Azi Nyako: A Rare Gem, A Hero that Afizere will always Eulogize
A hero is a person often admired for bravery, noble qualities, or exceptional achievements. These and more are the impeccable attributes of the late Ada Azi Nyako.
He was a pioneer Afizere leader and cultural icon recognized for championing minority rights and Afizere nationalism. Known as the patriarch of Afizere politics, late Azi was a prominent figure in 20th-century Nigerian politics, standing for the Afizere, his community’s heritage, and representation.
He contested against Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa for a seat in the House of Representatives. Late Azi Nyako led a struggle for the unity of the Afizere people, a visionary and selfless leader who stood for the truth and brought the Afizere into the national spotlight.
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The Afizere people, both at home and in the diaspora, continue to eulogize the man of integrity and a hero par excellence.
Notable in commemoration of the late patriarch are songs in the Afizere dialect and storytelling by elders to the younger generations.
Recently, the Afizere people from Jos North, Jos East, Mangu, and Bauchi State gathered at the National Jos Museum and Monuments to unveil a sculpture of the revered hero at the famous 100 steps, a cradle of the first settlement of the Afizere people.
The sculpture was unveiled by the Executive Chairman of Jos East Local Government Council, Hon. Markus Nyam, in conjunction with the Afizere Youth Movement, to remember and celebrate the late hero.
The chairman was supported by Afizere people from all walks of life, including former Speaker Rt. Abok Ayuba, Hon. Monday Ajiya, elders, traditional rulers, women, and youths.
They all immortalized and eulogized the late patriarch, whose immense sacrifices for the Afizere people cannot be quantified and forgotten.
The sculpture and others erected by the Afizere people are beautifying Afizere settlements and are potential tourist sites attracting visitors.
The monument is significant in bequeathing the cultural heritage of the Afizere people to younger generations and is a research center, particularly on the historical facts about Jos and its history.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, APRIL 22ND 2026)
