The senator representing Kaduna South senatorial district, Sunday Katung, has promised to support initiatives that promote cultural development, preservation, and exchange.
Katung said this at the weekend in Kafanchan during the Khituk Gwong Cultural Festival, organised by the Gwong Development Association, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna state.
He emphasised the importance of preserving cultural heritage, noting that it is a valuable tool for national unity, social cohesion, and economic growth.
According to him, “Cultural festivals play a vital role in preserving traditions, fostering social bonds, boosting tourism, and promoting group identity and unity.”
The lawmaker said he was honoured to be part of the festival which showcased the rich cultural heritage of the Gwong people.
He commended the Gwong ethnic nationality for sustaining the festival and urged them to continue to promote their culture and traditions.
Katung said: “The coming generations need this festival, as it serves as a link to their cultural history and identity.
“The theme ‘Gwong Heritage: Embracing Our Roots, Inspiring Our Future’ highlights the significance of recognising our heritage as an essential aspect of our identity and the need to preserve and celebrate it with pride.
“By doing so, we will continue to build bridges into the future that honour our past and sustain our uniqueness.”
The lawmaker noted that, like other festivals in Southern Kaduna, the Khituk Gwong Cultural Festival highlighted the importance of their traditions and customs.
According to him, culture and tradition are “the fabric that binds our society together and plays a crucial role in shaping our identity.
“This is why I will continue to encourage ethnic groups that lack such festivals to seriously consider starting something.
“As your representative, I am committed to supporting initiatives that encourage cultural development, preservation, and exchange.
“Our cultural heritage is a valuable resource that, through tourism, can nurture national unity, social cohesion, and economic growth.”
He expressed the hope that the festival would renew friendships, rejuvenate love, and strengthen the bonds between the people and the diverse communities around them.
“May it continue to inspire and unite us despite our differing beliefs, political views, and ethnic backgrounds,” he said.
