HEROES AND HEROINES OF THE IJAW NATION

This is a chronicle of noble men and women who have in the course of history, made (and are still making) notable contributions to the advancement of the Ijaw nation- the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria.
The Ijaw people (also known as ‘ijo’ or izon) are people in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria; inhabiting parts of Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Ondo States, while Bayelsa is largely described as an homogeneous state of the Ijaws found in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Interestingly, many Ijaws people are also found as migrant fishermen in camps as far west as Sierra Leone and as far East as Gabon.
This series seeks to document landmark achievements as well as accord due recognition to the past and present heroes and heroines of the Ijaw nation. Bayelsa State is the only homogenous Ijaw state and has been so designated Jerusalem of Ijaw Nation because it has continued to provide home to all Ijaws in other states.
Ijaw people are hardworking, accommodating, hospitable, loving and stand for truth and justice.
The current Prosperity administration of Governor Douye Diri, is recreating history with this series to highlight heroes and heroines of Ijaw Nation. Governor Diri, himself a strong advocate for Ijaw emancipation. He was a strong Ijaw voice while at both chambers of the National Assembly before he became the Governor of Bayelsa State.

And now the list of our heroes and heroines goes on…………..

Queen Ediminiba Kambasa (d. 1553): She was born in the early 1500s to late King Asimini of Bonny in present day Rivers State. She remained famous for providing the platform for the Portuguese to trade for a long time in the Niger Delta. She played a great role in preparing the grounds for the conception of Nigeria. She ruled Bonny in the 1500s and her monarchy established the Bonny Kingdom with which European nationals traded for centuries.
Chief George Iyanabotamuno: Through his great military conquests, expansion and consolidation of authority and influence in and around Okrika Kingdom, he single handedly created the present Dokubo War Canoe House to liberate the Ado Royal House of Okrika, from the ban of producing an Amayanabo as a result of King Nemiduko’s death at the Bile War in 1815. Because of his business acumen and conquest in war, neighbouring clans like Eleme, Ogoni, Tai and more paid homage to Okrika.
King Perekule 1 of Grand Bonny, reigned in the early eighteenth century and played key role in the formation of Nigeria. He got married to the daughter of King Amachree of Kalabari signaling breakdown of borders to foster peaceful co-existence among communities in the Niger Delta. As the Bonny monarch in the 1700s, he was instrumental to the birth of many trading houses and created conditions in which even slaves were able to achieve chieftaincy positions.
King Amachree 1 of Kalabari Kingdom; lived in the Kalabari Kingdom in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and ended the crisis that had engulfed the kingdom. He also came up with the reconciliation and rehabilitation initiative which united the people. The chiefs of all the seven sections agreed and offered him and his lineage the Kalabari Monarchy in appreciation of his achievements, in 1765. This gesture was greatly appreciated by Amachree 1, as he expressed his gratitude by the elaborate programmes he carried out in the kingdom, which contributed to the formation of Nigeria.
King Jaja of Opobo (1821-1891): He was by birth an Igbo slave and became an Ibani by acculturation. He was widely known for his strong views and role in proto-nationalism against colonization of the Ijo oil Rivers. Jaja’s surprisingly fast rise from slavery to freedom was due to his great skills and knowledge in the palm oil industry.
King Ibanichuka Ado VI (1803-1896) of Okrika, defended the integrity of his kingdom. Being the pioneer Christian monarch of Okrika, he saw colonization as denial of indigenous sovereignty. The king maintained that her Britannic majesty cannot go to another territory and impose punishment in the sovereign there because they are co-equals.
King Frederick Williams Koko, Mingi VIII (1853-1898) will forever be remembered in the Nigerian political history and development. He fought against British colonisation of particularly his territory, and Nigeria generally. This led to the Anglo-Nembe war in 1895 in which he played a major role, and also tried to rescue the Ijo palm produce economy from European control.
Ernest Sesei Ikoli (1893-1969) was from Twon Brass in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. He was a pioneer student of Kings College, Lagos, and at the Cambridge Senior Local Examination in 1912. He was retained by his teachers as the first African Master of Science (MSc) and Mathematics in the College due to his excellent performance. As a pioneer Nigerian politician and nationalist, he founded many Newspapers such as the African Messenger (1912), the Nigerian Daily Times that was Africa’s largest daily (1926), and the Daily Service (1938).
Harold Jeneibiwari Rowland Dappa-Biriye (1920-2005) of Bonny; born on 26 September, 1920, to Chief R.T.E. Wilcox, a then government supervising teacher and later magistrate. He incited his father to mobilise the Niger Delta Ijo to demand for a separate Rivers Province as soon as he graduated from Kings College in 1941. One of the prominent Ijo men that supported him amongst others was Bishop E.T. Dimeari of the Nigerian Legislative Council.
