In a significant step toward promoting unity and development within the Gbagyi community, the Gbagyi Elders Forum (GEF) was officially unveiled in Abuja.
The forum, established as a non-partisan, non-governmental organization, aims to foster social interaction, preserve the rich cultural heritage of the Gbagyi people, and advocate for their rights and development.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT), Peterson Kaura (Karan Minna), welcomed dignitaries, members of the press, and Gbagyi community representatives at the unveiling ceremony.
He emphasized the forum’s commitment to peaceful engagement and sustainable development for the Gbagyi people.
“We Gbagyis are renowned for our integrity, hard work, patience, justice, and hospitality. This forum represents a movement toward peaceful actualization and sustainable development by helping us identify and address issues affecting our community.
“We urge the government to ensure that Gbagyi sons and daughters are included in key appointments and that their communities are developed with adequate infrastructure and support.
“We must appreciate our differences and face the future with indomitable hope and determination. Together, we will build a brighter future for ourselves and our children,” Kaura added.
As part of the unveiling, an erudite historian on the Gbagyi nation, Prof. Emeritus Enoch Oyedele, delivered a keynote lecture titled “Perspectives on Gbagyi Heritage and Economy: Past Achievements, Present Challenges, and Future Prospects.”
He highlighted the urgent need for Gbagyi leaders to rise and fill the leadership vacuum threatening the community’s progress.
“The Gbagyi people must unite and mobilize their energetic youth. They are the future leaders who will emancipate the Gbagyi nation. The task ahead is challenging, but unity and empowerment will lead to a brighter future,” Prof. Oyedele said.
The lecture was followed by insightful discussions from notable experts, including Prof. Andrew Zamani, Dr. Bonas, Dr. Balarabe Wakili, Dr. Isa Baba, and Ambassador Esther Audu.
DIG (Rtd) Job Doma, a BOT member, emphasized the forum’s commitment to promoting education and addressing security challenges in Gbagyi communities.
“We are mapping out strategies to ensure our youths are well-educated. Additionally, we have been actively supporting security agencies to combat banditry and insurgency. We mobilized vigilantes to protect our communities, enabling people to return to farming and other activities,” Doma said.
He called for greater government support, including the provision of training and resources for local security personnel.
The forum expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing a Gbagyi son to his cabinet, a move seen as a significant step toward recognizing the Gbagyi as a vital part of the Federal Capital Territory.
The Gbagyi Elders Forum, which has been in existence for four years, now plans to host an annual Gbagyi Day on February 8 to celebrate the community’s culture and achievements.
The forum’s leadership called on Gbagyi organizations within Nigeria and the diaspora to join the movement for unity and development.
For more information or media inquiries, interested parties are encouraged to visit the forum’s website or contact Barrister George Koce via email at [email protected] or telephone at 0803 609 4241.
The unveiling marks a renewed commitment to the growth and prosperity of the Gbagyi people, with a clear focus on unity, education, security, and cultural preservation.
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