After decades of campaign, ‘Egbira’ finally gazetted as common name for ethnic group

The people of Egbira have secured the official gazette of a common name spelt as “Egbira” for the ethnic group. 

Ibrahim Ohida, national secretary of Ohiku-Egbira Descendants Union (OEDU), in a statement, announced the development.

Egbira is an ethnic group indigenous to some parts of Kogi, Nasarawa, Edo, and the federal capital territory (FCT).

They have been variously called Ebira, Ebirra, Egbirra, Ibira, Ibirra and Egbira in the past.

According to OEDU, the official gazette of the common name — Egbira — is contained in the Federal Republic of Nigeria official gazette no. 127, volume 109, dated July 14, 2022.

The group said the adoption of the common name was carried based on the agreements reached during consultations with traditional fathers and stakeholders at Okene and Koton Karfe conventions in 2010 and 2021, respectively.

“The Ohiku-Egbira Descendants Union (OEDU), wishes to formally inform members of the Egbira Nation that the Union has secured an official gazette of the agreed common name EGBIRA spelt E-G-B-I-R-A for people of the Egbira Nation comprising Egbira Opete, Egbira Miyakan and Egbira Etuno (Igarra),” the statement reads.

“This is contained in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No. 127, Volume 109 dated 14th July, 2022.

“As you are aware, this adoption of the common name EGBIRA is done in line with our agreement following consultation with our Royal Fathers, stakeholders from the three zones and resolutions at the Okene and Koton Karfe Conventions in 2010 and 2021, respectively.

“This is in recognition of our common ancestry and expressed desire to be so recognised for reasons of unity, numerical strength and enhanced political relevance among the comity of ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.

“This milestone of officially gazetting our name as EGBIRA, has been twenty years coming. Congratulations to all of us. We need to now rededicate ourselves and all work together for the full application of this name in all our official dealings.”