By Otori Ozigi
This list is a compilation of outstanding and illustrious sons and daughters of Ebiraland, who are bonafide beacons of hope in the community.
The true mirrors and role models in the community.
They are the major stakeholders and great achievers who have
impacted on humanity and also contributed their quota to nation building and the development of Ebiraland in particular.
The piece is intended to serve as a veritable source of inspiration to the upcoming generation of our great community.
Indeed, Ebiraland is one of the salt of the world.
The list is in no particular order.
1.Prof.Yusuf Otaru Aliyu, the first Professor in Ebiraland
2.Late Gorge Ohikere, the first indigenous Chairman of the board of the Nigerian Ports Authority.
He was later appointed as regional Minister of Works..
3.Late Alhaji Abdulazeez Attah, First Secretary to the federal government.
4.First Executive Governor of Kwara state, Late Adamu Attah.
5.Former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Aliyu Attah,
6.Former Chief of Staff, Late Lt.General Salihu Ibrahim.
7.Former female Federal Minister, Ambassador Judith Attah.(Women affairs)
8.First Senator from Kogi central, Barrister Isa Obaro
9First Governor of Kogi State from Ebiraland, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello.
10.First Woman PhD holder,Prof.Angela Okatahi
11.First female Secretary to Kogi State government, Hajia Ladi Ibrahim.She was also the first female Auditor General of Kogi State
12.First female Accountant General of Kogi State, Mrs Habibat Oyiza Onumonu
13.First Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria,FAAN,Late Senator A.T.Ahmed.
14.Former Attorney General and Minister of justice, Barrister Mohammed Adoke SAN.
15.The former MD of NNPC,Engr.Austin Oniw
16..First DG, Nigerian Broadcasting
Commission.,Dr.Tom Adaba
17.First Ambassador, Late Abdulmalik
Attah(France)
18.First Military Administrator Col.Muhammed Onuka.
19.First Commissioner of health, Kwara state,Late Dr.John Lawani
20.Former MD, Daily Times, Late Dr Onukaba Adinoyi Ojo, who was also a former Media Aide to former Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku.
He later took appointment as a Senior lecturer, University of Abuja.
2The longest serving former Deputy Governor of Kogi State,Dr.Phillips Omeiza Ozovehe Salawu PhD.
22.First Ag.Governor and former Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly,Rth.Hon.Abdullahi Bello.
23.Second Prof.in Ebiraland,Late Prof.Albert Ozigi
24.First Deputy Governor of Kwara state, Alhaji Usman Obatemi.
25.The renowned female artist in Nigeria,Mrs Mercy Johnson Okojie.
26.First Accountant General of Kogi State, Alhaji Jubril Momoh.
27.First Medical doctor, Late Abdulmumuni Attah,who was also the first Medical doctor in Northern Nigeria.
28.The first owner of a private broadcasting station in Ebiraland,Mr.Edward Jatto.
29.The first female Senator in Kogi State, Senator Barrister Natasha Akpoti.
30.The first Parliamentarian,Late Alhaji Megida Lawal
31The former VC of a Federal University,Prof.M.S.Audu.
32.The VC of both Federal and State University,Prof.Nuhu Yakub.
33.The first VC of Kogi State owned University, Confluence University of Science and Technology located in Osara,Prof.Sadiku
34.The former President of Nigeria Medical Association,NMA,Prof.Mike Ogirima.
35.The former Editor of a State owned Newspapers,Late Elder Dan Ikunaiye ( The Sunday Herald and The Graphic Newspaper)
36.The former Executive Director, Rural Electrification Agency, Dr.Sanusi Ohiare.
37.The former MD of Nigerian Paper Mill CompanyJebba, and PAN Kaduna.Alhaji Isa Ozi Salami.He was also appointed into several boards of federal government institutions and agencies in the country in the last couple of years.
38.The first three Ambassadors; from Ebiraland,Alhaji Usman Bello, Alhaji M.K.Ibrahim and Alhaji S.A.Lawal.
38.The former Commissioner for Education, Kwara state,Late Alhaji Musa Etudaiye.
39.The former commander, Western Navy Command,Rear Admiral, Hazmat Sani RTD.
40. The Retr.DIG of police, Barrister Alhaji Abdulraheem Yusuf.
41.The former female Register of a Federal University,Mrs Habibat Abdulrahaman
42.The former Chairman of Union Bank PLC,Late Mahmoud Attah.
43.The former Pilot with the defunct Nigeria Airways,Capt.Okatahi.
44 The first Managing Director of Reference hospital, Okene,Prof.Avidime.
45.The MD of National Arts Theatre, Lagos,,Prof.Ododo.
46.The first female VC of Prince Abubakar Audu University,Prof.Marietu Tenuche.
47.The first Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Chief Patrick Adaba.
48.The two time Commissioner for Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Kogi State,Barrister S.M.Ozigi Deedat
49.The youngest Chief Of Staff to the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ali Bello.
50.The richest man and business mogul in Ebiraland, owner of.A.A.oil
The list is inexhaustible.
You can add your own to enrich our knowledge and history.
Otori Ozigi, a veteran journalist and PR Consultant, writes from Okene.