King Ukafia-Ede VI, (1933), Obolo; His Royal Majesty Owen Sylvanus Ukafia-Ede VI, ruler of Eastern Obolo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, was born on the 16th of November 1933 at Okoroete Town. As a trained journalist at the Nigeria Institute of Journalism, Lagos, he used his journalism in the civil war, by contributing to victory federal troops enjoyed during the war, and equally brought back the people of Eastern Obolo to their homes after the war. He also renovated and reactivated the daily market, educational institutions and provided the people with free education. He became the chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs and Traditional Rulers between 2003 and 2004.
Ngbile 1 of Ngbilebiri Kingdom; is the founder of Ngbeilebiri Kingdom in Delta State. He first settled along the Ogbeingbene Creek, then later moved with his brother, Oghoro inwards and discovered the Kiagbodo Creek. He then proceeded to initiate diplomatic relations with the Oba of Benin to take a title from the Bini Monarch. One remarkable thing he will be remembered for is the Seigbin Festival; an ablution rite to purify the individual members and the community of evil deeds.
Pere Ukpolukpo 1. His reign was from 1914-1920 and he was the last Pere who ruled Gbaramatu clan before the advent and effectual establishment of the British Colonial Rule. He, like his ancestors resisted the white man’s rule and domination and never accepted to sub-ordinate his people to British rule.
Ebimiere (called Emaye by Itsekiri) epitomizes the filial heritage between the Itsekiri and the Isaba Kingdoms in Western Ijaw. Her reputation rose after she married two Itsekiri kings in succession. Till date, this long standing biological and historical relationship is known and honoured by the Isaba and Itsekiri people of Delta State.
Chief Jonah Oyadongha Bozimo is one of the active promoters responsible for the carving out of Western Ijaw Division Council out of the Warri Province. He used his position as an interpreter and documentary aide to the White colonialists to his advantage, by contributing immensely to the creation of Bomadi Local Council, and also aided the movement of the headquarters from Forcados to Bomadi.
J.K. Orewariya was a great Ijo right activist, who achieved great landmark achievements prior to and during his term in the Western Region House of Assembly (1950s). In other to eliminate the overbearing and domineering attitude of the Olu over Ijaw territories like Gbaramatu, Ogbe Ijoh, Egbema and Isaba, he successfully fronted a movement and led the Ijaw Parliamentarians in the Western House to fight against it. And in 1957 the Chief’s Law of Western Nigeria provided autonomy for the Ijaw Kingdoms.
Chief Richard Aiyetowonwo Jolowo from Arogbo, Ese-Odo LGA of Ondo State. Studied Law at the University of Lagos. While in UNILAG, he represented Nigerian students in the Conference of National Affairs in Texas, U.S.A in 1969. He was speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly between 1981-1983 under then Governor Adekunle Ajasin. Built many infrastructure in his domain and was responsible for the inclusion of Ijaw language in the primary school curriculum in Ondo state and use of Ijaw for broadcasting on State owned broadcast stations.
High Chief Francis Jibowu Williams; Was an Ijaw activist, and administrator that was mentored in politics by the late Hon. Richard Jolowo, former speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly in the second Republic. He joined in the awareness to establish the first secondary school in Arogbo, and also worked with former Vice President, Ijaw National Congress (INC), Dr. Dima Denni Fiberesima to provide the ideological grounding for the INC. He later served as Secretary to the Fumudoh-led executive of the INC. Williams, championed the minority Arogbo cause and chaired the 2nd Convention of the Congress in November 1992. He also worked for the creation of a separate local government council for the Arogbo of Ondo State.
Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark (CON); A renowned Lawyer, administrator, politician and minority rights advocate, a member of the Honorable Society of the Inner Temple in England and has been a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria since 1965. In West Africa, he promoted ECOWAS in the early 1970s, and advocated inter-state exchange of students and teachers during Nigeria’s era of post-civil war reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation. Chief Clark, a national leader, peace maker and bridge builder in the last forty years is a major force and voice in advancing the cause of Ijo and the entire Niger Delta.
Ambassador Lawrence Baraebibai Ekpebu; Born on May 2, 1935 in Okoloba, Sabagreia, in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, is an academic, administrator and diplomat. He co-founded the African Scholarship Program of American Universities, thereby contributing to knowledge and intellectual innovation.
Rear Admiral Nelson Bossman Soroh (1928-2006); Nigeria’s second Head of Navy (1973-1975), is from Tungbo, Bayelsa State. He sailed the NNS Ogoja; presented by the Dutch Navy to the Nigerian Navy, and became the first black African to sail a ship from Europe to Africa in 1963. The only Nigeria’s warship NNS Nigeria during the Nigerian Civil War, including many other joint Army/Navy seaborne landings were commanded by him. It is claimed that the Bonny landings he commanded which eventually led to the capture of Bonny, is the first in Africa, and that equally determined the outcome of the Civil War which favoured the Nigerian Troops.
Jackson Ayerite Waribugo (1942-1989); Who hails from Nembe in Bayelsa State was a good handyman, that was successful in using traditional ideas to sculpt. He sculpted many professional sculptures that decorated many institutions, homes, and galleries in the United States, Rome, Havana, London, Carrara, Germany and the Niger Delta.
