LITTLE THINGS THAT MATTER: CONSIDER THE THINGS YOU HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKING

 

This beautiful Art work is the handiwork of Lekwa Laski, a graduate of the Arts Department, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu. He made it during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Jos, and was erected with Nnabugwu Chizoba and presented to Plateau State during the tenure of Chief Chibi Josua Dariye

Do you know that many people following and reading us since we started releasing some unique information about the Afizere people of Plateau State in the North Central Region of Nigeria, best described as the Middle Belt are people who have been living in Plateau State for a very long time or have lived in the state sometime in the past? There are also many other people following and reading us that have never had any stint with Plateau state but are already in love with the state.

The above is no news may be, but the same thing cannot be said about the revelation that almost all those that have expressed surprise over what they read about the Afizere people, and wondered where the ancient Afizere settlement is located, are living in Jos Plateau state or had lived in Jos or other parts of the state before their relocation to where they are presently. 

If you have been following our publications about the ancient settlement of the good people of Afizere nation you would have noticed that we have never mentioned where it is located. This is deliberate and absolutely in order going by our plans.

Among the few major reasons we did not reveal the location of the ancient settlement of the Afizere people located in Plateau State is to witness firsthand the reactions and responses of our readers with regard to the publications.

Before veering into this our latest line of publication, we conducted a self imposed survey with the aim of ascertaining the attitude and understanding of the people with regard to:

• What tourism is to them
• What will trip them with regard to the above
•  What they consider remarkable and outstanding in line with the above
• Their knowledge of what is in their immediate environment

Our findings are amazingly instructive.

Of a truth you may find it very hard to accept the fact that many people are living in Jos City, an area closest to where the ancient settlement of the Afizere people is located but are not aware of the existence and location of the ancient settlement. Many other people pass through the location several times, including those that said the area has been their regular route for upward of 5 years, and for some, 10 years even, but only to find out that they are not in the know that the ancient Afizere settlement is located in their route, how much more visiting or climbing the 100 steps to the ancient settlement. They expressed their regrets. Surprising isn't it?

 

This is a former federal minister in Nigeria. Details coming soon

It is on record that Plateau State is known as the “Center for Peace and Tourism” in other words the state is highly reputed and active in tourism. For this reason many people outside the state may conclude that the state witnesses very heavy traffic in terms of tourism and tourism related activities always, but I can tell you for free that the expression “Center for Peace and Tourism” is a mere slogan... a narrative we are out to change and working very hard to actualize.

Let me draw attention to the effect that my statement in the above paragraph should not by any stretch of the imagination be construed by anybody to mean derogatory and demeaning of the state, and/or erroneously interpreted to mean that Plateau State is not reasonably endowed and richly saturated with what can be best and professionally described as wonderful, very natural and enticing tourism locations and sites.

As a matter of fact it is relevant that I note categorically that Plateau state is richly blessed, just as most of the states in Nigeria are in tourism. The blessings of Plateau state in the tourism area include: 

• Massively celebrated scenic beauty of her environment
• Known hospitality of the people
• Unique farming implements and tools
• Unique cooking and eating utensils
• Unique native dressing by both men and women
• Energetic dance steps of the men
• Romantic, calm and inviting dance steps of the women coupled with the wriggling of the waist and the coordinated movement of the other body part
• Numerous other tangible and intangible heritage and cultural activities
  

Ideally therefore, the assertion as already captured that Plateau State is the Center for Peace and Tourism is real. It is not exaggerated, it is not an oxymoron.

Moving forward, I can say without mincing words, and without any fear of contradictions that the reactions that have been following our publications have been quite encouraging, though of mixed reactions sort of. I can boldly say they are largely an admixture of feelings and conjectures of various kinds, but the reception through the reactions and responses have been out rightly invigorating, and amazingly gratifying. Simply put, the people’s reactions and responses have been revealing, tremendously exciting and indeed informative and uniquely empowering.

Thanks for visiting and reading us… Please remember that we cherish it when you deposit your thought in our commentary box. We also implore you to share our link with friends and other contacts of yours, as well as encouraging them to do the same.

For those calling and discussing with regard to the publications, which though is very highly appreciated, encouraging, supportive and heartwarming, I will be quick to point out that it is equally important and more beneficial if we learn to also share such thoughts and expressions on this Platform using the commentary box provided for this purpose. This will ensure that others read and make their own contributions. This way we are building each other and growing collectively.

Nnabugwu Chizoba