The late Emir of Lafia in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Isa Mustapha Agwai 1 until his death on Thursday was the chairman of the Nasarawa State Council of Emirs and chiefs, who recently clocked 43 years on the throne of the ancient town that is located in the Benue Valley North Central Nigeria.
The news of his death was announced by Madaki of Lafia, Alhaji Isyaka Dauda.
As the people of Nasarawa and the nation at large mourn the exit of this great traditional leader, the following are what you should know about the late Emir of Lafia:
1.The late Emir is from the descendent of Aliyu Ari royal house and he was born on 15 February 1935 at kofar kaura in Lafia town to the family of Muhammad Al-Mustapha Marafa & Hajiya Halimatu respectively.
2.During his early age, he was enrolled into Quaranic school in Kofar Kaura Lafia and after acquiring some elementary aspects of Islamic knowledge and some chapters of the glorious Quran, he enrolled into Lafia Elementary School in 1943.
3.After obtaining his first school leaving certificate from Lafia elementary school in 1951, the teenage Isa Mustapha Agwai was admitted into Benue Provincial Middle School Katsina Ala. Having successfully completing his secondary school in Katsina Ala in 1958, from the Katsina Middle School the young Isa Mustapha Agwai later registered at the institute of administration, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 1958 and obtained his Diploma certificate in Accountancy 1959.
4.He joined the service of Lafia Native Authority where he served as assistant treasurer, revenue officer and later pay-master in charge of the entire market of Lafia Native Authority.
5.Isa Mustapha Agwai apart from holding several government positions, held the traditional tittle of Dan Galadiman and District head of Obi. The tittle conferred on him automatically brought him to a position of a full time member Lafia Native Authority Council.
6.As the then District head of Obi, Isa Mustapha Agwai worked towards rapidly increasing commercial activities and agricultural commodities were produced in large quantity and large scale farming was encouraged during his tenure.
7.As a District head, he also championed the location of mini markets and the renovation, restructuring of Agyaragu weekly market to a better standard with large capacity. Agyaragu market was the largest commercial centre in the Obi District. He mobilized Agyaragu community and the entire District Council collaborated together and upgraded the standard of the market to a better and spacious market.
8.Isa Mustapha Agwai was during his tenure as District head of Obi, he acquired a Land Rover vehicle to ease the movement of people within the district, especially during an emergency needs or any activity that may required transportation.
9.In his effort to boost education system across the District under his administration, Isa Mustapha Agwai led the struggle for the establishment and location of community secondary school in Obi town. To him Obi town was the most favourable for the location of the school than any other part of Lafia Native Authority.
10.Following the order, the current emir of Lafia Dr Isa Mustapha Agwai the first was on 15 May 1974 selected among other contestants of the stool to be the next ruler of the emirate.
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