TheCable

Dung Christiana Moses, an undergraduate student of the University of Jos, is the new beauty queen of the Berom nation. The 17-year-old edged out 24 other contestants to emerge winner. She spoke with Frank Meke

AS NEW FACE OF BEROM NATION

I’m overwhelmed and not burdened by this development. It is indeed a challenge to know that His Majesty Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Buba and all district heads will expect me to showcase the best of our land, its people and culture. It is indeed the Lord’s doing that I am the Zere Berom 2016, chosen from my fellow elegant Berom sisters and mates. It has to be somebody and God through the people and youths of Berom in particular found me worthy to represent and become the beauty queen.

ISSUES THAT TOUCH THE MIND

Honestly as a youth, I wish to help rescue the Chibok girls. As Beroms, we have experienced the pains of dislocations due to the security disturbances that took place on our land. In fact, we the Beroms, particularly the youth saw firsthand the blood lettings and killings of our people – fathers, brothers, mothers and sisters even little innocent children, so I can understand how this Chibok girls issue plays out daily in the minds of parents. Also for me, I would want to build a platform that can bring the Berom young persons’ together. The trauma of the recent war with Fulani herdsmen is still visible but I believe we want to move ahead and get ourselves united to confront any challenge that may arise as a result of those ugly past.

LANGUAGE AS A TOOL OF CULTURAL REVIVAL

It is one area I would wish to address with the help of the majesty, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Buba. The Berom ethnic dialect must not be allowed to die. I am happy as the “Zere” (queen) that I can speak and write Berom fluently. With God on my side, I wish to visit each Berom districts to engage the youths, and the young Berom on critical life-changing programmes that will drive Berom dialect. Even though am from Ferom  district, by virtue of my position as queen of Berom, all Berom districts and plateau  state in general becomes my primary constituency so our culture and language will form part of major agenda to re-engage the youths of Berom.

The Chibok girls in captivity since 2014

PEACEFUL AND UNITED PLATEAU

That is the legacy left  behind my our fathers and we the youths craves to have our peace back. As much as we welcome all to our tourism rich state, we shall keep an eye on trouble makers even within our camp. As the queen, I will champion the cause of peace within Berom nation and plateau in general through engaging the youths in meaningfully self help projects. In due course, I will roll out the programmes with the help if His majesty, the government and people of Berom nation.

MARRIAGE AND EDUCATION

It will come when God desires it but first is to acquire good education. I just gained admission to study Christian Religious Studies and I think it is the Lord doing for me to take on this course of study.

EXPECTATIONS

I want to see tourists back on our land. We are a hospitable people and peace loving and that’s the way, we wish the world, including fellow Nigerians to see us. Indeed, a situation, where school children and youths from others land would come to Jos to behold the beauty of temperate plateau is a dream to cherish.