The need for unity, peaceful coexistence and collective responsibility has taken centre stage at the Jos Summit and Award Night 2026, organised by the One Plateau Unity Forum, with stakeholders calling for a united front to address the challenges confronting Plateau State and advance its development.
The summit, held at the Millennium International Event Centre, Jos, under the theme, “One Plateau, One People, One Vision: Building an Indivisible Future Together,” brought together political leaders, traditional rulers, professionals and other prominent citizens to deliberate on peace, reconciliation, youth empowerment and infrastructure development.
In his address, the President of the forum, Dr. Longbap Dinfa, emphasised the importance of setting aside political, religious and ethnic differences in the collective interest of Plateau State. He described the summit as an opportunity to promote dialogue, rebuild relationships and strengthen the bonds among the diverse communities that make up the state.
Dinfa also called for a more active role for traditional rulers in tackling insecurity, advocating a framework that would encourage community leaders to take greater responsibility for peace and security within their respective domains. He maintained that strengthening community-level accountability could contribute to reducing killings and other security challenges.
Former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Beni Lar, who is a candidate for Langtang North/South Federal Constituency, also underscored the need for unity, urging citizens to place the collective interest of Plateau above individual, political, ethnic and religious considerations. She stressed that the state’s progress depended on the willingness of its people to work together towards a common future.
Lar further highlighted entrepreneurship and tourism as important sectors that could expand economic opportunities, create jobs and engage young people productively.
Speaking on the theme, “Skills Acquisition: Unlocking Opportunities for Young People,” De Sele of Jos, Ngo Sarah Dagah, called for a more practical and sustainable approach to skills development, noting that training alone was insufficient without mentorship, access to finance, market opportunities and employment.
She outlined a progression from skills acquisition to practical experience, mentorship, financing, market access, business growth and employment, urging young people to take deliberate steps to translate their abilities into sustainable sources of livelihood.
Dagah encouraged youths and women to embrace self-reliance, invest in personal development and reduce dependence on politicians and individuals for financial assistance. She also urged those who had achieved success to mentor and support others, noting that such initiatives could inspire more young people to pursue economic independence.
On the need for improved infrastructure, Hon. Nanbol Listik identified roads, healthcare, education and electricity as essential components of sustainable development, stressing that access to these basic amenities directly affects the wellbeing of citizens and the economic growth of communities.
He particularly drew attention to the difficulties faced by rural farmers due to poor road networks, explaining that inadequate transportation infrastructure increases the cost of moving agricultural produce to markets and leads to significant losses, especially for farmers dealing in perishable goods.
Listik acknowledged government efforts to prioritise capital projects but noted that further investment and improvements were necessary to meet the growing needs of the people.
Also speaking at the event, the Plateau State Commissioner for Environment, Climate Change and Mineral Development, Hon. Ubandoma Laven, expressed gratitude to the forum for recognising him with an Award of Excellence, which coincided with his birthday.
Laven used the occasion to highlight the importance of collaboration among government ministries and agencies, stressing that effective service delivery required teamwork, coordination and a clear understanding of institutional responsibilities. Drawing from his experience in different ministries, he noted that government functions were interconnected and that greater synergy was necessary to achieve meaningful results.
The summit concluded with an award presentation to distinguished Plateau indigenes in recognition of their contributions to public service, leadership and other areas of societal development.
Recipients of the awards included Rt. Hon. Idris Wase, Ngo Sarah Dagah, Hon. David Lalu, Hon. Nanbol Listik, Hon. Ubandoma Laven and Prince David Daser and many others.
The One Plateau Unity Forum said the recognition was intended to celebrate individuals whose contributions have impacted society positively while encouraging other citizens to embrace service, responsibility and commitment to the advancement of Plateau State.
The discussions and recognitions at the summit reinforced the importance of unity, peaceful coexistence, accountable leadership, youth empowerment and sustained investment in infrastructure as essential pillars for building a peaceful, inclusive and prosperous Plateau State.
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