Images of Ebiraland

BIOGRAPHY OF HAJIA SALAWU AMINATU AKA ECHE-OZOKU Hajia Salawu Aminetu, fondly known as Eche-Ozoku, was born in 1925 into the esteemed family of Alhaji Ovaito in Adavi-Odu, Kogi State. She was a woman of extraordinary talent, wisdom, and resilience, whose impact spanned across business, culture, and music. A TRAILBLAZER IN BUSINESS AND MUSIC Her journey began in 1960 as a skilled weaver in Ebira native clothes and entrepreneur, crafting beautiful, locally made fabrics that gained widespread recognition. However, her true passion lay in music, where she made a lasting mark in the local music industry. She was born during the prestigious Eche-Ahana festival, one of the most revered cultural celebrations in Ebiraland, and she carried that heritage with pride, promoting Ebira traditions through her songs. As a cultural ambassador, Hajia Aminetu traveled across Nigeria, performing in various states and spreading the rich musical heritage of Ebiraland. Her dedication and immense c...

A NATION MOURNS: CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF OUR BELOVED KING, HIS MAJESTY, DR. ADO IBRAHIM CON, OHINOYI EBIRA 31st October, 2023 Dear beloved Anegbira, Today, we are gathered with heavy hearts and deep sorrow to pray for the soul of our deceased revered leader, the Paramount King of Ebira, His Royal Majesty, King (Dr) Ado Ibrahim CON. The leadership of EPA, like every Anegbira, feels the harsh pains brought by the exit of this colossus. His departure from this world leaves a void that can never be filled, not only in our hearts but also in the very essence of our rich cultural heritage. As we all stand in this moment of shared grief, we need to recline back in faith to God Almighty who created him and the rest of us. No doubt we all loved him and wished that he lived longer but we cannot question the verdict of his creator. As we accept this reality however, we will be missing his wise counsels, his discipline, humor and the pride he represents for the entire Egbira peop...

Written by Noble Onoshovwe    At the turn of this century, when men were talking about millennium bug, Y2K scare, and glitch, Providence was putting together a unique gift to humanity. And to further stun the human race that amidst it's shortcomings and imperfections, something near perfect, a genius with utmost humility that will impact humanity positively is here, he was birthed on the first day of April 2000, and since then, the beautiful journey had begun. Abdulmumeen Jimoh, the enigma of our time, is from Okene, Kogi state, and just like the meaning of the state's name in Hausa, Mumeen is flowing a river of blessings into the state. In 2017, he emerged the champion in the youth category at the Prestigious Godswill Akpabio International Scrabble Classic. He was also chosen to represent Nigeria at World Youth Games in Australia in 2018, but missed it due to delay in paper works. For a promising young man currently serving the nation in National Youth Service Cor...

 By Tunde Olusunle It was four days to his 57th birthday. Exactly five years ago on Sunday March 5, 2017, however, Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, one of Nigeria‘s finest, most innovative and most resourceful journalists of all time, died in continually befuddling circumstances. He had attended the 80th birthday celebration of his erstwhile benefactor and boss, Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria‘s pioneer president in the current democratic milieu in Abeokuta, earlier that day. He was being chauffeured back to his base in Abuja, by a kinsman and friend, Adas Sadiq, a chartered accountant. The evening was speedily creeping in, dusk decisively outwitting the day in the horizon. He had attuned his mind to night stop in Akure or Okene, his hometown, a situation which diminished every thought of a long haul to the country’s capital city on Nigeria‘s capricious roads, where he set out from, two days earlier. According to accounts, Onukaba and his friend, ran into a roadblock mounted by armed ro...

