By Usman Shuaibu
The Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU), Gwagwalada Chapter, celebrated its 2026 Cultural Festival at the weekend, turning the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) grounds into a vibrant display of heritage and a rallying point for regional solidarity.
The event, which featured a colourful beauty contest and traditional dance displays, served as more than just a celebration; it functioned as a strategic call for the Southern Kaduna diaspora to unite against the recurring challenges facing their homeland.
In an interview during the festivities, the SOKAPU Gwagwalada Chairman, Mr. Nuhu Waney II, delivered a poignant message on the necessity of internal cohesion.
He attributed the prolonged crises in Southern Kaduna to a lack of a unified front.
“Once Southern Kaduna people are united, all things are possible.
“The crises we have been facing are largely because our people are not speaking with one voice.
“SOKAPU was established to bridge these gaps and drive development irrespective of our tribal differences”, he stated.
The leadership utilized the platform to advocate for greater recognition and social investment.
Waney II called on the Gwagwalada Area Council administration to formally identify with the Southern Kaduna community, noting their significant population and contributions to the local economy.
The Chairman of the occasion, Chief Dr. Anthony Ayasal (Waziri Ikulu), urged affluent Southern Kaduna indigenous people to sponsor the education of less privileged youths, describing it as a vital investment in the region’s future.
Not left out, the Planning Committee Chairman, Mr. Bitrus A. Umar, reminded attendees to serve as “good diplomats” for Southern Kaduna, maintaining peace and integrity within their host communities.
The festival concluded with a vibrant showcase of the region’s diverse ethnic groups.
Beyond the aesthetics of the beauty contest, the event reinforced the resolve of the Southern Kaduna people in the FCT to maintain their cultural ties while advocating for peace and progress in their ancestral homes
