BY JULIET EKWENUGO
Markudi
The Tiv Area Traditional Council has conferred prestigious Tiv honorific chieftaincy titles on 18 prominent Nigerians, including Chief Dr Paul Edeh, Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, in what was described as a historic Tiv Cultural Day celebration.
The colourful ceremony, held at the JS Tarka Stadium, Gboko, attracted traditional rulers, political leaders, cultural stakeholders and guests from across the country. The honours were approved by the Tiv Area Traditional Council and conferred under the authority of the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Orcivirigh Professor James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, CFR.
While conferring the title on Chief Edeh and his wife, Chief Mrs Paula Paul-Edeh, the Tor Tiv declared: “By the powers conferred on me, I confer on you the title of Wandoo U Dedoo U Tiv, Good Neighbour of the Tiv Nation. And on your wife, Paula Edeh, Ashegbenda U Wandoo U Dedoo U Tiv, the dependable wife of the Good Neighbour of the Tiv Nation.”
Earlier, the Tor Tiv explained that the honourees were selected based on their character, service to humanity, commitment to unity, and respect for Tiv culture and values. According to him, the titles reflected goodwill, peaceful coexistence and positive engagement with the Tiv Nation.
Other recipients included former Benue State Governor, Senator Gabriel Suswam, and his wife, alongside other distinguished personalities drawn from politics, academia, public service and community leadership.
Speaking after the conferment, Chief Edeh paid glowing tribute to the Tor Tiv and the Paramount Ruler of the Idoma Nation, His Royal Majesty, Agaba’Idu Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji John, CON, PFD, PhD, who was represented by HRH George Edeh. He described the honour as historic and deeply humbling.
“I stand here fully aware that I am the first Idoma son in the history of the Tiv Nation to be honoured with this title. I do not take it for granted. It is a responsibility I accept with humility and a clear sense of duty,” he said.
Chief Edeh said the recognition would be used to strengthen inter-ethnic understanding and cooperation between the Tiv and Idoma people. “This honour will serve as a bridge. I intend to use it to further close the gaps that sometimes exist between our people and to promote peace, trust and sincere neighbourliness,” he stated.
He also pledged to live up to the moral demands of the title, stressing that it required discipline, integrity and conduct that reflects the values of the Tiv Nation.
At the event, Chief Edeh announced a donation of ₦10 million to support education and cultural preservation. He said ₦5 million was donated to the Tiv Educational Trust Fund, while another ₦5 million was committed to the launch of the Tiv Dictionary, a project aimed at preserving the Tiv language for future generations.
Chief Edeh, who already holds the Idoma chieftaincy title of Oojela K’Idoma (Generosity of the Idoma Kingdom), is now the only individual in Benue State recognised with honourific titles by both the Tiv and Idoma traditional institutions — a development widely seen as a symbol of harmony and mutual respect between the two ethnic nationalities.
A sports administrator and football development advocate, he currently serves as Chairman of the Benue State Football Association, where he has been involved in grassroots football development, training of coaches and referees, and the organisation of state-level competitions.
The Tiv Cultural Day celebration was widely described as a powerful statement of cultural unity and inter-communal cooperation, underscoring the Tiv Nation’s emphasis on character, service and peaceful coexistence.