Justice Adolphus Godwin Karibi –Whyte (GCON); Born 29the January, 1932, in Abonnema, Rivers State, was a Jurist, and seasoned administrator. He attended St. Barnabas School Imo River, St. Michaels School, Aba, Kalabari National College Buguma, University of Hull, England 1957-1960, University of London, England 1960-65; Head, Law Revision, Reporting and Research, Ministry of Justice, Rivers State 1971-76; Judge, Federal Revenue Court, 1976-80, Justice, Court of Appeal 1980-84, Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria 1984-2002. Chairman Civil Disturbances Special Tribunal, 1987, Judge, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia 1994, and chairman, National Constitutional Conference, 1995. Retired on January 29, 2002. He died on May 22, 2020.
HRM (Hon. Justice) Francis Fedude Tabai: Was born at Torugbene, Burutu Local Government Area in present day Delta State on 25th July, 1942. He attended the University of Lagos where he obtained his L.L.B Hons Degree in 1969, afterwards, he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School and was called to Bar on the 26th of June, 1970. After few years in private law practice, he was appointed a Magistrate Grade I at the Rivers State Judiciary on the 1st of July 1973. On the 22nd July, 1985, Hon Justice Francis F. Tabai was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Rivers State. At the creation of Bayelsa State on 1st October 1996, he became a Judge of the High Court of Bayelsa State. In December 1998, he was appointed a Justice of the Court of Appeal before moving to the Supreme Court of Nigeria in March 2006, where he remained until he retired in July 2012 after attaining the statutory age of 70 years. He is now a First Class ruler in Delta State, having been installed and recognized as the EBENANAOWEI (PERE) OF Tuomo Kingdom.
Late Rt. Hon. Justice Nikki Tobi; (July 14,1940 – June 19, 2016) was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Born in Esanma village in present day Delta State. He was a Professor of Law before he moved over to the Bench. He was known for his legal erudition and deep knowledge of legal principles. Justice Tobi became a judge in the Rivers State Judiciary in 1985, moved to the Court of Appeal in 1990 and then appointed to the Supreme Court in 2002.
M.T.D. Braide from Bakana, Rivers State, obtained the Licentiate of the School of Nigeria in 1940 and was in medical practice in Nigeria between 1940 and 1948, and became the first from the Ijo ethnic nationality to qualify as a medical doctor. He obtained the Bachelor of medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B, CH. B.) from Glasgow University, Scotland in 1950, then in 1950, he went ahead to acquire a doctorate in Medicine (M.D) from same university.
NABO BEKINBO GRAHAM-DOUGLAS; Was born on the 15th of July, 1926, in Abonema, Rivers State. In 1966, he served as the Attorney-General of the Eastern Nigeria, then served Rivers State from 1969-1972, and between 1972-1975, he served the federal government of Nigeria. He eventually became one of first two Nigerian lawyers to earn the prestigious Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Award in 1973.
Ebiegberi Joe Alagoa; who hails from Nembe, in Bayelsa State, is a renowned and foremost scholar in Africa, and perhaps the world, in his branch of history, second only to may be his former teacher, Professor Jan Vansina of University of Wiscosin, Madison, United States (1965). After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in History from the University College, Ibadan (1959), he went ahead to also obtain a Bachelor’s degree in History from Wisconsin University (1965).
Major General Charles Bebeya Ndiomu (1934-2002); Was born on the 20th of December, 1934 in Odoni, Sagbama, Bayelsa State. He attended St. Thomas College, Ibusa, University College, now University of Ibadan (UI) 1959-63. Commissioned Lieutenant, Nigerian Army Education Corps, February 1964. Instructor, Nigerian Army Military School, Zaria 1964-66, Staff Officer, Army Headquarters (Education) Lagos 1968-69, Military member, Kwara State Executive Council 1970-73, commandant, Nigerian Army School of Education, Illorin 1970-75, 1982-84. Principal instructor Nigeria Defence Academy Kaduna, 1975-77, Commandant, Nigerian Military School Zaria, 1977-82. Promoted colonel 1978, Brigadier 1980, and major-General 1984. Director, Army Education, Lagos, 1989. Chairman, Special Tribunal, Ibadan Zone, 1984. Director General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Jos 1984.
Kenneth Diete-Koki; Who hails from Nembe, in Bayelsa State is the very first man in the world to record tension in muscle spindles. He became a Professor at the University of Benin in 1975, and also the fourth Professor of Human Physiology in Nigeria.
Chief Thomas Omeite Onduku (1924-2008). From Ayakoromo town, Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State. He holds a diploma in Education from the University of Ibadan (1963-64). He writes in the Mein dialect of Ijaw.
Matthew L. Agbegha; Reputed for publishingd the Izon – English Dictionary used in the language department of institutions of higher learning in Nigeria.
High Chief J.O Niwari; hails from Arogbo in Ese-odo local government area of Ondo state and he is the first government trained nurse in Arogbo and later trained as a lawyer.
Chief N. Frank-Opigo; from Angiama in present day Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. A foremost educationist, was the founder of Niger Grammar School, Port Harcourt and was a frontline in Ijaw struggle and movement for creation of Bayelsa State in 1996.
