In Nigeria we have three major ethnic groups namely, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, but there are over 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria as measured by self identification or the Presence of different Languages. The Igbos are the Ethnic group that occupied the SouthEast part of Nigeria. They have contributed a lot to the development of our dear Country (Nigeria).
All these positions in Government that are being held by other ethnic groups now, were first held by Igbos after the British Colonial Masters.
Do you know that Igbos are naturally blessed from the on set of this Country? If you don’t know relax, I will entail every detail to you. Do you know before the British Colonial Rule in 20th Century, the Igbo have political fragmented group, with good centralized Chiefdoms such as Nri, Around Confederacy, Agbor and Onitsha.
It was in Igbo Land that Nigeria experience the first women Riots, which took place in ABA, present day Abia State commercial City.
This happened when the rumours that Igbo women were being assessed for taxation sparked off the 1929 Igbo women’s War in Aba, a massive revolt of women never encountered before in the history of Nigeria.
Other ethnic groups don’t know that Christanity was first introduced to Igbo People through the European Colonization in 1857.
That is why most Igbo People are Roman Catholic and others are Protestant and Evangelical.
The Igbo People today are known as the Ethnic group that have adopted Christanity the most in all Africa. Do you know that, it was an Igbo man that took over power from the British Colonial leaders in 1963.
Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was the driving force behind the Nations Independence, he came to known as the father of the Nigeria Nationalism.
He took over power from the British leaders in 1963 as the first Nigerian Indigenous President Nnamdi Azikiwe Today many of the Speaker of house of Representatives are from other ethnic groups, but this post was first held by Igbos. His name is Jaja Anucha Wachukwu from Abia State.
He was the speaker of house of Representatives in Nigeria, also the first Nigerian Ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations. Jaja Anucha Wachukwu was the first Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs. The first Senate President of Nigeria is also an Igbo.
Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was also the first Indigenous Senate President before becoming the President of Nigeria.
The second Indigenous Senate President of Nigeria was also an Igbo man called
Dennis Osadebay after Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.
Do you also remember that it was an Igbo man that was first head of State in Nigeria. In the person of General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-ironsi.
He was promoted the Rank of Major General in 1965, the year Major General C.B Welby Everard a British Commander handed over his position as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the entire Nigeria Army to Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-ironsi, making him the first Nigeria Indigenous Officer to head the entire Nigeria Army and He became the first Head of State in 1966.
Today different ethnic groups are commanders in Military but all first started from as Igbo man.
The first man to join Nigerian Army with Master’s degree is an Igbo man, his name is Chukwuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu he studied History to Master’s degree at Oxford University and returned to Nigeria in 1956 but later joined the Nigerian Military with Master’s degree, which made him to be the first Indigenous Nigeria to join Army with such Certificate.
Presently in Nigeria we have countless number of Educationist but it first started by an Igbo man named Alvan Ikoku.
He was the first Nigerian to earn a University Degree in Philosophy in year 1928 at University of London. He established a Co-Educational Secondary School in West Africa located in Arochukwu Abia State.He was the one that called for an Education Bill of Right for Primary School Education to be free Education to all Primary Schools in Nigeria.
Today we see Dangote as the Nigerian Richest man, even in the whole Africa.But many other ethnic groups don’t know that the First richest man in Africa was an Igbo man, His name is Phillip Odumegu Ojukwu, the father of Chukwuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu.
He was considered the Wealthiest Person in Nigeria and the whole West Africa at that time, this man was Nigeria’s first recorded Billionaire with net worth reaching equivalent to 4 Billion Dollars using today’s currency. He was the first and founding President of African Continental Bank. He was Chairman or on the Board of Directors of some of Nigeria’s most Profitable Companies, such as Shell Oil Nigeria Limited, Guinness Nig Ltd, Nigerian National Shipping Lines, Nigerian Cement Factory, Nigerian Coal Corporation, Constrain West Africa Ltd, John Holt, Nigeria marketing Board amongst others.
Apart from Nigerian Politics, Igbos still Excell in European Country’s. Do you know that Igbo man is a Senator in Italian Senate. His name is Toni Chike Iwobi better known as Tony Iwobi. He is an Italian Politician for Lega Nord.
Toni Chike was elected in Italian Senate in 2018 General Election.
Senator Chike was born in Nigeria to his parents of Igbo descent.
Igbo man is the only Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church in Nigeria. Like I said earlier, Igbos embraced Christanity many centuries ago as the first ethnic group to be Christians in Nigeria.
Francis Arinze is an Igbo man that is ordained as Cardinal of the Roman Catholic, those that know about Catholic Church will understand better what Cardinal means. Cardinal is like a super Apostle.
Still on Christanity, due to how the Igbos embraced Christanity and love God Almighty, Igbo man was ordained a Priest of Roman Catholic Church in December 1937, due to his pure service and commitment to God Almighty, He was a Saint of the Catholic Church, making him
(Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi) the only Saint in Nigeria.
In Igbo ethnic group, even women are not left out in history making. Igbos have two women that have made history.
The first Female Commercial Pilot in Nigeria is an Igbo woman called Chinyere Kalu.
She was a Commercial Pilot and the first woman to fly an Aircraft in Nigeria.
Also in Nigeria Politics, an Igbo woman is first to become a Governor of a State. Everyone knows how Difficult it is for men to win Election and become not to talk a woman becoming but Igbo woman break that record. Her name is Dame Virginia Ngozi Etiaba CON
she was the Governor of Anambra State from November 2006 to February 2007, making the first Female Governor in history of Nigeria.
Another one that will make bow down for Igbos
Do you know that an Igbo man is the only Black Lord-Lieutenant of Great London.
British Businessman and philanthropist.
His name is Sir Ken Olisa. He is a British Businessman and philanthropist.
Let me also shock you, Do you know that Igbo People are one of Largest ethnic groups in Africa with Regions with significant Populations of 35.5 million people in Nigeria and 35.500 people in Equatorial Guinea.
The Igbos in Bioko in Equatorial Guinea
Igbos are native is SouthEast and SouthSouth parts of Nigeria and also in Country of Equatorial Guinea. They are Primarily Christians, their related ethnic groups are Ibibio, Efik, Annang, Ogoni, Idoma, Igala, Urhobo ,Ijaw Ogoja.
These are some facts that will make other Ethnic Groups in Nigeria to bow down an honour Igbo People. Igbos are wonderful blessed. Igbo kwenu.
According to what the History entails , don’t be surprise that Igbo People may provide the first female President to rule Nigeria because they are history makers.
Apart from other ethnic groups honoring Igbos ,I think with all this Histories listed above, Igbo has really made Nigeria Proud and they deserve some honour from all tribes in Nigeria and Africa too.
