Chairman of the Moro’a Development Association (MDA), Abuja Branch, Kaboshio Dauda, has described the annual cultural festival of the Asholio people of Moro’a Chiefdom in the  Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State as a platform for cultural revitalisation and national development.

Dauda stated this at the branch’s 2025 edition of the annual festival tagged, “MAM Asholio” in Abuja on Sunday.

He explained that the event, with the theme, “Empowering Women and Youths, Crucial for Fostering Inclusive Growth for Sustainable Development,” was organised to revitalise the Asholio cultural heritage.

The chairman added that the annual cultural festival would not only reinvigorate the Asholio culture but foster unity among the people and in the long run promote sustainable peace for national development.

He described the Asholio people in southern part of Kaduna State as industrious with unique cultural heritage that needs to be preserved for the unborn generation.

The chairman also said that beyond the preservation of the Asholio culture, the association was also working to empower vulnerable members through knowledge sharing and financial support where necessary.

He particularly commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for what he described as “unprecedented attention to people of Southern Kaduna..”

He stated, “Our people are beginning to feel recognised and included in the scheme of things at the state and national levels after decades of marginalisation.

“As far as I’m concerned, this is the best government we have experienced. Stability is gradually returning, and if sustained, the next few years will bring even more progress.”

The National President of the MDA, Dr Jolly La’ah, said that the gathering was also to thank God for the life in spite of the country’s current difficulties.

Mr La’ah argued that insecurity in Southern Kaduna was partly driven by population pressure, climate change and competition for land.

The president pointed out that the area designated for agricultural production had witnessed a surge of migrants from drought-hit regions, heightening pressure on resources and triggering clashes.

He, however, said that the situation was improving under the Tinubu administration.

Also, the immediate past Director-General of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Victoria Akai, called for urgent economic engagement at the grassroots to strengthen national development.

Ms Akai said this would help to tackle several challenges affecting the nation’s economy including insecurity and its impact on agriculture and education among other sectors.

According to her, the country will not achieve much progress if undue attention is given to the cities to the detriment of rural communities.

“We are at a point where we must hit the grassroots to ensure that economic development actually gets there. We cannot sit at the centre and claim we are meeting global trends.

“Women and young people must be central to economic inclusion because without them there is no community. People must leave here convinced that they can contribute to national development without waiting for government employment,” she said.

Ms Akai said that the Asholio community was richly blessed with resources and capable of sustaining itself with the right knowledge and commitment.

She also appealed to residents of Kaduna State to embrace peace, tolerance and inclusion.

“Let us make Kaduna the most peaceful state in Nigeria. We can achieve it if we decide to live together and secure our state,” she said. 

(NAN)