Plateau Community Urged To Celebrate Cultural Heritage

The chairman of the Central Planning Committee of Ngas Annual Festival of Arts and Culture (PUUSDUNG) 2026, Prof. Noel Wannang, has called on Ngas people to reflect deeply in their roots, celebrate their heritage and intentionally secure their future.

Wannang made the call while addressing newsmen in Jos  on the level of preparation to host the 2026 PUUSDUNG with the theme, “Ngas : Identity , Legacy and Continuity.”

According to him, over the years, the festival has grown beyond a cultural gathering into a unifying force for their people at home and in the diaspora adding that it promotes peace, strengthens communal bonds, stimulates local enterprise, and contributes meaningfully to tourism and economic activity within their communities.

He maintained that the objectives for this year’s festival include, preserving and promoting Ngas cultural heritage through music, dance, traditional rites, arts, crafts, and exhibitions.

Other objectives according to him,  include engaging youths meaningfully by creating platforms for talent discovery, entrepreneurship, and cultural education.

He noted that it  is more than a festival adding that it  is the soul of the Ngas people, celebration of their history, resilience, creativity, and collective identity.

“It is a sacred platform where tradition meets modernity, where elders pass down values to the younger generation, and where we proudly showcase the richness of Ngas heritage to the world.”

Prof Wannang also argued that the festival is a reminder that culture is not self-sustaining, it depends on deliberate commitment stressing that this year’s edition will ignite renewed hope, pride and responsibility for the Ñgas people.

“We are working closely with traditional institutions, community leaders, government agencies, security agencies, cultural groups, and private sector partners to ensure a well-coordinated, peaceful, and successful event.”

The chairman Central Planning Committee further said, the week-long event will witness exhibitions where some of the rich Ngas culture and arts will be showcased through exhibition.

“We call on sons and daughters of Ngas land, friends of our culture, corporate organisations, development partners, and government at all levels to support Puusdung 2026.

“Culture is not just about celebration; it is about identity, continuity, and development”, Wannang said.