John Pepper Clark; from Kiagbodo Ijaw, Delta State became Professor of English at University of Lagos. He is the first Nigerian to attain that position. He is also one of Africa’s best known award winning poets and playwrights.
Chief Rufus Ada George; Born in 1940, hails from Okrika in Rivers State. He was trained and qualified as a professional accountant. He got to the peak of his accounting profession in the Shell Petroleum Development Company before he got into politics. He was appointed secretary to the Government of Rivers State in the Second Republic. In 1991, he was elected Executive Governor of Rivers State in the third republic. He served from January 1992 to November 1993.
Professor Tekena Nitonye Tamuno from Okrika is the first Ijo to become University Professor. He was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (1975-1979). Tamuno is the first graduate of the University of Ibadan to become its Vice-chancellor.
Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro; Born on the 10th September in 1938, in Kaiama, Kolokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, was the first Nigerian that undertook an armed struggle to drive home the points he hope to make, and also to achieve the desired results he wished for his people. He identified the problems and struggles of the Ijo ethnic nationality, and the Nigeria at large, which led to him becoming a revolutionary martyr, and ultimately became the face and icon of the Ijaw struggle. Some of the prominent members of his team were Capt. Samuel Owonaru, Nottingham Dick, George Amangala and Boardman Nyananyo. Though, they later worked with the then Military Administrator, Gen. Yakubu Gowon to reinstate Nigeria’s unity, they fought gallantly against the oppression and exploitation of the Ijos and the Ijo land in general.
Dr. Gabriel Imomotimi Okara (April 24, 1921 – March 25, 2019) ; Born in Bumoundi, Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa State. Great novelist and first modernist poet of Anglophone Africa. At first he translated poetry from Ijaw into English. After his earlier higher educational training at Yaba College, he studied journalism at Northwestern University in 1949. A celebrated poet and journalist, was a director at the Rivers State Publishing House in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Some of the works of the late literary icon are: The Voice (1964), The Fisherman’s Invocation (1978), The Dreamer, The Vision (2005). He has contributed immensely to the development of the Ijaw land.
Chief Pere Ajuwa: Christopher ‘Pere’ Ajuwa (23 November 1941 – 31 January 2017) was the first man from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria to run for the office of the President of Nigeria. He was an astute businessman during the 1980s and 1990s, and was best known for his humanitarian benefactions. Ajuwa a native of Gbaraun community in Southern Ijaw local government of Bayelsa had before his emergence as the Presidential candidates of LDPN and AD has been a Presidential aspirant of the National Republican Convention (NRC).
Professor Kimse Okoko, who hails from Obunagha, in Yenagoa Local Government, Bayelsa State, is the Pro-Chancellor of the university of Uyo amd former president of the Ijaw National Congress (INC). A very strong Ijaw voice against injustice.
Dan Etete: Born 26 January, 1945, hails from Odi community in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government, Bayelsa State. He was former Nigeria’s Oil Minister under the late Gen. Sani Abacha in 1995-1998 and weighed in a lot of influence in the eventual creation of Bayelsa State on October 1, 1996.
Prof. T.T. Isoun: Born September 2, 1938 in Odi Community in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, Bayelsa. He has to his credit for being the very first professor of veterinary pathology in Nigeria. He became professor at the University of Ibadan in 1975, and also served as a Minister of Science and Technology under President Olusegun Obasanjo from 2000- 2007.
Professor Tamunoemi David-West: From Buguma, Rivers State, was born on the 26th of August, 1936. In 1975, he was appointed professor at University of Ibadan, and he is also Nigeria’s second professor of Virology. He was at a time Minister of Petroleum Resources under the Military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida.
Professor Christopher Dime: He was part of the foundation of the foremost and pan-Ijaw group, Ijaw National Congress (INC) in 1992 and then became the pioneer National President of the group that redefined the place of Ijaw as the 4th ethnic group in Nigeria.
Joshua Fumudoh: He received an undergraduate degree from the University of Lagos, and was also a member of the National Political Reform Conference. Chief Fumudoh later led a very vibrant executive of the foremost Ijaw National Congress (INC) as National President. He is running chains of businesses across the country.
Rear Admiral Denson Ere Okujagu: The first most senior military officer of Ijo, and he was also commanding officer of Her Majesty’s ship, Echo Flotilla now NNS Nigeria, that was responsible for returning the Nigerian Troops in the Second World War.
Rear Admiral O.P. Fingesi: The chairman of Supreme Armed Forces Provincial Ruling Council, and was the chairman of Festival of Arts & Culture (FESTAC) in 1977, when he was Nigeria’s Minister for Special Duties.
George Cadbury Omieh: The first Nigerian (Ijo) to attain the rank of a company sergeant major in the colonial army.
Daniel Oju Kalio (1857-1928): Who hails from Okrika, is notable for mobilizing fifty- two (52) Okrika chiefs to sign an agreement with the African Traders Company (ATC) at Elden Street, London for the establishment of a trading post in Okrika on the 30th of November, 1909.
