Plans are in top gear for the 2026 Ngas Annual Festival of Arts and Culture, Puusdung, which is expected to hold in April, as organisers promise a richer and more expansive celebration.
Speaking at a world press conference in Jos on Thursday, Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Noel Wannang, said the forthcoming edition would highlight the enduring cultural strength and shared heritage of the Ngas people.
The briefing, held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists** Press Centre in Jos, provided insight into the vision and preparations for the festival, which marks its 38th year.
Wannang said Puusdung has grown beyond a periodic cultural gathering into a rallying point for unity, peace and socio-economic interaction among Ngas communities, both within Nigeria and across the diaspora.
He noted that the festival has continued to play a crucial role in preserving indigenous values while opening economic opportunities through tourism and local enterprise.
According to him, the 2026 celebration, themed “Ngas: Identity, Legacy and Continuity,”underscores the need to safeguard cultural inheritance and consciously pass it on to younger generations in a rapidly changing world.
He explained that activities lined up for the festival would include traditional performances, arts and crafts displays, exhibitions, and youth-focused programmes aimed at talent development and entrepreneurship, alongside forums designed to promote reconciliation and communal harmony.
The committee chairman disclosed that extensive consultations are ongoing with traditional rulers, government institutions, security agencies, cultural associations and private sector stakeholders to guarantee a hitch-free event.
He added that specialised sub-committees have been constituted to manage areas such as security coordination, logistics, media engagement, sponsorship and preservation of cultural standards.
Wannang appealed to stakeholders, including Ngas sons and daughters, corporate bodies, development partners and governments at all levels, to lend their support, stressing that sustained cultural investment remains key to identity preservation and community development.
The week-long festival is expected to draw visitors from within and outside the country, further positioning the Ngas homeland as a destination for cultural tourism and heritage appreciation.
