By Gabriel Ameh
ABUJA — The Kwararafa Development Forum (KDF) is set to convene the Kwararafa Peoples Assembly on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, with traditional rulers, political leaders, academics, business leaders and delegates expected from across Nigeria and the diaspora.
The organisers said the gathering, themed “The Ancient Truths, The New Dawn,” is designed to bring together more than 85 paramount rulers, over 150 first-class chiefs and traditional council heads, as well as about 2,500 delegates.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been invited as Distinguished Guest of Honour, while the Governor of Taraba State is listed as Convener and the Aku Uka of Wukari as Chief Host.
The organisers said governors from Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Niger and other states associated with the Kwararafa heritage have also been invited.
According to the KDF, the assembly is intended to formally introduce the organisation as a pan-ethnic development platform focused on economic development, cultural preservation and policy advocacy.
Historical heritage takes centre stage
A major feature of the event will be the premiere of a documentary titled “The Golden Thread: The Living Legacy of Kwararafa.”
The documentary is expected to examine the history and continuing cultural significance of Kwararafa, also rendered Kororofa in historical sources.
Historical sources describe Kwararafa as a significant precolonial political formation in the Middle Benue region. Its history is preserved partly through Hausa and Bornu chronicles, including references in the Kano Chronicle, while oral traditions and later scholarship have connected the formation with the Jukun and other communities.
However, historians have differed over its exact origins, political structure, territorial boundaries and the communities that constituted it.
The KDF says the documentary will seek to present the historical story alongside the living cultural traditions associated with the Kwararafa heritage.
Kwararafa Handbook to be unveiled
Another major component of the assembly will be the unveiling of the Kwararafa Handbook, described by the organisers as a reference document covering the history, cultural heritage, demographic profile, economic assets and development priorities of the communities represented by the forum.
The organisers said copies of the publication are expected to be presented to President Tinubu, the Governor of Taraba State and the Aku Uka of Wukari.
The forum will also present what it calls the Kwararafa Development Agenda to the Federal Government.
According to the organisers, the document will outline the resources, development priorities and areas where the communities believe they can contribute to Nigeria’s wider development.
Abuja Declaration expected
The assembly is also expected to produce an “Abuja Declaration”, a communiqué outlining the forum’s position on issues including national unity, security, economic development and representation within the Nigerian federation.
The KDF stressed that the gathering is intended as a civic and development platform rather than a political rally.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Chairman of the Central Planning Committee of the Kwararafa Peoples Assembly 2026, Alhaji Ahmadu Oga Aliyu Onawo, Andoma of Doma, described the event as an attempt to bring people connected by a shared historical heritage together around a common development agenda.
He said the forum viewed the media as a partner in communicating the significance of the initiative to Nigerians.
Royal procession, cultural performances planned
The programme will feature a ceremonial procession of traditional rulers, cultural performances, the documentary premiere, presentation of the Kwararafa Handbook and the reading and adoption of the Abuja Declaration.
Traditional dance groups representing several Kwararafa-associated communities are expected to perform during the event.
The organisers said representatives of the National Assembly, federal and state governments, the diplomatic community, academia, the military and security services, the private sector and the Kwararafa diaspora are also expected.
The event is scheduled to begin with VIP reception at 10:00 a.m., while the main programme is expected to commence at 11:00 a.m.
The organisers said the event will be broadcast live on NTA and streamed across digital platforms.
The KDF has described the assembly as an opportunity to combine historical identity with contemporary development concerns and to establish a platform through which participating communities can articulate shared priorities.
The event will be held under the banner: “One Heritage. One Voice. One Future.”