Engr. Prof. Ongoebi Maureen Etebu: Who hails from Kaiama Community in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, is the first female professor of Mechanical Engineering in Nigeria. She was also the former Vice Chancellor of the Nigerian Maritime University, Delta State.
The Ombu Brothers: They are the children of late Chief Ombu-Iti of Nembe Bassambiri. The Ombu brothers are very unique in the history of the Nigerian Armed Forces, as the trio are the only brothers that rose to the rank of General in the Nigerian Army, Airforce and Navy respectively. The eldest – late Brigadier General Vinnie Ombu of the Nigerian Army, followed by Air Vice -Marshal Emmanuel Ombu of the Nigerian Airforce, and Rear Admiral Victor Ombu.
Ben Murray Bruce: Who hails from Akassa in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, served as the Director General of the Nigerian Television Authority from 1999-2003. Prior to starting the Silverbird Group, he promoted the Miss Universe Nigeria Pageant in 1983, Miss Intercontinental Pageant in 1986-1994, and till date. He is also promoting the annual Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria Pageant which he began in 1986. In 2015, was elected a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to represent the people of Bayelsa East Senatorial District.
EDMOND DAUKORU: Born 13th October, 1943. A trained Geologist, became Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in 1992. In 2003, Daukoru became Presidential Adviser on Petroleum and Energy, and in July 2005, he was appointed Minister of state for Energy during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure. In 2008, he became the traditional ruler (Amanyanabo) of Nembe Kingdom. He was also former chairman of South-South Monarchs Forum.
EBITIMI BANIGO: Who hails from Okpoama town in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State was a successful banker in Nigeria and at a time was the Chief Executive of International Merchant Bank of Nigeria between 1981 and 1986. He obtained his MBA from Harvard University, and by 1998, he and a group of investors started the defunct All States Trust Bank. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him Nigeria’s Minister of Science and Technology between 1999 and 2000. And in 2012, he became the Amanyanabo of Okpoama Kingdom in Brass Local Government.
ORONTO DOUGLAS: (1966-2015) Hailed from Okoroba in Nembe Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. He was a renowned Lawyer, activist and environmentalist. He led many intellectual struggles for the development and recognition of Ijaw race. He was a Senior Special Adviser to the former President Goodluck Jonathan.
GBORIBIOGHA JOHN JONAH: Born on 6th March, 1954. He hails from Nembe in Bayelsa State. He was Chief of Naval Engineering at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja. Before he voluntarily retired from the Nigerian Navy, he was Commandant, National Defense College, Abuja. He was also Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State between 2012-2020.
Professor Nimi Briggs: Born on February 22, 1944 in Abonnema-Kalabari, in present day Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. Nimi, had his early education at Nyemoni Grammar school, Abonnema and Baptist High School, Port Harcourt. He later completed his secondary education at the Government College, Umuahia. In 1969, he received his bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Lagos. An accomplished academic, scholar and Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gyneaecology, later served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt. A strong apostle in the emancipation of the Ijaws.
Elder T.K. Ogoriba: He hails from Odi town in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He is a graduate of Chemistry and was teaching Chemistry as a subject in the secondary school in Port Harcourt before he got deeply involved in Ijaw activism. T.K. Ogoriba, then formed the Movement for the Survival of the Ijaw Ethnic in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) to press home demands of the Ijaws. A radical young man with great followership commanded so much respects for leading the youths in the Ijaws emancipation for equity and justice. He was a joint signatory to the Kaiama declaration with then President of Ijaw Youths Council (Worldwide) Dr. Felix Tuodolor.
F.K. Agara (Aug.19, 1945 – May 30th, 1993); A renowned Civil Engineer, who executed several government projects in the old Rivers State. He was at a time Chairman, Board of Directors, Rivers Transport Company. While many knew his as a professional engineer, others saw him as a great politician and a philanthropist. He later founded his own company.
HRM King Zumotengha Efeke of Amassoma alongside Dappa Biriye, launched a campaign in Northern Nigeria for the division of the country into twelve in 1967.
General George Kurubo from Bonny, was made Ambassador to USSR to deepen Russian commitment to Nigeria immediately after the civil war.
Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff; was Military Governor of old Rivers State between 1967-1975 and currently the Amanyanabo (King) of Twon-Brass in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, and also, chairman Bayelsa State Council of Traditional rulers. He built the magnificent Rivers State Secretariat and other infrastructures during his administration to put the State on the fast lane of development.
