Nigerian Newsday

The Andoma of Doma, Alhaji Ahmadu Aliyu Ogah, has emphasised the need for government and communities to encourage young people in promoting the rich cultural heritage of our country, as a means of building a strong identity for the nation.

The Andoma stated this when members of a Lafia-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Play Back Workshop (PBW), paid him a visit in his palace in Doma, headquarters of Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, last week.

Presenting the development plan of PBW for Doma community to the Andoma, the coordinator of the organisation that is, Mr. Ovens Ehinmatie, said that PBW was an organisation, interested in developing rural communities using culture as a tool.

He said PBW hoped to achieve this through focusing on primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, local government areas, the underprivileged people, youths and women organisations in the rural areas of the country.

Mr. Ehimatie noted that government policies were always aimed at creating an enabling environment for the people to develop their potentials, adding that the trade policy on the ban of importation of fruit juice and textile materials was to encourage our local manufacturers and in turn bring about development.

"Development is all about people. It is you and me not just the government. We all have the potentials, the resources, we have fertile land, craft and the strength to better our lives and the economy, why suffer in the midst of plenty," Mr. Ehimatie questioned.

He continued that in Doma, there were lots of oranges and sugarcane which could be processed and marketed if government could provide the necessary machinery.

He stated that it was in view of this that his organisation, using a participatory approach was trading on cultural renewal and was focused on researching, analysing, renovating and promoting the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria for sustainable development.

"We are in Doma to help the people appreciate their customs, their arts and craft and let them know that they have all it takes to make their lives better and we pledge our corporation in realising this aim," Mr. Ehimatie stated.

The Andoma on behalf of Doma chiefdom welcomed the organisation and commended it for its timely intervention in the development of Doma land, adding that his community was ever ready to support the organisation in achieving its goals and objectives.