Vice President Kashim Shettima Sunday said he is proud of the unique place Ham people occupy in Nigeria and world history.
He made the statement while felicitating with the Chief of Ham, Dr. Danladi Gyet Maude, and the entire Ham nation at Kwoi, Jaba local government area of Kaduna state during the annual Tuk Ham cultural festival.
Represented by a senior legislative aide to the Deputy President of the Senate , and member, Mr Stephen Shekari, the vice president said: “I am extremely proud of the unique place the people of the area occupies in Nigeria’s and the world’s history, as the homeland of Nigeria’s first and one of the world’s earliest civilizations, the Nok Culture, the Ham people undoubtedly boast of a rich cultural heritage.”
He noted that the Nok terracotta, first discovered in 1928, attests to the Nok people’s remarkable achievements in agriculture, technical development, social life, and religious practices, showcasing Nigeria’s ancient cultural richness.
“Despite being a small settlement, the Nok civilization was a complex, culturally rich society that displayed extraordinary skills for its time and is believed to have influenced later cultures in the Niger River forest areas, such as Igbo-Ukwu, Benin, and Ife.”
He said the history of the Nok culture serves as a challenge to today’s inhabitants of Southern Kaduna, with over fifty ethnic groups, to revive that ancient spirit of resilience and progress in agriculture, industry, technology, and culture.
He said, “This is why I not only salute but agree with the organizers of today’s event for choosing “Unveiling the Rich Cultural Heritage of the Ancient Nok Civilisation as this year’s theme for the Tuk Ham cultural festival.”
Shettima added that, to achieve the noble objective, it is essential for the people of the Nok area to eschew bitterness, embrace dialogue, and collaborate with one another, governments at all levels, and other relevant stakeholders to restore peace and consolidate progress in security, agriculture, education, healthcare, and infrastructure, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Indeed, unveiling the rich cultural heritage of the Nok civilization requires massive investment in road infrastructure, healthcare, education, and, most importantly, security and peace.
“I’m proud to say that President Tinubu shares this great vision and is leading the way with initiatives like the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, and the Federal Medical Centre, Kafanchan. I challenge the elected Kaduna state government, other elected representatives from this area, and stakeholders to complement Mr. President’s commitment by working together in the best interest of the people.”