URHOBO HISTORICAL FACTS By Assin Godstime

Urhobo people occupy Delta Central in the present Delta State of Nigeria. Apart from Delta Central the Urhobo People still spread to Aka (Benin), Okitipupa (Ondo State), Bayelsa, Rivers, Lagos, and other parts of the country. The Urhobo people occupy 8 Local Government Areas in Delta Central, namely: Ughelli North (the biggest), Ughelli South, Udu, Uvwie, Ethiope East, Ethiope West, Sapele and Okpe.

The Urhobo people are bonded by Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), founded in 1931. The union was formerly called Urhobo Brotherly Society at creation. UPU is Nigeria’s oldest pre-indepedence union and the second oldest in Africa. It has been led by 13 President-Generals in order of office: Olorogun Omorohwovo Okoro (1931-1937), Olorogun Mukoro Mowoe (1937-1948), Olorogun John Okpodu (1948-1957), Olorogun Jabin Obahor (1957-1961), Olorogun Thompson Salubi (1961-1982), Olorogun Dr Frederick Esiri (1982-1993), Olorogun James Ogboko Edewor (1993-1998), Olorogun (Major-General) David Ejoor (1998-1999), Olorogun Benjamin Okumagba (1999-2007), Olorogun Felix Ibru (2007-2010), Okakuro (Major-General) Patrick Aziza (2010-2014), Olorogun (Engr) Jeo Omene (2014-2016) and Olorogun (Dr) Moses Taiga, the incumbent.

The Urhobo people hold their origin to 24 Kingdoms. This means that the Urhobo people have 24 Kings. The 24 kingdoms include: Agbon Kingdom, Arhawarien Kingdom, Agbarha-Waado Kingdom, Agbarha-Otor Kingdom, Agbarho Kingdom, Effurun-Otor Kingdom, Evwreni Kingdom, Eghwu (Ewu) Kingdom, Idjerhe Kingdom, Mosogar Kingdom, Oghara Kingdom, Ogor Kingdom, Okere-Urhobo Waado Kingdom, Okparabe Kingdom, Okpe Kingdom, Olomu Kingdom, Orogun Kingdom, Oruarivie-Abraka Kingdom, Udu Kingdom, Ughelli Kingdom, Ughievwen Kingdom, Umiaghwa-Abraka Kingdom, Uvwie Kingdom and Uwherun Kingdom.

Agbarha-Otor Kingdom, Ughelli Kingdom, Ogor Kingdom, Agbarho Kingdom, Orogun Kingdom, Evwreni Kingdom and Uwherun Kingdom occupy Ughelli North Local Government Area.

Olomu Kingdom, Effurun-Otor Kingdom, Arhawarien Kingdom, Ughievwen Kingdom, Okparabe Kingdom and Eghwu (Ewu) Kingdom occupy Ughelli South Local Government Area.

Udu and Uvwie Kingdoms occupy a local government each. Ethiope East houses Agbon Kingdom, Oruarivie-Abraka Kingdom and Umiaghwa-Abraka Kingdom.

Ethiope West has Oghara Kingdom, Mosogar Kingdom and Idjerhe Kingdom. Okpe Kingdom occupies Sapele and Okpe Local Government Areas. Okpe is the biggest Kingdom in Delta State.

Agbarha-Waado and Okere-Urhobo Waado Kingdoms occupy Warri South. Although they are Urhobo, they are in Warri South by political or local government area.

The first Urhobo University trained graduate McNeil Gabriel Ejaife was produced in 1948. He was trained at Durham University in the UK. He was one of the two recipients of UPU. The other recipient was Ezekiel Norucho Igho. Igho attended Cambridge university and graduated in 1950. Ejaife was first Principal of Urhobo College at creation in 1949. Igho later joined him as Vice-Principal. Ejaife hailed from Agbon Kingdom.

Urhobo first female university trained graduate, Joan Ibuje was produced in 1962. She studied History at the University of Ibadan. Agbarho native.

Professor Frank Ukoli was the first Urhobo appointed Professor. He was appointed Professor of Zoology at the University of Ibadan in 1973. Agbarha-Waado Kingdom native.

Professor Augusta Omamor was the first Urhobo woman Professor, appointed Professor of Linguistics at the University of Ibadan in 1990. She was also the first Urhobo woman to earn a PhD in 1976. Uvwie native.

Urhobo first Medical Doctor, Dr Frederick Esiri was produced in 1947 from Yaba Higher College, Lagos, which later metamorphosed into the University of Ibadan.

Mary Lakeru (Nee Mukoro Mowoe) was the first Urhobo female Nurse and Midwife. She was trained at the Sunderland General Hospital in England, where she qualified as State Registered Nurse (SRN) in 1951 and State Certified Midwife (SCM) in 1952. Evwreni native.

Pharmacist Johnson Ukueku was the first Urhobo qualified Pharmacist. He became a Pharmacist in 1955. He was also trained at the School of Pharmacists, Yaba, Lagos. Agbon native.

Professor (Engr.) Philip Kuale was the first Urhobo appointed university Vice-Chancellor and the first of Delta origin in 1985. He was Vice Chancellor of Bendel State University between 1985-1989.

Olorogun Grace Akpoguma, formerly Ekpiwhere is the first and only Urhobo woman Minister. She was first appointed Minister of Science and Technology in July 2007 and then Works, Housing and Urban Development in December 2008 during President Musa Y’Adua. Agbarho native.

St. Gideon Meriode Urhobo was the first Urhobo to set up a Church called God’s Kingdom Society in 1934. Agbarha Waado Kingdom native.

Justice Ayo Irikefe was the first Urhobo Lawyer,  called to the English Bar on 1 July 1952. Irikefe became Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Hon (Justice) Marcellina Okungbowa is the first Urhobo female Lawyer. She was called to English Bar Inner Temple in 1964 and the Nigerian Bar in 1966. She was the first Urhobo female Magistrate in 1970, first female High Court Judge in 1989 and the first female appointed Chief Judge of Delta State in 2001. Agbarho native.

Mudiaga Odje SAN was the first of Urhobo extraction in 1978. He was from Evwreni Kingdom.

Olorogun Samuel Jereton Mariere was the first Urhobo Governor. He was ceremonial Governor of the newly created Midwestern Region in 1964-1966. Evwreni native.

Olorogun Demas Akpore was the first Urhobo Deputy Governor. He was Deputy to Professor Ambrose of Bendel State, between 1979-1982 when he resigned voluntarily. Orogun native.

Princess Ogbon-Day was the first Urhobo woman appointed Ambassador in 1983. He was Ambassador to the Philippines. She was also Nigeria’s first female Ambassador. Olomu native.

Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is the first and only Urhobo Deputy Senate President of Nigeria. Omo Agege is the first Delta Central Senator re-elected. Although David Dafinone was re-elected in Bendel South (Urhobo and other ethnic groups), his was not Delta Central. Orogun native.

Dr Cecilia Ibru OFR, was the first female Managing Director of a Commercial bank in Nigeria – The Oceanic Bank International Plc 1994-2009. Udu native.

CP Victory Niro Menta was the first Urhobo woman graduate to be enlisted into the Nigerian Police Force in 1981 as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). Victory is the only Urhobo woman Commissioner of Police, promoted in 2014. Agbarho native.

Mayirue Kolagbodi was the first Urhobo to earn a PhD in 1963. He earned a PhD in History/Philosophy from Humboldt University in Germany. Okpe native.