by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
PLATEAU STATE – The new Gwom Chugwi in Vwang District of Jos South local government area of Plateau State, Da Atyos Mwankon Mandung, has said that, as an educationist he believes that education is a tool for positive change in any society.
He promised to ensure that their children and youths take advantage of the opportunities that exist in the community and beyond to pursue their life ambition and become leaders of tomorrow.
Speaking during his coronation at the New Life Primary School, Darangi-Chugwi of Vwang District recently in his acceptance/inaugural speech, Da Mandung warned youths to shun drug abuse, early marriage, alcoholism, school dropout and other social vices.
Apart from the commitment in educating their children, new Gwom Chugwi urged every parent to also demonstrate good parenting through proper health care, proper feeding and provision of entrepreneurship skills to enable their children participate effectively in community development.
He noted that, he built on the foundation of his forefathers, which they had laid to further restore the respect of Chugwi among the comity of other villages and districts in Beromland and beyond.
The Gwom Chugwi revealed that, their forefathers had a well-crafted vision of a united, progressive and peaceful village, adding that, “What remains is for us to ensure that we work very hard to translate the vision into reality.”
Da Atyos Mandung also assured to work effectively to discharge the responsibility given to him by working with all stakeholders, saying, “To be able to achieve anything, we must work together and, if we do this, then we will bequeath to our children what will be better than what we inherited.”
He stressed that, he will work closely with the Vwang District Traditional Council to ensure that they stamp out indiscriminate sales of land as well as sales and consumption of illicit drinks. “And we will promote the Berom culture and tradition, and to coexist within the community and their neighbors.”
He also appealed to the illustrious sons and daughters, who are elected, appointed, engaged in government or private businesses to actively participate in community development programmes so as to supplement government’s effort in this direction, and warn that the stool of the Gwom Chugwi is not a platform for politics, saying, “Therefore, no politician should make attempt to influence it.”
Speaking during the coronation ceremony, the Plateau State Governor, Simom Lalong, represented by the Head of Civil Service in the State, Engr. Sunday Chong Hyat, commended the people of Chugwi to have chosen the leader that is acceptable to all, not only to Chugwi, Vwang District but to the whole Berom Community and Plateau State.
The Gwom Chugwi retorted that, while listening to his biography, a retired Civil Servant, who had served the state diligently as a teacher and retired meritoriously, exclaimed thus: “No wonder, he (Da Atyos Mwankon Mandung) had been found worthy among some to lead the community; and we believe, together with other traditional rulers that are in this district and, indeed in the State, would join hands with the government and the leadership of government in bringing peace to the state.”
According to him, “We know the challenges that we are facing; it’s a difficult moment, and we should all pray and know that God will answer our prayers. Our traditional institutions can grant us peace.”
Engr. Hyat stated that, “Vwang Community is a peaceful community that I know. As a child, I used to spend most of my time here in Chugwi, from Ganawiri, and we have lived peaceful and harmoniously and we are looking forward to strengthen that bone of fellowship and, not only between the two communities but between every community under the state.”
Speaking on districts creations, Engr. Hyat said “The State Government is aware and there is a community that is looking at that; and I am sure when the time comes, that would be done.”
