Enjoy the blogger ibikunle Abraham laniyan popularly known as Fred Williams in of his Facebook handles.We debated the first tribe to be educated in Africa and which was challenged by the so called Igbo PHD Samuel Okafor . Enjoy the conversation that seeks to correct disgusting opinions of the so called doctorate.There is serious superiority complex wars going on in Nigeria otherwise known as intellectual war and everyone promoting his tribe.To be frank no tribe ever dispute that superiority with Yorubas not even the real edos excluding the irate ìgbo envious of whatever Yoruba had achieved on their behalf and the contributions of same Yoruba to make life better for the same ingrate Igbo folks who never stop to curse any early headstart Yoruba had made and led the rest of black Africa.Let me repeat the problem in Nigeria was not corruption per day but the educational lead that Yoruba had made 326 to 336 years before any non yorubas like Igbos could go to school especially tertiary education.The intellectual war started in 1937 when akannu ibịam came back overseas as the first mordern doctor in the igboland.Moreso as it was worsened by Zik of Africa upon his arrival in 1934 after he spent a decade in America and returned as the first doctorate in igboland.Another Igbo Samuel Okafor whose forefathers woke up late to realise a black tribe had led them by almost 400years of educational lead in this write up disputed what he called claim by the Yorubas to be the first educated folks in Africa and claimed it was the Benin people.
Read Samuel Okafor posted in my Facebook page and fellow commenters either challenging the position or otherwise supported.Enjoy the reading:
BENINS WERE THE FIRST EDUCATED NIGERIANS
Dr. Samuel Okafor, the Igbo scholar In an article made available to News Express, Okafor responds to critics of his claims and sets the records straight on great Nigerians, mainly of the past, from various parts of the country. He also explains his motive and suggests the way forward in Igbo-Yoruba relations. Please read on:
I had earlier made a submission stating that the Binins were the first to be exposed to Western education. This very position which I presented was not well received by a lot of my Yoruba brothers who have gone to great lengths to discredit this true historical fact.
Some have even resorted to outright fabrication of history. They have based their own position on sentiments which have no bearing to known historical research. I have thus decided to provide further historical evidences to further substantiate my previous position, because the very essence of historical research is not to belittle any ethnic nationality but to provide a deeper understanding of our history with a view of correcting some wrong pre-conceived notions held or being propagated by some ethnic nationalities.
In historical research, when one disagrees with another position, that person must provide an alternative and completing evidence to the contrary, and also provide references that can be crosschecked for accuracy. My Yoruba brothers have failed to provide the much required evidence. They have simply stated an alternative position without showing that indeed their position on the balance of historical evidence is the one to adopt. This, as one of my great professors, Adiele Afigbo, would put it, is the lazy historical approach to historical research. I would now provide incontrovertible evidence that the Binis were the first to be exposed to Western education.
THE BINIS WERE THE FIRST NIGERIANS EXPOSED TO WESTERN EDUCATION
I would ask that readers google the name, Ohen Okun. Ohen Okun from historical records held in both Benin archives and in the annals of Portuguese history was the Olokun priest of the port town of Ughoton Benin. Oba Esigie the Great, who reigned from 1504 to 1549, sent the Ohen Okun to Portugal as the Ambassador of Benin to the Portuguese Court. While in Portugal, the Portuguese Affonso D. Aveiro remained in Benin as the Portuguese envoy. Ohen Okun was treated with respect while in Portugal. He later returned to Benin and is described as the first known Diplomat of Nigerian origin to Europe.
A BINI MAN WAS THE FIRST NIGERIAN GRADUATE
Let us go further; who was the first known Nigerian graduate? As this issue has generated so much controversy, it is important that I deal with it comprehensively and provide a clear evidence to substantiate my research. Readers, again kindly google the name Olu Atuwatse (Dom Domingo). Olu Atuwatse was the crown prince of the Bini Empire who was sent to Portugal in 1601 for advanced studies by his father, the then reigning Oba. He graduated from the University of Coimbra in 1611. He was the first Nigerian to obtain a European university degree. He later married the daughter of a Portuguese noble, Dona Feirs. Their son Antonio Domingo referred to in Benin history as the Golden Skinned King succeeded him to the throne in 1643.
Antonio Domingo, a Christian who wanted to spread Christianity throughout the Empire, wrote the Pope in 1652 asking for Missionary assistance. This is the oldest letter written in Nigeria. I think this lays to rest which ethnic nationality produced the first educated Nigerians. If required, I would provide other historical research to substantiate my position further.
Okafor..Ph.D
Note this post was made by Seekersng and the admin also periodically comments.
Fred Williams commented and the likes of Moshood Abdulsalami, Michael Falana,Hamers Damilola Alhazim,Funmi Michael, Princess Clara Adeyekun,Murphy Ademola Odejide,Aladejana Oluwatosin Ubah and Ayo str Emanuel either expressed shock or fathom the enterprise of the counterblast or satisfaction of Yoruba's educational lead.
Benny Okhuoya:Fred William Just like entire generations and all Yorubas generations.
Awe Temitope:Fred William yes first primary, secondary and university started from Yoruba so where is Edo. only university of Benin in Edo but how many federal universities do we have in Yoruba land we are not even talking about state and private universities. as heaven is far far above earth so also Yoruba is far far above Benin in all ratification take it or leave it
SeekersNg: Ignorant "refering to SeekersNg denigration of Awe Temitope na production.
