1st Anniversary: Lalong, wife, Akabe, Ari, Gagdi, others, bag Kwo traditional titles
His Royal Highness, the Long Kwo of Kwo Chiefdom, Miskoom Fidelis Longtoe Attahiru I, is scheduled to award traditional titles to some prominent personalities from within and outside his chiefdom, as part of activities slated to mark his one year anniversary on the throne of his ancestors.
Periscope International recalls that the Long Kwo was installed by Gov Lalong last year after the traditional stool remained vacant for many decades due to an unresolved succession dispute.
The investiture ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 30, in Kwande, the capital of Kwo Chiefdom, Quaan-Pan Local Government Area, will feature the investiture of Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong as the Patwarang (Emancipator) of Kwo Land; and his wife, Mrs Regina Lalong, as the Noen Loekoek (Mother of Orphans).
Also to bag traditional titles are the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, who is to be awarded the title of La Kwo (Son of Kwo); and Rep Yusuf Gagdi, representing Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam in the National Assembly, who is to bag the title of Goesha Loekoek of Kwo (Friend of Orphans of Kwo).
Other prominent recipients of traditional titles during the ceremony include the Director-General, Industrial Training Fund, (ITF), Sir Joseph Ari, who is to bag the title of Kurnajam (Defence Minister) of Kwo; Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ivory Coast, Ambassador Martin Adamu Jnr, as the Marafa of Kwo; prominent lawyer and foremost 2023 House of Assembly aspirant for Quaan-Pan South State Constituency, Prof Theodore Maiyaki, as the Longshal of Kwo (Sarkin Yaki).
The awardees list also includes Prof. Garba Sharubutu, as the Longmar (Sarkin Noma); former Vice Chancellor, UniJos, Prof. Sebastian Maimako, as the Long A’an (Dan Masani); PLASIEC Chairman,Mr Fabian Ntung, as the Gwaat Long (Garkuwa) and prominent businessman, Dr. Godfrey Bawa Shitgurum as the Duam Long of Kwo (Jagaba)
Also to be invested are Plateau State Commissioner of Education, Mrs Elizabeth Wapmuk, as the Mialap Long (Zinariya); Barr. Paschal Longshep (Chief Judge) Kwo Land; and NUC’s Christopher Maiyaki as the Wei Long (Waziri); and U.S-based Dr Mathias Samu, as the Duam Japkwo Goeyil Goe Sampe’e (The Jagaban Kwo Abroad).
The ceremony, which will be under the distinguished chairmanship of Rep Munnir Agundi of Kombotso Federal Constituency of Kano, will be graced by the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Idris Maje, as Son of Honour.
A statement issued on Saturday by Chief Stephen Sarki Musa, the Long Ngwai (Information Minister of Kwo) and the event’s Chairman, Media and Protocol Committee, said that the two-day event will commence on Friday April 29 with the commissioning of a remodeled Magistrates’ Court by the Chief Judge of Plateau State, Justice David Mann.
Sarki said that on Saturday April 30, 2022, the ceremony will continue with a Thanksgiving Mass to be celebrated at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Kwande, to be presided over by Bishop Philip Dung, the Catholic Bishop of Shendam and Bishop Hilary Dachelem, the Catholic Bishop of Bauchi.
The Long Ngwai added that the celebration, which will climax with Saturday’s investiture of the dignitaries, is expected to feature a variety of dances and other cultural displays from within and outside Kwo Chiefdom. and also draw a cream of guests from all walks of life, home and abroad.
