BY JULIET EKWENUGO
Makurdi
The Och’Idoma Palace in Otukpo was transformed into a forum of history and foresight at the weekend as His Royal Majesty, Agaba’Idu Elaigwu Odogbo John, Och’Idoma and President of the Idoma Area Traditional Council, inaugurated the Elders Advisory Board and the Board of Trustees for the Idoma Division Centenary Plus Celebration 2026.
The inauguration formally set in motion the institutional framework for the centenary, coming 103 years after the creation of the Idoma Division in 1923, a historic development that brought together Idoma, Igede, Ufia and Akweya communities under a common administrative and cultural identity.
Addressing an audience comprising royal fathers, elders, jurists, scholars, political leaders, professionals, youths and women leaders, the monarch described the Centenary Plus as a defining moment of collective responsibility, urging the Idoma people to approach it with seriousness and purpose.
“This Centenary is a sacred national assignment,” the Och’Idoma said. “It is a time to remember our past, examine our present, and deliberately prepare our future,” stressing that history demands discipline, moral clarity and unity of vision.
Unveiling the theme, Honouring Our Idoma Century, Advancing Benue South, the monarch explained that the year-long celebration is structured to document and preserve heritage, strengthen cohesion among communities, confront contemporary challenges and articulate a shared vision for the next hundred years.
He disclosed that the Centenary Plus programme would be inclusive and people-driven, featuring women-focused leadership conversations, youth platforms on innovation and skills, faith-based engagements, investment and economic dialogues, cultural exhibitions, academic conferences, sports events, creative showcases, diaspora homecoming and community-based programmes across Benue South.
To provide moral guidance and stability, the Och’Idoma inaugurated the Elders Advisory Board, appointing HRH Engr.
Edeh George as Chairman and Hon. Justice Ejembi Eko, JSC (Rtd), as Co-Chairman, with Mr. Uloko Adegbe as Secretary, charging the board to serve as the moral compass of the Centenary process.
Responding, HRH Engr.
Edeh assured the throne of the elders’ commitment to sincerity, discipline and fidelity to truth, while Justice Eko pledged that the board would discharge its mandate with fairness, independence and courage, guided by respect for Idoma history and values.
The monarch also inaugurated the Board of Trustees as the supreme policy, oversight and fiduciary authority of the Centenary Plus Celebration, naming Professor Yakubu Aboki Ochefu as Chairman, Chief Ogbile Emmanuel as Co-Chairman and Chief Dr. Paul Samuel Edeh as Secretary.
He charged the trustees with transparent leadership and effective resource mobilisation, directing them to prioritise the strengthening of Och’Idoma Square as the enduring centre of Idoma cultural life and ensure the successful hosting of the grand Idoma Cultural Festival scheduled for December 23, 2026.
Accepting the mandate on behalf of the boards, Professor Ochefu described the assignment as generational, pledging that the Centenary Plus Celebration would deliver enduring outcomes, including preserved historical records, a centenary conference, a documentary and legacy initiatives, as the monarch reminded all that history is watching and future generations will judge the choices made today.
