By Dada Ahmed, Okene.
Picture (left to right).Dr.Haroun Opotu Yussuff,the Chairman of Kogi Central Think Tank Forum, KCTTF and other critical stakeholders at the meeting.
The Ohinoyi of Egbiraland, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Tijani Anaje, has declared that the Egbira people have outgrown minority status in Nigeria, ranking seventh among the ten ethnic groups categorized as majority tribes in the country.
The traditional ruler made the disclosure at his palace in Okene on Sunday during a crucial meeting with the leadership of the Kogi Central Think Tank Forum (KCTTF), the Kogi Central Elders Council (KCEC), and other key stakeholders in the development of Egbiraland.
Dr. Anaje urged the people of Egbiraland to see peace, unity, and progress as a shared responsibility essential for the sustainable development of Kogi Central and the state at large.
He emphasized that genuine progress can only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace, mutual respect, and cooperation among all segments of society.
Expressing satisfaction with the large turnout and the level of progress recorded in his two years on the throne, so far,the Ohinoyi reaffirmed his commitment to consolidating peace and promoting more development-oriented initiatives across Egbiraland.
Our correspondent reports that the meeting deliberated on far-reaching issues aimed at strengthening peace and accelerating development in the area.
At the end of the discussions, two committees were inaugurated to identify key challenges and recommend actionable solutions.
Participants described the initiative as timely, commending the Ohinoyi for his visionary and inclusive leadership, which they said reflects his passion for the progress and unity of the Egbira people.
The Kogi Central Think Tank Forum (KCTTF) was represented by its President, Dr. Haroun Opotu Yussuff, while the Kogi Central Elders Council (KCEC) was represented by its Chairman, Chief Stephen Yakubu.
Other notable attendees include Adai Moses Ovurevu Onivehu, Alhaji Ahmadu, and the Public Relations Officer of KCTTF, Alhaji D. U. Ahmed.
According to various academic journals and Nigerian history references that discuss the Egbira/ migration and culture,
the Egbira people are an ethnic group primarily found in Kogi State, Central Nigeria, with smaller settlements in Nasarawa, Edo, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
They trace their ancestry to the Jukun Kingdom of Kwararafa, an ancient confederation in North-Central Nigeria.
Centuries of migration due to internal conflicts and pressures from neighboring groups led the Egbira to settle across different regions, establishing a distinct cultural identity.
A major Egbira settlement developed around Ita’azi, regarded as the progenitor of the Egbira race, giving rise to settlements such as Okengwe-Ehi,Adavi, Okene, Okehi, Ajaokuta, and Koton Karfe.
By the 18th and 19th centuries, these communities had evolved into organized settlements with strong political and traditional structures headed by chiefs and eventually the Ohinoyi (paramount ruler).
The Egbiras are noted for their rich cultural heritage, including woven cloths, music, and historical resistance to colonial incursions.
The Egbiras speak the Egbira language, part of the Nupoid branch of the Niger-Congo language family, and are predominantly farmers, traders, and artisans.
While many adhere to Islam or Christianity, traditional beliefs remain influential.
Today, they are one of the major ethnic nationalities in Kogi State, with Okene as their cultural l, political and traditional headquarters, playing a significant role in the state’s political, economic, and cultural development.
