The Executive Director, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, has called for the protection of the rights, identity and cultural heritage of Abuja’s Original Inhabitants amid the rapid expansion of the Federal Capital Territory.
Zikirullahi made the call on Monday at the FCT Original Inhabitants Grand Cultural Rally held at the Convocation Ground of the University of Abuja, New Site, to commemorate the 2026 United Nations World Indigenous Peoples Day.
Speaking at the event, the CHRICED executive director said the development of Abuja should not come at the expense of the people whose ancestral communities existed in the territory before the establishment of the nation’s capital.
“As Abuja continues to evolve into a modern capital, the identity of its Original Inhabitants must never be erased, diluted, or forgotten,” he said.
He said their languages, customs, land rights, cultural expressions and contributions to national development should be recognised and protected.
Zikirullahi said the 2026 UN theme, “Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being,” was particularly relevant to the Original Inhabitants of the FCT.
He said CHRICED adopted the local theme, “Celebrating Indigenous Midwives: Preserving Abuja Original Inhabitants Identity in a Changing World,” to highlight the role of indigenous women in preserving life, culture and community knowledge.
“Indigenous midwives are more than health practitioners. They are storytellers. They are cultural archivists,” he said.
“They are the first teachers a newborn encounters. They are the bridge between ancestry and the future.”
The CHRICED boss said cultural identity was preserved not only through monuments and documents but also through traditional practices, languages and community rituals.
He said the rapid pace of urban development made the preservation of the heritage of Abuja’s Original Inhabitants increasingly important.
“This is why today’s celebration matters. It matters for justice. It matters for inclusion. It matters for cultural continuity,” he said.
Zikirullahi said CHRICED, in partnership with the University of Abuja and FCT Original Inhabitant organisations, had remained committed to amplifying the voices of indigenous communities.
He also announced plans for the proposed Abuja Original Inhabitants Heritage Centre, saying construction was expected to commence soon.
According to him, the centre would provide a platform for preserving indigenous history, cultural memory and research.
“This Centre will serve as a dedicated space for preserving Indigenous history, protecting cultural memory, promoting research, and ensuring that future generations can learn from and celebrate the rich heritage of Abuja’s First Peoples,” he said.
Zikirullahi, however, appealed for financial and material support towards the project.
He also acknowledged the support of the MacArthur Foundation and the University of Abuja in the organisation of the cultural rally.
The CHRICED director further urged stakeholders to ensure that development and cultural preservation progressed together.
“We believe that development must never come at the cost of identity. We believe that progress must honour heritage,” he said.
He also called for greater recognition of indigenous knowledge, including traditional midwifery.
Zikirullahi said such knowledge should not be regarded merely as a relic of the past but as a resource that could contribute to the future.
Addressing the Original Inhabitant organisations and communities at the event, he acknowledged their resilience and peaceful approach to issues affecting their communities.
He also referred to concerns surrounding demolition and evacuation from ancestral lands and homes, calling for greater attention to the welfare and rights of affected communities.
The rally brought together traditional rulers, government officials, diplomats, development partners, civil society organisations, academics, students and representatives of the nine indigenous tribes of the FCT.
Zikirullahi said the gathering should serve as a reminder of the collective responsibility to protect indigenous rights and promote cultural education.
“A responsibility to ensure that the next generation of Abuja’s Original Inhabitants grows up proud of who they are,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to support efforts aimed at ensuring that Abuja’s indigenous communities remained visible and included in the development of the Federal Capital Territory.
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