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| The Jarawa Dancers |
By Nnabugwu Chizoba
A common saying of my people of Isuikwuato, in Abia state is here para-phrased: The neglected one does not neglect himself or herself. Translated to my Mother tongue, it reads, "Onye ajuru aju aduwu aju onwoya".
With the above in mind, let me quickly delve briefly into the Afizere people and deposit my findings about them. This is with regard to their effort to create meaningful opportunities for their people to ache a living, to develop their land and to impact their country, though like many other indigenous people of Nigeria they are neglected by the Nigerian authorities.
The Afizeres are noble, hardworking and very productive indigenous people of Nigeria, located in the North Central part, Plateau State, precisely. They are reputed as mountain dwellers, and are surrounded by very beautiful Rocks, Hills and mountains of different sizes and shapes that are specially positioned by nature at unique and strategic spots. The Afizeres are joyful, trustworthy and loving, industrious, courageous and hospitable. As predominantly farmers, they are highly dedicated to their major occupation, farming. The Sons and Daughters of Afizere are well read, some Professors. Professionals from various fields of human endeavor abound in Afizere land.
Late Azi Nyako, and the woman reputed as the Mother of the National Museum Jos, Late Mama Abagyer Binta Bako, first Plateau woman employed at the National Museum Jos, and widely known for her exploits in the arts and craft, Pottery, especially, that was instrumental to the creation of what is presently known as the Arts and Craft market of the National Museum Jos are descendants of the Afizere Kingdom.
It is essential at this point to note that the popular Shere Hills, comprising the Gog and Magog Hill (meaning male and female), and several other hills that stand thousands of feet above sea level are located in Afizere. The 100 Steps, Afizere settlement, one of the most visited Tourists sites is in Afizere. From the peak or highest point of the 100 Steps, the climber to the ancient Afizere settlement is presented with the opportunity to have 360 degrees view of Jos, Plateau state capital. Similarly, the Jarawa international Dance group shown in one of the two sides of the N100 (One hundred Naira) Currency note of Nigeria is another beauty found in Afizere. In agriculture the Afizere people are rich and well-endowed with various kinds of farm produce.
Like most other parts of Nigeria, the Afizere land is neglected by political office holders, the elected and appointed, as was the case during the military regimes of yester years.
The leadership of Afizere Cultural Association, presently led by Engineer Ashom Yakubu, is not in doubt about the rich nature-endowed resources deposited in their land and in line with the adage introduced at the beginning of this piece is pushing hard to develop and project their resources for global attraction, recognition and use, aware that the benefits are huge. However, the major handicap of the Engr. Ashoms led leadership is money. The association indeed, lacks the financial muscle to translate its beautiful ideas into products and services that satisfy human needs, but interestingly, the team is not relenting in the efforts to develop and present to the world the heritage and culture of Afizere.
A vibrant, young and enterprising Goal getter, Mr. Christopher Azok, call him if you like "Mr Tourism Plateau state”, is providing the Engr Ashoms led leadership the technical support. He is a strong ally and true son of his people of Afizere. Chris as fondly called by numerous admirers of his is a pathfinder. He is active, passionate and a very dependable force, driving the tourism development agenda of his people. From close observation, it is obvious that Chris has turned the tourism agenda of Afizere and Plateau state into a movement, now at a feverish level. He conducts his tourism oriented and passion driven activities with commitment and unwavering courage. He is a special gift to Plateau state.
It is interesting to note that efforts though scanty have been made by different levels of the Nigerian authorities as moves to develop Afizere land. For reference purposes it is important to note that the only mountain school in Nigeria is sited in Afizere. The same is true of the Nigerian Film Institute, the National Centre for remote sensing, and the University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and the National Museum Jos.
Apart from the National Museum Jos, established in the 1950s, the rest are recent developments, and are not even given the attention that they genuinely deserve. This conclusion is informed by the reasoning that the identified facilities were in the first place sited in Afizere, as a strategy to develop the nature endowed tourist locations in the area, but as it is common with the Nigerian leaders nothing serious and worthy of reckoning in terms of tourism development has been done.
The above narrative, in brief, highlights few of the interesting, but neglected wealth that nature deposited in Afizere land that Nigerian leaders have refused to develop.
Deductively, the reader can now relate better with the issues and on the basis of this, connect with the adage "The neglected one does not neglect himself or herself" most especially, when consistent efforts by the leadership of Afrizere Cultural Association, led by Engineer Ashom Yakubu to develop and promote the tangible and non-tangible heritage and culture, arts and craft, special cuisines, attires and costumes of Afizere is considered.
The Sons and daughters of Afizere and other parts of Nigeria, on account of the poor governance system that has led to the neglect of the identified assets in Afizere land, have continued to roam the streets, wallowing in poverty, hunger and penury, because the authorities have refused to open up the economic space to create room for a shift in the form of diversification of the local economy.
The unintended consequences of such neglect, may be, but obviously visible, include: lack of job creation, wealth generation and employment opportunities. The implications are consistent rise in unemployment rate, poor living conditions of citizens, and most recently, increasing number of restive youths, teens and adults. Banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery, incessant attacks and other heinous crimes are now regular events. Other self-destructive tendencies and self-debilitating behaviours are now order of the day.
Is the occurrence of these ugly events in the country another approach that the saying of my people that the rejected does not reject himself or herself" manifesting in the society?
... as the authorities watch helplessly, with no lasting solution in sight, and Nigerians go to bed every night with their eyes half open, you van at least do something be a judge, Lend your voice
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