By Mfon Jacott.
#In 1951 the first experimental Local Government (County) in British West Africa was Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State.
#In 1954 Moynagh gave modern Anglo-West Africa its first indigenous Catholic bishop: His Lordship the Most Rev. Bishop D. I. Ekandem. That year, the diocese of Ikot Ekpene was created and Ekandem appointed to administer it. He hails from Ibiono Ibom local government area of present Akwa Ibom State.
#In 1933 Wellington Umoh Bassey joined the Royal Band Corps of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF). He is the Akwa Ibom indigene on record as Nigeria first commissioned Nigerian Soldier having the number NA 1.
#By 1928, the Ibibio Union had been formed. In 1938, the Union among other remarkable achievements had sponsored six Ibibio sons to study overseas.
It is on record that it is the first ethnic organisation in Nigeria to sponsor indigenes to study overseas.
#In 1795, the second highest slave depot in West Africa (The first being Badagry, Lagos) was established in Ikot Abasi was known to be famous “Bridge of No Return”.
#In 1887 the first Qua Iboe Church was founded by Rev. Samuel Bill with the location in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State.
#In 1929 the famous Aba Women Riot” of 1929 originated from a market called Ukam Market in Ikot Abasi, where so many women lost their lives in the killing ordered by a colonial Divisional Officer in Ikot Abasi. The riot was led by a woman from Ikot Abasi with Madam Udo Udoma as the lead agitator against British tax regime.
#On 13th January 1915 at aged 66 years Mary Mitchell Slessor died as a Scottish Presbyterian missionary worker to Nigeria. She
helped to stop the common practice of infanticide of twins born babies in the Akwa-cross region of Nigeria. Also played a led role in women right. She died in Use Ikot Oku, her grave monument is still intact till date.
#In 1953 the first Chairman, Eastern Nigeria House of Chiefs was Chief Nyong Essien of present day Akwa Ibom State.
#In 1944 at Oxford University, Egbert Udo Udoma was one of the first black Africans to earn a PhD in Law. He became a Knight of the British Empire (KBE) was the first Governor General of Uganda From 1963 to 1969, and later Chairman of Nigeria’s Constituent Assembly from 1977 to 1978.
He was Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria for 13 years. He was one of the scholars who later championed the Ibibio course and became the arrow head of the minorities’ right in the Eastern Region of Nigeria.
#nigeria
#akwaibom
