwen,the Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State Youths Council,the Plateau State Director of Sports, Prof Ezra Abednego Gunen,the Director of Finance and Supples of the Plateau State Sports Council, Mr Sylvanus Gonyok,the Director of Administration of the Plateau State Sports Council, Mr Benjamin Ballanson,the Public Relations Officer of the Sports Council, Mr Alfed Gonyok,the Chairman of the Plateau Publishers Association, Chief Amb Nanyah Andrew Daman amongst many others.

In his remarks the Public Relations Officer of the PYC, Mr Walshak Kumwen who led the youths to the Commissioners office expressed his appreciation to Alh Bashir Lawandi Datti for warmly receiving the team and also congratulated the Commissioner for his well deserved appointment.

 The PYC PRO also prayed for the Commissioner's ability and capability to foster peace,unity and growth among the youths on the Plateau. 

In his welcome address the Commissioner,Hon Bashir Lawandi Datti welcomed all the media bodies, the youths leadership and all those who came in support of the event of the day.He wished for all youths a happy international day celebration. 

The Commissioner said celebrations will continue on Friday and the tree planting and Symposium on Saturday 12th August, 2023 when the whole event will be rounded with some resource persons who will be invited to throw more ligjt on the 2023 International Youths Day Celebrations, with the aim of equipping youths with the knowledge of "Green Skills for  Youths, Towards A Sustainable World",which the theme for the 2023 International Youths Day and the meaning of the celebration.

In a question and answer session, the Media Executives through their representatives asked some impressive questions which were all thrown to the commissioner. This session had Polycarp of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who asked “ What significant role can the youths play on the Plateau in terms of common course”?Chief Ambassador Nanyah Andrew Daman of the NewsGate Magazine asked that “beyond the ritual of celebrating Youths Day annually, what can be deliberately done to foster sustainable growth, peace and unity among youths in Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole?” Miss Zoe Machunga of the Jay FM asked “ How can youths be part of a course to sustainable peace and progress ?’'

The commissioner who keenly listened to the few questions responded to them at once by first expressing his concern and prayer that the youths should take him for his words and that all should know that he has Plateau State and Plateau Youths at heart with positive motive. He said he is a Plateau man who is a detribalised person with no thought of religious biogotry in his leadership style.
 In response to all the questions asked,the Commissioner said he is committed to seeing that Youths on the Plateau are in peace with one another irrespective of tribe and religious beliefs. He said if all the youths can understand that putting away tribal and religious sentiment is a solution to the impasse we experience in term of peace and security then,we would have surmounted the whole Plateau challenges in peace, security, growth and development. He said with the cooperation of the Youths he is assuring a sustainable growth, peace, unity and development among the youths which he is one.

In conclusion and a vote of thanks, the PYC Deputy Chairman who represented the Council Chairman said they are looking forward to an all inclusive leadership and gender balancing. He said men and women are all equally relevant and should be given equal opportunity in governance. He called on the leadership of the State to interface in hunting ideas that will propel unity and progress on the Plateau . 
He thanked the Commissioner once more  and wished him a wonderful capacity to sustain his humility and ability to translate all his promises to actions and achievements.

The main event of the 2023 International Youths Day on Saturday 12th August, 2023 started with a walk show from the Old Airport Roundabout to Azi Nyako Youths Centre,where the headquarters and offices of the Plateau State Youths Council is located. 
The road show was populated with youths carrying various banners, adorned on green t-shirts and face caps chorusing songs from the DJs music to the  delight of followers behind the Federal Road Safety Corps vehicle. 

The Commissioner of Youths and Sports, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Director of Administration, Director of Youths Development and other dignitaries planted various economic trees within the Azi Nyako Youths Centre. 

After the planting of trees, the Commissioner led dignitaries and the youths into the multi purpose hall for the Symposium with Mr Luka Panpe and Davou Dung who presented papers. 

The Commissioner of Youths and Sports reprented the Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency Barr Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang at the event,the Permanent Secretary Miistry of Sports represented the Commissioner,the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Hajiya Yaro representedthe CommissionerofSecondaryEducation,the Director of Sports, Prof Ezra Abednego Gunen, who gave a pep talk to the youths and audience, Directors of the Ministry and Plateau State Sports Council, Secretary of Mighty Jet,representative of the General Manager of the Plateau United Football Club,Mr Salis Abdullahi Mohammed, representing the Civil Society Organisations and many others attended the 2023 International Youths Day Celebrations at the Azi Nyako Youths Centre.