Idoma Nation Celebrates 100 Years Of Existence

The Idoma indigenes of Benue State are celebrating one hundred years of the establishment of the Idoma Division, which is now regarded as the Benue South Senatorial Zone.

As part of the celebrations, the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Idoma centenary plus celebration plans a nine-month celebration to commemorate activities that would bring together all sons and daughters of Idoma land.

According to the chairman of the BOT, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, “the Idoma division centenary celebration is not merely commemorative but a strategic intervention for unity, development, and heritage preservation. Its core objectives span documenting collective memory, empowering youth (over 60 per cent of the population is under 35), fostering social cohesion among the Idoma, Igede, Ufia, and Akweya peoples, revitalising cultural heritage, mobilising investment, engaging the Idoma Diaspora worldwide, and honouring distinguished sons and daughters of the land.”

He further explained that as part of the programme for the nine-month programme, there would be “an academic and policy summit; youth and innovation showcase including ‘Idoma’s Got Talent,’ a centenary beauty pageant, innovation fair, and centenary documentary premiere across all nine LGAs; a women’s empowerment summit; a grand cultural carnival with the ASK Festival and Unity Cup semi-finals among others.”

He said the celebration will yield a published book of proceedings, a policy communiqué, investment commitments, and youth development initiatives. Permanent legacies will include the Idoma Hall of Fame, the Apa Leadership Academy, a Digital Museum, and the Centenary Scholarship and Innovation Fund.

The BOT constituted ten sub-committees covering Finance and Resource Mobilisation, Media and Publicity, Academic and Policy, Youth and Innovation, Women’s Empowerment, Culture and Tourism, Health, Sports, Protocol and Events, and the Ochi’doma Square and Legacy Projects.

The celebration draws on a broad coalition of stakeholders, including the Idoma Area Traditional Council, all nine LGAs, development associations (Ochetoha K’Idoma, Omnyi Igede, Ufia and Akweya Development Associations), Diaspora groups across the USA, Europe, and Australia, professional bodies, cultural foundations, women’s and youth organisations, and media and entertainment partners.