Chief Melford Obiene Okilo; Born on 30th November 1933 in Amakalakala/Emakalakala in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State. He was a career politician and the first civilian governor of Rivers State between 1979-1983. In post-independence Nigeria, Okilo doggedly contributed to the fight for the restoration of fiscal federalism during the second republic. He established the first independent electricity power plant in Southern Nigeria, the Imiringi gas turbine. He also established the first Nigerian University of Science and Technology in Port Harcourt in 1980.
Dr. Amba Ambaiowei: He was born on Feb. 28, 1942, and hails from Amassoma, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He later studied Medicine at the University of Lagos. In the old Rivers State, he served as Commissioner for Education. Dr. Ambaowei, took a lead role in the movement for the creation of homogenous Ijaw State of Bayelsa alongside other prominent Ijaw elders.
Lambert Eradiri: Lambert Eradiri, was the first pharmacist in Bayelsa state. A voice of the Ijaw nation was part of the state creation.
Late Zebulon Abule: Chief Zebulon M Abule who was born in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria on April 17, 1945 and passed away on July 01, 2008 at the age of 63. He was a well-loved and hardworking father with a giving spirit. He was founder of the defunct Crystal Bank that operated in the early nineties under the government of IBB. Abule was rumoured to have setup the bank to remain relevant in the politics of the early 1990s. The very prominent Ijaw man later contested Governorship of old Rivers State in 1992 but lost the ticket of the NRC to Chief Rufus Ada-George.
Chief Francis Doukpolagha; ( May 9, 1944- 2020) , hailed from Agbere town in Bayelsa State and was a very successful banker before he ventured into politics. He had contested the 1992 governorship in the old Rivers state. He also made few attempts at Governorhip of Bayelsa upon creation.He always stood for the progress of ijaw nation and played active role in the movement for the creation of Bayelsa state.
Chief T.K. O. Okorotie; hails from Ekeremor town of Bayelsa State. He was a broadcaster before venturing into politics and got elected into the old Rivers state House of Assembly in 1992. He has served the Ijaw nation in different capacities including being a representative at the 2005 National Conference. He is famous for the coinage of the name “Bayelsa” during meetings for the creation of the state.
Senator John Kojo Brambaifa; hails from Agbere town in Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa State but was born in Ghana. A politician of note who contributed immensely to the creation of Bayelsa was elected into Nigerian Senate in 2003 and was Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta.
Chief Ndutimi Alaibe; born on June 10, 1962 in Igbainwari in Opokuma, Bayelsa state. He grew to become a seasoned banker, technocrat, businessman and politician. He has served as Managing Director of NDDC and then Special Adviser on Niger Delta. He had aspired to the Governorship seat of Bayelsa state few times. He is known to be versatile and a philanthropist who provided support to many young ijaw people.
General Owoye Andrew Azazi; (February 1, 1952 –Dec.15, 2012), was born in Peretorugbene, Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. In January 2005, he was appointed General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1, Division, Nigerian Army and appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in June 2006. Between May 2006 and June 2007, he wore the ranks of Major General, Lieutenant General and General. He was appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in 2007 and retired in August 2008. He is M.Sc holder in Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan. He emerged from retirement to be appointed National Security Adviser by former President Goodluck Jonathan in October 2010.
Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha; He was born in Amassoma in the late 1940s, an Air Force Officer, Businessman and Politician. In 1999, he became the first elected Governor of Bayelsa State. He contributed in organizing the Ijaw ethnic nationality, and was committed to the recognition of minority rights, enthronement of fiscal federalism and greater respect for the feelings and aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta. He inaugurated the Ijaw History Project and earned the appellation of the Governor-General of Ijaw Nation. He later died on October 10th, 2015.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR; was born on the 20th of November 1957, in Otuoke, in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. He was an academic, administrator, and politician. He was first from Ijo to become president of the federal republic of Nigeria.
Timipre Marlin Sylva; born July 7, 1964 was the Governor of Bayelsa State from May 29th ,2007. He left office in 2012. Sylva, who hails from Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area, had served as a member of the old Rivers State House of Assembly in the 1990. He indeed started his political career very early. He is the current Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
Henry Seriake Dickson; born January 28, 1966.He is a lawyer and Nigerian politician. He is the former Governor of Bayelsa State who became the first governor to serve complete two terms as Governor from February 14th 2012 to February 14th, 2020. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2007 until 2012. A strong Ijaw voice who engaged in aggressive mobilization and defense of Ijaw people. He christened Bayelsa as the Jerusalem of the Ijaw nation, a description that eventually stuck. He created the Ijaw heroes park as the resting place for top Ijaw elders.

