By Boniface Kassam
The Ngas Youth Movement (NYM) has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to coordinate the launch of a book documenting the historical and cultural ties between the Ngas and Kanuri peoples.
The book, titled The Kanuris and the Ngas People: An Inseparable Affinity, is scheduled for official launch in Abuja before the end of 2026.
The committee was inaugurated on October 9, 2026, by the Chairman of the Ngas Elders Forum, Dr. Gideon G. Barde, during its inaugural meeting at the residence of Nde Gonen Gofwen.
The committee comprises members of the Ngas community and Kanuri representatives from Borno and Nasarawa States, reflecting the collaborative nature of the initiative.
The publication follows advocacy visits by the NYM leadership to the Shehu of Borno and the Emir of Nasarawa a few months ago, aimed at strengthening the longstanding relationship between the two ethnic groups.
Speaking during the inauguration, Dr. Barde commended the NYM leadership for its efforts to consolidate the historical relationship between the Ngas and Kanuri peoples.
He recalled earlier engagements and contacts established during the lifetime of the late Shehu of Borno, stressing the need to sustain the bonds between the two communities.
Dr. Barde urged members of the committee to demonstrate commitment and seriousness in carrying out their assignment, noting that the initiative would help rekindle the shared ancestral history of the two peoples and preserve it for future generations.
The 17-member Central Planning Committee is chaired by Nde Yakubu Gomos, with Nde Gonen Gofwen and Nde Amos Gombi among its members.
Other members are Mohammed Nur Shuwa, Secretary; Nde Boniface Kassam, Public Relations Officer; Nde Zachariah Piwuna; Nde Kennedy Shemu; Abubakar Babagana; Chief Enoch Johnbulus; Nde Fabian Pyepung; Nde Wukaska Bako; Nana Rita Goyit; Mrs. Marylinda Ogbole; Prince Amb. Dr. Gofor Gompwel; Hassan Bugoma; Engr. Gaius Zachariah; and Shiktong Joshua Yanchi.
The meeting also constituted a six-member Editorial Committee, to be chaired by Nde Jonathan Ishaku, to review the manuscript before the official launch.
The forthcoming book launch is expected to contribute to the documentation and preservation of the shared history of the Ngas and Kanuri peoples, while promoting mutual understanding, cultural appreciation and peaceful coexistence.
The initiative aligns with the Ngas Youth Movement’s commitment to promoting unity, preserving heritage and strengthening historical bonds between communities.
