The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has identified poverty as a major driver of insurgency, kidnapping, and insecurity in Nigeria.
Yilwatda made the remark in a keynote address at the 20th Anniversary Convention and Award Night of the Plateau State Association in the United States of America (PSA-USA), held on Wednesday in Lanham, Maryland. The event was
themed “Poverty Alleviation: A Pathway to Peaceful Co-existence.”
Describing poverty as a “hydra-headed monster” being tackled by the government, Yilwatda lamented that 63 percent of Nigerians currently live in multidimensional poverty.
Represented by Dr. Patrick Dakum, the APC chairman stressed that security challenges cannot be solved by force alone, noting that “only 30 percent of security lies with military action, while 70 percent depends on education, skills, and good governance.”
He commended the launch of the R64 Diaspora Campaign Fund to support the rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced communities across 17 local government areas and 64 wards in Plateau State.
According to him, the initiative “has not only provided relief to internally displaced persons (IDPs), but also renewed hope and strengthened Nigeria’s image before the world.”
National President of PSA-USA, Dr. Bartholomew Shepkong, described the campaign as a bold humanitarian step to provide infrastructure, relief, and long-term recovery for IDPs. He also highlighted the association’s achievements in education, cultural preservation, humanitarian relief, and advocacy.
“If the past twenty years were about survival and consolidation, the next twenty must be about transformation and impact. This association is not a spectator in the story of Plateau; it is a protagonist,” Shepkong said, while reflecting on PSA-USA’s 20-year journey and honouring its founders, past presidents, and departed members.
Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Naanlong Daniel, urged stronger collaboration between lawmakers and the diaspora to advance people-centred laws and deepen democracy in the state.
The Royal Father of the Day, HRH Miskoom Martin Shaldas III, praised the association’s resilience and charged members to sustain their contributions to the state’s development.
The highlight of the anniversary was the launch of the R64 Diaspora Campaign Fund. The two-day event also featured cultural showcases, networking sessions, and an awards ceremony honouring excellence in education, entrepreneurship, public service, humanitarian work, and diaspora leadership.
