…minister calls for continuous support for Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu
Erudite scholars and notable personalities of the Afenmai community have expressed great concerns about the challenges posed by the diversities in the Afenmai dialects as spoken by members of different Afenmai clans spread across Edo North in Edo state.
They stressed this at the Afenmai Cultural Day held by Etsako Club ’81 in Lagos on Sunday, 16th February 2025.
They called for the incorporation of the different dialects into one standardised variant, with well-developed orthography and lexicosemantic features, in a bid to unite the Afenmai community and preserve her language and culture through generations.
Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, linked the diversities in the Afenmai language to the migration of her people from Benin to different parts of Etsako West Local Government Area, Etsako East Local Government Area, and Etsako Central Local Government Area.
He said: “Afenmai is home to a cluster of closely related dialects, each with its distinct variations. These dialects are spoken across various villages and towns, with certain communities using slightly different vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammatical structures.
“While these linguistic variations enrich the cultural fabric of the region, they also present significant challenges for social cohesion, trade, and governance. Communication barriers between these dialects can hinder collaboration, economic exchange, and even effective governance, as leaders must navigate the complexities of different linguistic groups within the same region.”
He explained that the migration that took place in the 14th and 15th centuries, under the reigns of Oba Ozolua, has continued to impose linguistic differences that posed great challenges to the economic and sociopolitical growth of the Afenmai community.
“However, there is leeway, and that is the fact that despite the mythical origins as contained in the legends and folklores of Afenmai people, there is a general consensus amongst history writers which also corresponds to numerous oral traditions as related through the ages, that the Afenmai people came from the Bini nation (precisely from Benin Republic), having migrated in stages during the reigns of Oba Ewuare the Great and Oba Ozolua in the 14th and 15th Centuries respectively.
“As it were, the said migrations had their causes, the causes, too, had their effects, and the effects as well had their unique and final outcome – the establishment of Afenmai.”
He, therefore, called for the standardisation of a generally acceptable Afenmai Language that will embrace the diverse dialects and will be used for educational purposes and preservation of the Afenmai culture.
“The development of a unified language for the people of Afenmai has become an important goal in recent years. While the name “Afenmai” refers to the people of the region and not to a specific language, the need for a common language is becoming increasingly evident. To address this, there have been efforts to standardize the most widely spoken dialects, particularly those of the Etsako language, into a new Afemai language.
“The adoption of Etsako as the foundation for this unified language is logical, given that it is the most widely spoken and understood across the Afenmai region. However, this does not mean that Etsako should be the sole focus.
“To create an inclusive Afemai language that truly represents the entire region, it is essential to draw upon elements from all the dialects, ensuring that no group feels excluded from the process.”
He added that the quest for a unified Afenmai Language is a leap towards the global goal of preserving indigenous languages.
“This new language development is not only a practical step toward greater communication but also an important move toward the preservation of our linguistic heritage. As the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) continues to advocate for the safeguarding of local languages, the creation of a standardized Afenmai language aligns with global efforts to protect and celebrate indigenous languages.”
He then extolled the affluent Afenmai culture and urged Afenmai people to speak their Afenmai Language to their children at home.
Minister calls for continuous support for Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu
Minister for Regional Development, Alhaji Abubakar Momoh, called on the Afenmai people to rally support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State in delivering Renewed Hope Agenda for the betterment of Nigerians, including Lagosians.
“I want to use this opportunity to urge every Afenmai person to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the man who has made your son a minister. He has counted you worthy, and it’s best that you throw your support behind in the next election.
“I also want to remind you, especially residents of Lagos, that Lagos seat of power. The president himself is from Lagos. So, I want to plead that you replicate your support for the federal government with the government of Lagos.”
The minister also disclosed that concerns for interventions have been noted across different parts of Afenmai.
He said: “Before now, I’ve observed that many communities in Afenmai have problems of accessibility. They cannot access their neighbours. They have to embark on tiring journeys just to access villages and towns that are very close to them geographically. The situation really calls for concern. Moreover, other projects should be carried out in Afenmai for the good of the people.”
He pledged collaboration with the government and agencies involved in addressing the challenges noted in the Afenmai community.
“Although my own is answerable to every region of the country, every Nigerian looks up to it expectantly. We do not really have the resources at our disposal to carry out projects. We can only do that through the government and the agencies we supervise. However, I want you to know that before now, I’ve been in liaison with the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency Sen. Monday, on the development of Afenmai, and outcomes will be visible soon. I’ll further engage the Governor of Kogi State and agencies involved in ensuring the living conditions of the people of Afenmai.”
Meanwhile, the president of Etsako Club ’81, Chief Greg Otsu, in his welcome address, emphasised the value of the Afenmai culture.
He said: “Afenmai people are great people, and we have sons and scions who are doing well in their various assignments and endeavours. I want us to look inward and see what we have. We should be proud of ourselves. Together, let’s develop Afenmai land, as its growth and development are of utmost interest to me.”
He related camaraderie between people of Afenmai origin.
“An Afenmai is a great man, and I’ll implore us to strengthen our camaraderie. Let the seniors take the juniors as mentors. I can proudly say today that I’m one of the beneficiaries of such mentoring. We made our way into UNILAG that year and met Prof. Momodu Kazzim Momodu as my lecturer. His guidance came in handy, and it would be good if we could do more of it.”
He thanked the Chairman, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, and welcomed the honourable Minister for Regional Development, Alh. (Engr) Abubakar Momoh, Emperor Jareth, the APC Chairman for Edo State, all other dignitaries, and everyone to the event and urged them to embrace the celebratory atmosphere.
The Chief Host and Chairman Board of Trustees for Etsako Club ’81, Chief Samuel Afemikhe, in his address, noted that the club was founded to preserve the culture of the people.
“Etsako Club ’81 was established in 1981 to collectively preserve our culture, guarantee positive change within the society, and work relentlessly for the economic development of all parts of Etsako land. Etsako, made of three local governments, is a subset of Afenmai, otherwise known as Edo North. It has a rich and diverse language that weaves into one robust whole.
“I’m conversant with variants related to the Okpella dialect where I was born and learnt the Opepe and Uzaire dialects among others, and I’ve come to realise the variations weave into a dynamic identity and cultural entity”
He then stressed the need for preservation.
“You have seen the beauty of the Afenmai culture, enjoyed the melody of the Afenmai music, even in this hall. You’ll, therefore, agree with me that there’s a great need for preservation and sustenance.”
He concluded that the Afenmai culture is rich in values such as spirituality, family connectivity, and respect for elders.
The high points of the occasion were the unveiling of Afenmai food and the music breaks, wherein many frolicked to irresistible Afenmai music, including the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Mike Ozekhome.
Also, speaking at the event, Anamero Dakari, representing Etsako Federal Constituency, noted that there is so much work to be done.
“Etsako Federal Constituency is a great constituency with industrious people. A lot of things needed to be done. Firstly, our role as parliamentarians is to make laws for those who govern the society, but at the moment, the person paramount concern of every Nigerian is security.
“Hence, I’m currently in partnership with security operatives to ensure that my people in Etsako Federal Constituency feel safe back home. Moreover, I’ve attracted some interventions to my constituency. I have equally executed some projects, and I am poised to do even more.”
He stressed his commitment to the unity of Etsako.
