A cross of Plateau youths during the 2025 Hike and Sports Competition
Plateau State Government has endorsed the Shendam Local Government 2025 Hike and Sports Competition, describing the initiative as a deliberate move to deepen tourism development, youth engagement and grassroots governance across the state.
The endorsement was given in Shendam during the outdoor lifestyle event tagged “Beyond the Trail 2025,” which drew participants from different parts of Plateau State, other states of the federation and members of the diaspora.
Speaking at the event, the Plateau State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Musa Achoms, said the initiative reflected the state government’s commitment to taking tourism and recreational activities beyond Jos while providing productive platforms for young people.
“We are happy that we have a place where people can converge. I am particularly happy that we have come out in large numbers with young people, corps members, youth leaders, civil society leaders and community leaders to experience the Shendam Hills. We have gone up, and now we are on our way down. There will be other activities apart from the hiking,” he said.
Achoms said Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang was pleased with initiatives that empower youths and position Plateau citizens competitively on the global stage, noting that the hike had opened fresh opportunities for the state’s tourism sector. He stressed that each local government area must intentionally develop attractions capable of drawing visitors.
“When you come to Shendam, you will see a chairman who understands his responsibilities. His Excellency is happy with initiatives like this. He has created platforms that allow Plateau sons and daughters to be at par with other global citizens, so that we are not intimidated when we travel outside the country. What others have, we also have.
“Plateau State has 17 local government areas, and each should have something that draws people to it. In Shendam, there are many attractions, and the chairman has ignited them. This initiative has opened new vistas for our tourism sector,” he stated.
Earlier, the Chairman of Shendam Local Government, Hon. Dr. Kemi Nicholas Nshe, said the hike was conceived as a unifying platform to bring people together while showcasing Shendam and Plateau State to a wider audience.
“This event is about bringing people together. As you can see, the people here are not only from Shendam. We have friends from Mangu and people from different places. We even have people from outside the country—Italy, Spain and others,” he said.
According to him, the initiative was aimed at strengthening peaceful coexistence and encouraging tourism beyond the state capital. He added that the hike was not driven by political considerations but focused squarely on youth engagement and unity.
“This is about showcasing Shendam and Plateau State, bringing people together, promoting unity and progress, encouraging tourism and peaceful coexistence in Plateau State, Nigeria and even beyond,” Nshe said.
“This is not about politics. It is about unity—bringing people together in unison so that Plateau State can prosper together,” he noted.
Also speaking, the Plateau State Director of Liaison, MDAs and Security Agencies in Abuja, Hon. Ziphion Terkop Chrysanthus Bala, described the hike as a platform that promotes unity and peaceful coexistence, particularly during the Christmas season.
In a separate remark, a politician from Mangu Local Government Area, Ibrahim Mangset, said the presence of foreign and diaspora participants underscored Shendam’s growing profile as an emerging tourism destination.
Some participants from outside the country also took part in the event, including Homms Omar, a biker originally from Syria but resident in Nigeria, who described the hike as healthy, energetic and unifying.
Another participant, Miss Bawa Justina, said the event gave her the opportunity to explore parts of Shendam she had never visited before while meeting new people.
Following the hike, the commissioner and other officials toured sports and recreational facilities developed by the Shendam Local Government, which the state government said would help channel youthful energy into positive activities and further position Shendam as a rising tourism hub in Plateau State.
