By Ezekiel Dontinna
It has become increasingly deliberate to again return pen to paper, following the massive turned out of people at the Ngas Village Market last Saturday.
It is also to refreshing the mindset of sons and daughters of Ngasland towards what primarily was to bring them together, share common values in love and unite for development of their people.
The essence of establishing such a market was to promote the rich cultural heritage by bringing close to town the practice of the old and educate younger generation.
Interestingly, apart from showcasing the Ngas culture and making the village economically viable, it turned out to be a centre of harmonious relationship among ethnic nationalities on the Plateau.
Although, as always been the case during festive period where people travel, the market at some point scale high and steep for that reason, but the momentum this year came with is a testament to a reloaded plans and better things to happen.
Unlike the previous, the show of interest this time around really demonstrated how reinvigorated people feelings were after the long festive weeks last Saturday.
That initial spirit of love, unity and the continued promotion of the rich cultural heritage over time, truly came to play with an unprecedented crowd.
Earlier, traders thought they might likely returned home with their commodities because of how scanty the market was in the morning, but the unexpected happened.
People later trooped in within an hour or two as if a bell was rang or they had a meeting before coming. The most interesting part of it all was, how people kept coming even in the evenings to have a feel of the market.
The increasing viability of the Ngas Village Market and its ability to keep developing every week seems to be hope against hope and utterly confused many who could not sieve out what it was main for.
However, some prominent sons and daughters of Ngasland who, for the first time, came to witness and take a look at the beautifully designed traditional structures and attires were received by Nde Chingdapba Ngop, the Madaki Ballang-Shipang and Chairman, Ngas Village.
In fact, one could not identify or meet some who came in for the first time to get their feelings. The few we were able notice were Chief Robert Taple, the immediate past Chairman, Plateau State Local Government Commission, Kitshiwe Gogwim Williams, a System Expert residents in Netherlands, former Deputy Council Chairman of the old Pankshin, Hon. Pius Yilchini, Christian Biska James and others.
After going round to have a look at the beautifully designed buildings and setting of the market, Kitshiwe Gogwim Williams, who based in the Netherlands said, “having seen and witnessed this place today by myself, I feel it’s awesome, incredible.
“The way people come together, you know, it shows some kind of union-ship and that really blows me up a lot. I appreciate, you know, the effort that you guys have made so far in this place.
“I’ve seen all these pictures going on on social media and today it’s part of something to say I witnessed it myself. It is awesome, incredible and culturally rich. So I would say, kudos to you guys”, he expressed interest.
Responding, the Management Committee Chairman of Ngas Village, Nde Chingdapba Ngop, the Madaki Ballang-Shipang, showered blessings on the young man who came all the way from Netherlands to have a feel of the Ngas Village and assured him of their prayers.
However, the Management Committee were left with no other option, but to allow people to at least, enjoy the little time they came share with their friends, because there no sign of them planning to leave the market any soon even as the day went darker with the chilly harsh weather of Jos.
Streetbell Online 