RELIGION:

Rev. A.O. Ockiya, was reputed for being the 1st crowned King in church. In the history of Christianity in Nigeria, it was in Nembe where a king was crowned in the House of God (Church).
Archdeacon A.A.D. Spiff from Brass was among the first Ijo to train at the Divinity Hall, Oshogbo for his diaconate ordination, which eventually took place at St. Stephen’s Cathedral Bonny, on Septuagesima Sunday, 1922. He became full Anglican priest at St. Cyprian’s Church, Port Harcourt.
Apostle Geoffrey Dabibi Numbere; Born into a Christian family in 1939, an Ijo from Buguma in Kalabari Kingdom. The apostle was the second Nigerian preacher to carry the Gospel of Christ outside Nigeria. Archbishop Benson Idahosa, an Edo from Edo State was the first.
Joshua Hart from Bonny was the celebrated martyr. Joshua’s offence was his refusal to participate in the performance of heathen rites or eating things offered to the gods. Joshua heroically met a martyr’s death and triumphantly won a martyr’s crown. The killing took place on November 4, 1875. Prof. John Ferguson described Joshua’s death as the first Christian martyr in Nigeria.
The Revd. D.O. Pepple; Bonny, the Christian cradle in the Niger Delta also produced the first ordained pastor, David Okparabietogha Pepple. He was ordained on May 1, 1898 at the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Bonny, by Bishop Herbert Tugwell.
Bishop E.T. Dimieari; Born September 27, 1890. He hailed from Bonny was among the first Ijo to train at the Divinity Hall, Oshogbo for his Diaconate ordination which took place at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Bonny in Septuagesima Sunday, 1922.

