Original inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called for urgent measures to halt the erosion of their cultural identity and displacement from their ancestral lands amid the rapid expansion and urbanisation of Abuja.
They also demanded greater political participation, recognition of their rights and sustained support for the preservation of their cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge.
They made the call at the 2026 United Nations World Indigenous Peoples Day celebration organised by the Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED), in partnership with the University of Abuja and FCT Original Inhabitant Organisations, with support from the MacArthur Foundation.
The event, held at the Convocation Ground of the University of Abuja, New Site, was themed “Celebrating Indigenous Midwives: Preserving Abuja Original Inhabitants Identity in a Changing World,” in line with the United Nations theme, “Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being.”
Speaking at the event, the Agabe of Ugbada-Gwargwada Chiefdom in Kuje Area Council, Alhaji Hussaini Agabi, called for stronger participation of indigenous communities and political leaders in the annual celebration.
Agabi urged Original Inhabitants to take the event more seriously, saying attendance should increase significantly in subsequent editions.
He also called on area council chairmen, senators and members of the House of Representatives to actively participate in the celebration and engage more directly with issues affecting indigenous communities.
He commended the organisations and foundation supporting the programme, saying their intervention had helped bring greater visibility to communities whose concerns had historically received limited attention.
Agabi said, “The coming of this organisation has shown that the indigenous people of Itsi have been silent and not even known about. Yet, somebody has come to show us and lift us from where we were.”
Earlier, the Executive Director of CHRICED, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said the celebration was not merely about marking a global observance but also about affirming the identity, heritage, dignity and rights of Abuja’s Original Inhabitants.
Zikirullahi said indigenous people were custodians of ancestral knowledge and cultural heritage, stressing that their languages, customs, land rights and cultural expressions must be protected as Abuja continues to develop.
He said indigenous midwives were more than traditional healthcare providers, describing them as custodians of community knowledge and cultural memory.
According to him, they were “storytellers”, “cultural archivists” and a bridge between ancestry and the future.
He warned that the rapid transformation of Abuja must not lead to the disappearance of the identity of the people who inhabited the territory before it became Nigeria’s capital.
“Development must never come at the cost of identity,” Zikirullahi said.
He also drew attention to the challenges faced by Original Inhabitants, including demolitions and evacuation from their ancestral lands and homes, urging greater protection and recognition of their rights.
Zikirullahi announced the proposed establishment of the Abuja Original Inhabitants Heritage Centre, with construction expected to commence soon.
He said the centre would provide a dedicated space for preserving indigenous history, protecting cultural memory, promoting research and ensuring that future generations could learn about and celebrate the heritage of Abuja’s First Peoples.
Representing the Africa Director of the MacArthur Foundation, Dr Kole Shettima, the foundation’s Deputy Director, Dr Amina Salihu, said the foundation was proud to be associated with the Original Inhabitants of the FCT.
Salihu cited the position of the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, on the need to recognise indigenous knowledge systems and protect the rights of indigenous peoples.
She described the celebration as more than a cultural event, saying it provided an opportunity to recognise indigenous heritage as a pathway to justice.
Salihu expressed the foundation’s support for the proposed Heritage Centre and called on other stakeholders to contribute to the initiative.
Also speaking, the representative of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Otaki Alanana, said the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples was established by the United Nations in 1982 to raise awareness about indigenous peoples’ rights and celebrate their contributions to society.
He said this year’s focus on indigenous midwives offered an opportunity to reflect on how traditional caregivers could be supported while preserving indigenous knowledge and cultural values.
Alanana expressed concern over the gradual decline in the use of traditional clothing and practices, warning that rapid societal changes could threaten cultural continuity.
“Change is inevitable, and it is coming very rapidly. But if we are able to manage the pace of change, it is possible that our culture will remain in the annals of history,” he said.
He urged Original Inhabitants and traditional rulers to support initiatives aimed at documenting and preserving their cultural values for future generations.
