Dr. Jessica Mafeng Stevens, the Peoples’ Redemption Party, PRP, candidate for the Plateau State House of Assembly representing Jos South, has engaged youths from different sectors in discussions on challenges confronting them and possible solutions.
The engagement, held at Afic Motel, Jos, brought together youths from diverse fields, including technology, health, politics and creative industries, among others.
The interaction provided a platform for participants to share their experiences, identify pressing challenges and explore practical ways of creating opportunities for young people in Plateau State.
Stevens said her decision to contest the House of Assembly election was informed by her desire to move beyond complaining about societal challenges and contribute directly to solving them.
The PRP candidate, who is the founder of Ideal Community Aid, said her experience in community development and youth-focused initiatives had strengthened her passion for public service.
She said many Nigerian youths were hardworking and resilient but had been trapped in a survival mindset due to the unfavourable environment in which they operate.
“I think we need to fix that. That’s the first thing that we need to fix, our mindset. We’ve been on survival mode all our lives.”
Stevens argued that young people already possessed the skills, ambition and resilience required to succeed, but lacked the supportive structures needed to develop and deploy those abilities effectively.
She also called for greater youth participation in politics, stressing that young people must take an active interest in governance rather than wait for political power to be handed to them.
“I don’t believe anybody will ever give you power on a platter of gold and silver. It has to be something that you have to fight for.”
The candidate said her manifesto contained practical plans on how she intended to achieve her objectives if elected, urging the youths to examine her track record and hold her accountable to her promises.
Also speaking, Na’omi Kareem, Creative Director of Asas Events and Executive Director and Founder of House of Nobles Initiative for Community Development, called for stronger collaboration among different sectors and ecosystems in the country.
Kareem said collective action was necessary to address Nigeria’s challenges, urging young people and other stakeholders to work together, take responsibility and build the synergy required to drive sustainable development.
It was very impactful