By Segun Adegboyega
The people of Takete-Ide have celebrated 100 years of unity, resilience and development, with Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, donating ₦35 million towards the completion of the community’s Town Hall project.
The centenary celebration brought together indigenes, traditional rulers, government officials and well-wishers from within and outside Nigeria to commemorate a century since the community relocated from its ancestral hilltop settlement to its present location.
Activities lined up for the multi-day celebration included thanksgiving, a novelty football match, free medical outreach, cultural displays, oral history sessions and the unveiling of a community development trust.
Speaking at the grand finale, Governor Ododo commended the people of Takete-Ide for the courage, sacrifices and spirit of self-help that had sustained the community over the past century.
The governor, who was represented by the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, said the achievements of the community demonstrated the power of unity, collective responsibility and purposeful leadership.
He also praised Takete-Ide indigenes for their accomplishments across different professions and urged the younger generation to sustain the legacy of excellence while contributing to the continued development of the community.
Governor Ododo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to partnering communities to accelerate development across Kogi State through investments in education, healthcare, roads, agriculture, rural infrastructure, security and economic empowerment.
As part of the government’s support for the community, the governor announced the release of ₦35 million for the completion of the Takete-Ide Town Hall.
He further disclosed that the Takete-Ide road was receiving government attention, with engineers already assessing the project for costing.
The governor also called on traditional rulers, community leaders, youths and residents to support security agencies with credible and timely information on suspicious movements and activities.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications and Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo, described the centenary as not only a celebration of the past but a challenge to the younger generation to build a future of greater peace, unity and prosperity.
Fanwo urged the people to preserve the values of their forebears while embracing new opportunities that would advance Takete-Ide in the next century.
In his remarks, the National Chairman of the Takete-Ide Progressive Union (TIPU), Bldr. Richard Dare Fiki, described the centenary as a historic milestone in the community’s journey from its hilltop origins to a modern and peaceful settlement.
He urged residents to remain committed to accountability, collective responsibility and community development, while appreciating Governor Ododo for interventions in infrastructure, education, healthcare, security and workers’ welfare.
Community elders also shared oral accounts of the early struggles of the people, including the challenges faced by their forebears, and recalled how communal efforts led to the establishment of the community’s first schools and other foundations for development.
The celebration featured a novelty football match between TIPU and the Takete-Ide Student Union (TISU), with TIPU emerging victorious by 3–1.
Fanwo was among the scorers, recording a brace, including two successful penalty kicks.
Free medical tests and treatment were also provided for residents as part of activities marking the centenary.
The grand finale was rounded off with the presentation of chieftaincy titles to distinguished personalities in recognition of their contributions to the development and progress of Takete-Ide.