SPORTS ADMIINISTRATION

G.K.J. Amachree (Buguma); Chairman, Nigerian Football Association (NFA, 1960) and 1967.
John Pinaowei (Angiama); Pioneer female football administrator.
Smart Akraka (Angiama); Chairman, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) 1994-95.
Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas (Abonnema); Federal minister of sports and youth development, March 1989.
Walter Batowei (Trofani); Secretary-general, Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), 1997-2002 and later became Vice President in 2002.
Godwin Kienka (Okrika); Nigeria’s first International Lawn Tennis Referee.

Wrestling

Late Sunday Jessy popularly called ‘Hippo’. Hailed from Lobia community in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State. He was a great local wrestler.
Macaulay Appah; Was former World Number 5 wrestling champion.
Victor Kodei; former Commonwealth and Olympian, who did great exploits on the mat wrestling across the globe as an Ijaw man.
Veteran Jackson Bideh, Great Ijaw wrestler who won national and African honours.
Wilson Sewari, former Commonwealth and Olympian wrestler.
Daniel Igali, (Southern Ijaw): Former Olympics wrestling champion and President, Nigerian Wrestling Federation.

SPORTS COACHES

Paul Hamilton (Agbere); former coach, Flying Eagles, Super Eagles and Super Falcons.
Monday Sinclair (Angalabiri); Former coach, Super Eagles (1997).
Samson Siasia (Odoni); former coach, Under-23 Olympic Eagles, Coach, Flying Eagles –gold medalist, 2005 African Youth Championship. Benin Republic, silver medalist 2005 FIFA Under-20 World Youth Championships Holland, Super Eagles –bronze medalist 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt, silver medalist, 2008 Beijing, China, Olympic Games.
Tarry Tikili (Nembe); Nigeria’s first overseas-trained Squash Coach. National Squash Coach, AAG 2003. Named “Best Coach” by Nigerian Squash Rackets Federation in 2006.

ATHLETICS

Edward Akika, won Nigeria’s first International gold medal in men’s Long Jump at the first All African Games in Congo Brazzavile in 1965.
Wariboko West, has the best placing of 4th in the Men’s Long Jump in the Olympic Games since 1964.

IJAW FOOTBALLERS ON NATIONAL SCENE

Nigeria’s first team to win All African Games Football Gold, Lagos (1973); Jossy Dombraye, Morton Owolo
Nigeria’s second team to win CAF medal (Bronze), Accra (1978), Adokiye Amiesimaka
Nigeria’s/Africa’s first team to win FIFA Under-17 Gold, China (1985), Binaebi Numa, Tounwerimi Duere, Imama Amapakabo
Nigeria’s first team to play in FIFA Under-20 finals, Mexico (1983), Tarila Okorowanta
Nigeria’s second team to win CAF Nations Cup, Gold, Tunisia (1994); Finidi George, Samson Siasia, Peter Rufai.
Nigeria’s first team to the FIFA world cup finals, USA (1994); Finidi George, Samson Siasia, Peter Rufai. Rufai, is a soccer legend and one of the best goalkeepers to have come out of Africa. His mother, late Mrs. Christiana Roseline Ilamina Jaja Rufai, hailed Borokiri -Okrika in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Taribo West: Who hails from Buguma, played as a defender in the Nigerian National League. He made 42 caps for Nigeria between 1994 and 2005, taking part in two world cups and two African Championship. He also represented his country at the 1996 Olympics, winning gold.

TOP IJAW MUSICIANS

Legendary Cardinal Jim Lawson
Dr. Adam Fiberesima
I.K. Belemu
Chief Echo O. Toikumo
Chief Daniel S. George
Ikoli Harcourt Whyte (Born September 1905) from Abonnema
Daniel Wilson
Legendary Chief Sondu Suokiri Igbon of Sampou
King Robert Ebizimor
The White Eagles of Sabagreia
Chief Barrister Smooth
Master Pereama Freetown
Asu Ekiye
Inetimi Odon (Timaya)
14.Timi Dakolo: An international music icon
Harry Song: A foremost musician in the Nigerian Music Industry

IJO ICONS ON OTHER ENTERTAINMENT FIELDS

Sister Jack; Miss Nigeria, 1980.
Ibinabo Fiberesima, Nigerian Nollywood actress
Agbani Darego; First ever black African to enter the International Beauty Hall of Fame, as the 51st Miss World Beauty Queen, November 16, 2001 in South Africa.
Tarila Thompson; Legendary Nigerian movie director, filmmaker, actor, writer and musician, with international engagements
Mablas Akpuluma (Jnr.); Accomplished broadcaster and the first voice on Radio Bayelsa.
Dakore Egbuson Akande; Star Nollywood actress
Walter Anga; Star Nollywood actor
Sam Dede: Legendary Nollywood Actor, and an icon in the Nigerian Movie Industry
Gentle Jack: One of greatest actors in the Nigerian Movie Industry

Credits: Ijo footprints: Ijo contributors to Nigeria and the World edited by Tam Fiofori, Opubo Daminabo and Young Ayotamuno.
Online sources.

Write-up: Dr. Kola Samuel Kolawole Oredipe and Nikade Anderson (PhD)

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