Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, Tor Tiv, has charged all Tiv sons and daughters, both at home and in the diaspora, to support and attend the annual Tiv Cultural Day celebration, scheduled for December in Gboko, the administrative headquarters of the Tiv nation.
The Tor Tiv, in council with the Tiv Area Tradition Council, after careful consideration of the schedule of activities for the planned 2025 Tiv Day celebration, approved the same to hold between 10 and 13 December, Mr. Nicholas Ishom, Press Secretary to the President General Mdzough U Tiv (MUT), said in a statement made available to TNT. Prof. Tar Adejir is the chair of the CPC.
Chief Iorbee Ihagh, President General of MUT, had highlighted some of the activities planned for the events before approval, including the Tiv essay competition, Tiv women’s summit, Tiv youth summit, Kwagh-hir and puppet-theatre competition, folk-tales competition, and a round-table discussion featuring three papers, among other activities.
Other activities he outlined include the Agric Show, oral poetry competition, award nights, Kumashe U Tiv Contest, Tor-Kwaor contest, and carnival procession, among many others.
The last time Tiv Day was celebrated was in 2006, under the leadership of Justice Augustine Paul Bokon Utsaha (retd.) as President-General of the revived “Mzough U Tiv,” Mr Kpamor Jiir, a journalist, told TNT. The late Yima Sen and Terhemba Kondoun were among the members of the MUT Executive Council at the time.
According to Mr Kpamor, the late Tor Tiv, Orchivirigh Alfred Akawe Torkula had given the MUT leadership “orders to ensure it was held that year.
“This followed repeated calls from elders like Akaazua Muemue, etc, and to some extent, publisher and Hard Facts Columnist Maurice Tsav.”
Although party supporters nearly marred it, as it was a few months away from the governorship primary elections by political parties, ahead of the 2007 general elections.
“However, when Suswam eventually took over, he showed little interest in it, or so it seemed. He came up with Akata Fishing Festival, colourfully celebrated in Katsina-Ala early 2008, under Benjamin Ashaver as then Commissioner for Agriculture,” Mr Kpamor explained.
