Idoma land, the land located South-western flank of Benue state, is a land famous not for its infrastructural splendor, industrial strides or political allures, but for the brains of its people.
It has been overly repeated that there is hardly a field (career) on earth that you will not find at least one Idoma person doing well in it.
Today, IDOMA VOICE presents the list of record holders/pioneers from Idoma land otherwise known as Benue South:
1. HRH. Agaba’Idu Ogiri Okoh: First Och’Idoma (Paramount ruler of Idoma land) circa 1947.
2. Rt. Hon. Jacob Obande: (i) First parliamentary Secretary to Nigeria’s first and only Prime Minister, Sir. Tafawa Balewa in 1958. (ii) First federal minister from Idomaland and Benue State/Middle Belt at large.
3. Rt. Hon. Abutu Obekpa: (i) First regional minister from Idomaland and Benue State at large. (ii) First minister of Kaduna Affair/Mayor of Kaduna.
4. HRH. Agaba’Idu Amb. Dr. Edwin Ogebe Ogbu (Och’Idoma iii): (i) First graduate from Northern Nigeria in 1951. (ii) First master degree holder from Northern Nigeria in 1955. (iii) Longest serving Nigeria permanent Representative to the United Nations. (iv) First Nigerian to chair the United Nations Committee on Action against aparthied.
5. Rt. Hon. Ameh Ebenezer Odoh: (i) First representative of the Idoma nation in the National House of Assembly Lagos- First Republic. (ii) First person to move a motion at the national assembly that the Federal Capital Territory be moved from Lagos to Central Nigeria (he moved that the country’s capital be relocated to Otukpo in Central Nigeria, in 1976, Abuja in Central Nigeria was declared the country’s new capital).
6. Dr. Edwin Obe Idoko: First medical doctor from Benue state/Middle Belt Nigeria in 1963.
7. Prof. Ochapa Onazi: First person from Benue state to become a university Vice-Chancellor in 1985.
8. Justice George Uloko: First person from Benue state to serve as chief judge of another state (Plateau state).
9. Lady Mammy Ochefu: Founder of Mammy market (Mammy markets in Nigerian military barracks nationwide are named in her honour).
10. Col. Anthony Ochefu: First person from Benue state to become a governor (military administrator; he was a Military Governor of East Central State from July 1975 to February 1976).
11. Gen. Geoffrey Ejiga: First Nigerian to lead an international peace-keeping mission.
12. Prof Shamsudeen Amalia: (i) First Nigerian to obtain a PhD in modern drama. (ii) First Nigerian to become a professor of modern drama. (iii) First professor of theatre Arts from Northern Nigeria. (iv) First professor of theatre Arts to become a Vice-Chancellor in Nigeria.
13: Innocent “2Face” Idibia: (i) First person to win MTV Europe Best African Artiste of the Year. (ii) Joint first winner of BET Best African Act category. (iii) ‘African Queen’ by 2Face (now 2Baba) was the first music video shown on MTV Base Africa.
14: Hon. Mrs. Grace Ogwuche: First female federal minister from Idomaland.
15. Lady Enikpa Attah: First qualified midwife from Benue state in 1953.
16. Daniel Amokachi “The Bull”: (i) World Guinness record holder as the first player to score in the EUFA Champions’ League. (ii) Part of the Green Eagles that became the first African team to win an Olympic Gold in soccer.
17. Ms. Alice Alache Adekpe: First lady from Benue state to win Miss Nigeria in 1963.
18. Ene Oloja: First Nigerian Nollywood actress to stare in American Hollywood movie.
19. Jon Oga: First winner of Naija Sing talent show.
20: Monica Ogah: First winner of Project Came West Africa from Northern Nigeria.
21. Godwin Odumu Obla: First Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from Idoma land in 2013.
22. Justice Patricia Ajuma Mahmoud: (i) First female lawyer from Benue State in 1980. (ii) First female and Christian Acting Chief Judge of Kano State in 2015. (iii) First female Justice of the court of Appeal from Benue state.
23. Rt. Rev. Tina Bawa: First female Apostolic Bishop in Nigeria.
24. Sen. Ameh Ebute: First senate president from Idoma land.
25. Sen. Dr. David Mark: (i) Longest serving senate president in Nigeria. (ii) Longest serving senator in Nigeria (20 years).
26. Chief Morgan Ujor Ogbole: First lawyer from Benue state in 1960.
27. Justice Adam Onum: First Idoma person to become Chief judge of Benue state in 2017.
28. Rt. Hon. (Mrs) Ada Mark-Ogbole: First female Federal House of Representative Member from Benue state.
29: Bongos Ikwue: First Nigerian musician to record a song track for a movie (Cock Crow At Dawn).
30. Mohammad Acha: First basketball from Benue state to be listed on the USBL All-Time Roster.
31. Pst. Dr. Paul Enenche (Founder of Dunamis Church worldwide): Held the record for the largest church building in the world -Glory Dome.
32: Brig. Emmanuel Ikwue: (i) First African and non-Nato General to head the Military Attache’ Referat (Corps) in Germany in 1968. (ii) First person to occupy the office officially designated as Chief of Air Staff in Nigeria in 1969.
33. Prof Michael Adikwu (Former Vice-Chancellor of University of Abuja): First scientist from Benue state to receive the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) Regional awards in Development of scientific Educational Material.
34: Comrade Daniel Onjeh: First President of the West African Students Union (WASU) from Benue state.
35. Prof Innocent Ujah: Pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo.
36. AVM. Riku Morgan: First Chief of Denfence Intelligence from Benue state.
37. Chief Innocent Audu Ogbe: First person from Benue state to be minister in two different republics/administrations.
38. Prof. Jerry Agada (Former Minister State for Education): First person from Benue state to become national president of Association of Nigerian Authors.
39. Chief David Attah: First Nigerian to serve as press Secretary to two Head of states (presidents).
40. Chief Abu Obeh: First Head of Service of the federation from Benue state.
41. Miss Ene Maya Lawani: Longest serving Miss Nigeria.
42. Ray Stephen Oche: First Nigerian folk singer to tour Europe.
43. Grace Alache Jerry: (i) First Miss Wheelchair Nigeria. (ii) She is the 2015 Mandela Washington Fellows who were honored by US President Barack Obama.
44. David Adoga aka Overdose “OD”: First rapper/artiste from Benue state to win Nigerian Headies awards Next Rated Act.
45. Bishop Fidelis Oga Orgah: First bishop of Otukpo Catholic Diocese (1995).
46. Chief Mrs. Christabel Iyanya: First female managing director of radio station in Nigeria.
47. Enenche D Comedian: First comedian from Northern Nigeria to headline on national comedy shows.
48. Chief Akatu Augustine Alechenu: (i) First Mayor of Otukpo. (ii) First person to declare every last Saturday of the month, sanitation day in Nigeria.
49. Egnr. Andrew Agom: First Managing Director of Nigerian Airways from Benue state.
50. Peter Okwoche: First person from Benue state to become an international broadcaster (BBC).
50: Mr E. I Odoma: First Deputy Governor of Benue State.
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