Nikyob community celebrates launch of landmark history book in Kafanchan

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Nikyob (Kaningkon) people yesterday gathered in Kafanchan for the public launch of a landmark historical publication titled “A History of the Nikyob (Kaningkon) People from Early Times to 2000.”
The book was authored by Dr. Godwin Danjuma Kwalbe from the Department of History and Strategic Studies at Kaduna State University.
The event took place at the 500-seater Lecture Theatre on the Kafanchan Campus of Kaduna State University. It attracted a diverse audience, including traditional rulers, scholars, political leaders, community stakeholders, women and youth groups, as well as sons and daughters of Nikyob land from across the country.
This publication is regarded as the first comprehensive and formally documented history of the Nikyob people.
Captain Caleb Danladi Bako, who chaired the occasion, described the book launch as a celebration of identity, heritage, and collective memory.
He emphasized that a people without history risk losing their future.
He praised the author for the meticulous research that documented the origins, migrations, leadership systems, cultural practices, challenges, and triumphs of the Nikyob people from early times to the year 2000.
During the event, Captain Danladi announced that 50 women from the Nikyob community would receive free medical access under the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Scheme (KADCHMA).
He stated that this initiative is part of his commitment to improving the well-being of women and vulnerable individuals, emphasizing that development must be aligned with social responsibility.
The Chief Launcher of the book, Senator Barrister Sunday Marshall Katung, representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, described the publication as a significant scholarly and cultural milestone.
He noted that documenting indigenous histories is essential for nation-building, inclusive governance, and fostering intergenerational understanding.
HRH Mallam Tanko Tete (Tum Nikyob), the paramount ruler of Nikyob, described the book as historic and long overdue. He acknowledged that while the Nikyob people had preserved their history through oral traditions for generations, this publication marks a crucial step in ensuring their story is documented and preserved for future generations.
The monarch commended Dr. Kwalbe for fulfilling his promise to reconstruct the history of the Nikyob people and encouraged the youth to take pride in their heritage and pursue academic excellence.
In his remarks titled “The Dream That Brought Us Here,” author Dr. Godwin Danjuma Kwalbe traced the personal and academic journey that led to the publication.
He recounted the skepticism he faced for choosing to study History and explained how encouragement from mentors, academic experiences, and community expectations strengthened his resolve.
He characterized the book as the beginning of a broader and ongoing reconstruction of Nikyob history, emphasizing that it should inspire further research rather than be viewed as the final word.
The book was reviewed by Prof. Terhemba Wuam from the Department of History and Strategic Studies at Kaduna State University, who highlighted that historical documentation is central to identity, leadership, and development.

He noted that the publication firmly places the Nikyob people within the global tradition of societies that consciously preserve their past to inform their present and future.

Several stakeholders, including Hon. Dan Amos, who represents the Jema’a and Sanga Federal Constituency, and Apostle Emmanuel Egoh Bako, President of the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU), delivered goodwill messages.

They praised the Nikyob community for taking ownership of their history and described the book as a vital contribution to the broader Southern Kaduna narrative.

They called on other ethnic nationalities to follow this initiative by documenting their own histories.