Ogieva Emery:Fred William wat year pls
As u can read dat of d Benin history dey av dates in whatever dey telling u about Deir selves d Yoruba should also tell us Deir own with date nor b to dey argue like mumu agberos argue with points evidences and proofs
Blogger:Ogieva Emery olu otuwatse of itsekiri itsekiri na Yoruba got educated in 1546 itsekiri from ijebu .that was random education.but mass education first primary school and first secondary school were founded by Egba.mass education not random everybody going to enmasse.
Infact in 18th century the Saro folks from Egba clan founded the oldest secondary school in black Africa called CMS secondary school in both sierra Leone and Lagos and it was founded by Rev.Thomas Babbinghton Macaulay who married the second daughter of Rev . Ajayi Crowther
Blogger:Is ignorant person my brother a doctorate illiterate whò doesnt know olu atuwatse is an itsekiri man and itsekiris are yoruba people from ogun State not benin.infact in benin many people knew benin people wèrè from ile ife especially those whò speak yoruba like yoruba speaking igala whò knew they wèrè from yorubaland inspired of ibo lies trying to claim igalas.Infact current oba of benin had agreed not d last oba of benin.Benin people are not a tribe bcos they wèrè grouped under yoruba and their dialect like other forty groups fraudulently being called forty tribes in South South are bonafides of western region.u know zik of africa wanted to divide yorubas when they created midwestern region from western region in 1963 consisting of benin and Delta states.They wèrè yoruba dialects not tribes same with 170 groups in northcentral or middlebelt not 170tribes but groups are 170 dialects of the yorubas in d region.if u go to benin you will see yoruba groups fraudulently called tribes like egun,gbe,mahi,fon etcetera and in togo yu see nago and lucumi these are yoruba dialects and groups go to ghana gaa tribe or group in Ghana and go across sierraleone u will millions of our people and aku of gambia,go to ivory coast why my yoruba people from ogbomosho settled down people like didier Drogba or aderogba in yoruba settled down.Yoruba in west Africa should not be less than 50million not too talk of 80 million yorubas in brazil confirmed by oni of ife the only king in Africa that is a deity like Jesu Christ in another country and that country is cuba where over 1million yorubas reside often called the God of cuba by fidel castro himself.Why bcos he performed miracle there.There was nò rain in cuba for 13 years and so in a normal visit usual tour they sensitised him and promised there shall be rain when i talk to God of my fathers .He entered into d pit and performed rituals coming out rain started .Then he wanted to pay visit to fidel castro whò declined God of cuba dont come to me i will come to u.I refer to last Oni of ife not New oni of ife.
Let me tell there are 49 ogisos that ruled in benin stupid illiterate i know u dont know that.Who taught them governance and was installing ogisos Maybe u dont know governance is an academic course that must be learnt like any other courses.Where did ogisos came from was it not from Yorubaland "
Then a fellow Yoruba man whom I couldn't reply noted northern region were d the first to be educated sighting Islamic education.We can dispute the fact that Islam entered Africa after the Norman invasion of 1066 so to say 1098 or thereabout.Uthman Dan fisio jihad of 17th century conquest could not have been imputed or ascribed to as the cradle of westernization.The itsekiri access and the Egba contribution could be ascribed the prestige of the first educated folks in black Africa.
Chris Timehin:Itsekiri-Yoruba are the first educated Nigeria, Olu of Warri ' Atuwatse the first schooled in Lisbon Portugal 1554 to 1556, Erejuwa the first Olu of Warri schooled in Brazil, etc"
Chris Timehin was attacked for the above comments and we know Itseky were Yoruba folks.We can prove Benin were Yoruba folks and the Igbo tribe seeks to divide them and spreading lies.
Awala Dennis :Dom Domingo was a crown Prince in Warri and not Benin. He reign with the title Atuwase 1. The present Olu of Warri is using the same title.today."
When Awala Dennis made the above comments they almost chopped him life I mean the Benin guy.Hear the mixed reaction from the commenters:
Oluwole Olusola Benson Jealousy wan kpai you, we re not yoruba that the Ooni of Ife said the garden of Eden is in Ile ife. Go and ask the ishekiri were their kings ancestry is from. Ignorance is not an excuse.
Lucky yikes:Awala Dennis Dom Domigo is the great grand son of Oba Olua infact Oba Olua sponsored him to portugal for studies before he became Olu Oba of Benin has a strong contact with the portuguese more than any other people Itsekiri are always with Benin right from the time of Ginuan who was a Benin prince"
Monday Dirisu and lucky Omoregie supported him.Whereas Aimufua Samuel and Odogun Leonard akataka opposed him.
Tunde Ilevbare:Awala Dennis , thank you. The man even turned his entire claim on its head by referring to Olu Atuwatse the First and Dom Domingo, his son, as Benin kings. They were true ITSEKIRI Royalty that had nothing whatsoever to do with the Benin Court."
Hundreds,thousands and millions of untiring comments on Facebook and social media in general were in most prejudiced and tilted towards their tribes and hardly any objectivity whatsoever and the truth history in Africa is not healing nor uniting Africans but dividing and any intellectual pursuit that was the outcome of a race or tribe makes it worse .We are the products of western divisive pluralism.But nevertheless there are convincing evidences by a factor of 8 to 10 that education in Yorubaland was over three hundred years before non yorubas had educational access.Little wonder 80percent of Nigerian economy still rest largely with them.
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