As little kids, during Maulud celebrations in the 1970s at Okene in Kogi State, we used to march around all the nooks and crannies of Okene, visiting dignitaries like the late Ohinoyi, Alhaji Sani Omolori (at his palace), late Shaykh Ahmad Rufai (at Idoji), the late Attah's family,  late Chief Imam Musa Galadimah my Uncle (at Iruvuchegba) and now late Alhaji Badamasiyyu populary called (Badams) because of his popularity and very delicious bread (Badams Special Bread) in that order on the 1st day of Maulud activities. His compound too is at Iruvuchegba close to the Chief Imam's compound.  Alhaji Badamasiyyu used to receive the Maulud children with special joy, especially children from Okene Islamiyya Central Mosque, not because all his kids attend the school, but due to his special love for our beloved Nabbiy SAW.  I could still recall that one of his little son that we call "Champion" then (I can't recall his real name now) used to be our flag bearer f...

By Haruspice ( Photos by EbiraView ) In my voyage of hustles, I found myself last Monday in a place called Upake- a habitat inhabited by the Ebiras in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State. I was there on the invitation of the Rural Electrification Agency to anchor the commissioning of the first Rural Electrification Fund (REF) Minigrid based on Public Private Partnership at Upake Village in Ajaokuta LGA, Kogi State.  2, 879 people in Upake and more in the neighbouring Obangede community in Ajaokuta now powered with clean, safe and reliable energy. Upake is the first of 12 communities on the first call of the Rural Electrification Fund (REF). Upake community is believed to be the ancestral town of the Ebiras- the beginning of all Ebira civilisations started from this place. Years of total neglect has however rendered this cradle of civilisation of the Ebira speaking people as the forgotten capital of the world. When you are searching for what true poverty looks like, Upake i...

His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, on behalf of the entire government and citizens of Kogi State solemnly commiserates with the family of late Literary icon, formidable playwright, distinguished citizen, illustrious Kogi son and former governorship aspirant in Kogi, Dr. Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba, on his painful departure from this world.  This is especially sad and painful coming on the first anniversary of the death of another illustrious Kogi son and legal luminary, Barrister James Ocholi, SAN, the erstwhile Minister of State for Labour, who died in active service. He prayed that a permanent stop will come to the loss of prominent citizens of the State in their prime, and the loss of tapping from their well of wisdom.  The Governor remembers the departed for his good character, intellectual sagacity, embedded candour, manifest brilliance, literary fecundity and unflinching love for the progress and development of our dear State that made ...

Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba was born on March 9, 1960 in Oboroke-Ihima, Okehi LGA of Kogi State to the family of Mallam Shuaibu Onukaba and Hajia Aisha Onukaba. He obtained his first degree in 1982 in Theatre Arts from University of Ibadan. He served his national service at Radio Nigeria, Ikoyi –Lagos in 1982/83. He joined The Guardian newspaper as one of its pioneer reporters in 1983. He rose to the position of News Editor before travelling out in 1989 for graduate studies. He bagged Master of Arts degree in Journalism from New York University, New York, USA. He worked as a Research Officer at the African Leadership Forum, New York. Onukaba also served as the Information officer, Division of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM) between 1994 and 1995. He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1996 from New York University. Dr. Onukaba became Adjunct Professor of Mass Communication at the School of New Resources. College of New Rochell...

By Amina-Ann Onozasi Salami Late Abdulazeez Omeiza Aliyu On the 14th of March 2015, the clock of change stopped ticking, a huge dark cloud loomed and the embers of sorrow struck light. The evil whispers of the evening wind sang the funeral dirge " Abdulazeez Omeiza Aliyu the gallant unwavering freedom fighter have taken a bow, AOA has gone to the great beyond" Late Abdulazeez Omeiza Aliyu fondly called AOA died in a car accident alongside his brother Late have left many hearts thrown into grief and wailings, although most of us never met him personally, the shock and grief we felt were great-words cannot express. AOA was not just a distinguished citizen he was also a noble son of Ebiraland. A young man in his prime with a great commitment to his motherland on his shoulders when he was caught mangled in the accident. Those who rationalise sorrow in circumstance like this would offer comfort that "Only the good die young",but that is poor comfort for his ...