Ochetoha K’Idoma Elects New Leadership, Vows To Reclaim Cultural Identity

The foremost socio-cultural organisation, Ochetoha K’Idoma, has elected Professor Yakubu Aboki Ochefu as its new president-general. He was elected during the organisation’s 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Otukpo, Benue State, at the weekend.

Professor Ochefu, a former vice chancellor and the former secretary-general of the committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, succeeds Air Vice Marshal Toni Adokwu (rtd.), whose leadership from 2021 to 2025 was widely regarded as steady and foundational.

Alongside Ochefu, Dr. Paul Samuel Edeh, a renowned philanthropist and legal expert, was also elected as secretary-general of the organisation. The new executive committee also includes Mrs. Pauline Ene Onoja Pedere as vice president, Emmanuel Anebi Ongaji as assistant secretary-general, Mr. Otse David Egegwu as financial secretary, and Mr. Ada Obande as treasurer.

The AGM sought to address pressing issues facing the Idoma community, including security, youth unemployment, cultural preservation, and an unfinished national secretariat project.

Delegates from across Nigeria and the diaspora convened to deliberate on these critical topics, marking what is being considered a new chapter for one of Nigeria’s most resilient ethnic groups.

In his inaugural address, Professor Ochefu emphasised the urgency of tackling insecurity and promoting youth employment, stating, “The setting in 2025 is different… Security, employment for our youths, and the preservation of our culture – especially our language – must become front-burner issues. If we fail to act, history will ask where we stood.”

He referenced a similar address he made in 2010, where he urgently questioned whether the Idoma had a strategic development plan, declaring that the current times must usher in a change in narrative. “We must develop a strategic blueprint that will define our direction over the next decade,” he stated.
Professor Ochefu also highlighted the necessity for collaboration with the traditional institution led by the Och’Idoma and other key stakeholders, including elected officials, technocrats, professionals, and the extensive diaspora community. “We are not rivals; we are partners in the project of Idoma rebirth,” he stated.

The AGM was action-oriented, resulting in decisive resolutions, including a unanimous agreement to complete the long-stalled national secretariat project, which has been pending for nearly two decades. To facilitate this, all registered members will be required to contribute a monthly levy of ₦5,000 from July 2025 to June 2026. Branch executives have been tasked with educating members on the importance of the project and ensuring compliance.

A poignant discussion during the meeting focused on the deteriorating security situation in Idoma land. Delegates lamented the increase in kidnappings, herdsmen attacks, and violent crimes plaguing Otukpo and surrounding areas, emphasising that these threats have decimated farming activities and instilled fear within the community. “The time for silence is over,” the communique declared. “We must unite to defend our land and hold government accountable for the safety of our people.”

In a related development, the AGM declared a recent election conducted by a faction of the Ochetoha Youth Wing as illegal and inconsistent with the national executive’s directives, mandating a new, inclusive election to be held within the next quarter.

Other resolutions included expanding the digital presence of the Forum, initiating a 10-year socio-political and economic agenda, and reviving development initiatives proposed in the 2023 Ogiri Okoh Memorial Lecture.

Lastly, the AGM commended the outgoing executive for their years of service and confirmed Minna as the host for the 2026 Delegate Conference, with the Zaria chapter set to host the 2027 AGM.