Abonnema is a town in Nigeria that was founded in 1882 by eleven independent, equal and autonomous founding fathers in 1882. Abonnema has no monarchy but is governed by the principle of ''primus inter pares'', first among equals.

History

Precedence in Abonnema's affairs is by date of chieftaincy creation and goes in the following order. *Owukori Manuel * Oruwari Briggs *Otaji Georgewill *Iju Jack *Opubenibo Granville *Orubibi Douglas *BlackDuke Oweredaba *Bestman Ajumogobia *Siri Young Jack *Kalapkana Donpedro *Aribimeari Membere. All these chieftaincies were created at Elem-Kalabari before the 1879 Kalabari civil war, which led to the issuance of the 1881 decretal order by Queen Victoria and consequently led to the fragmentation of Elem Kalabari into three new city-states. Bakana 1881, Abonnema 1882, and Buguma 1883. The following chieftaincy houses were created in Abonnema: *Bobmanuel * Young Briggs *Kalapkana *Standfast Jack. The four chieftaincy stools created in Abonnema can not take precedence over the others that were created in Elem Kalabari before Abonnema was founded in 1882. Chief Disreal Gbobo Bob-Manuel, Owukori IX became Ananyanabo of Abonnema.

Abonnema today

Abonnema grew to become a flourishing major Nigerian seaport during the colonial era. It was host to many European companies. One such company was the

Royal Niger Company The Royal Niger Company was a mercantile company chartered by the British government in the nineteenth century. It was formed in 1879 as the ''United African Company '' and renamed to ''National African Company'' in 1881 and to ''Royal Niger C ...

, which later metamorphosed into U.A.C. Abonnema is the headquarters of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of

Rivers State Rivers is a states of Nigeria, state in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria (Old Eastern Region). Formed on 27 May 1967, when it was split from the former Eastern Region, Nigeria, Eastern Region, Rivers State borders include Imo State, Im ...

in Nigeria.

Notable people

* HRM Chief Disreal Gbobo Bob-Manuel, (Owukori IX), Lawyer, Amayanabo (King) of Abonnema *

Henry Odein Ajumogobia Henry Odein Ajumogobia (born 29 June 1956) is a Nigerian lawyer who served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources between 2007 and 2009 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from April 2010 to July 2011. He was also Head of Nigeria's delegatio ...

, federal minister of Nigeria *

Tammy Danagogo Tamunobaabo Wenike Danagogo (born 22 September 1970) is a Nigerian politician, lawyer, and the current Secretary to the State Government of Rivers State since May 2019. Before that, he was the Minister of Sports in the Federal Republic of Nigeri ...

, De-General E-Processing Center * The late High Chief Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs, business man and philanthropist * A. Igoni Barrett, writer * O.B. Lulu Briggs, philanthropist, statesman and business mogul *

Nimi Briggs Nimi Dimkpa Briggs (22 February 1944 – 10 April 2023) was a Nigerian academic, scholar and Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Education Briggs had his early education at Nyemoni Grammar School Abonnema and Baptist High Schoo ...

, academic * Prof. Angela Ine Frank Briggs. Child Neurologist and Academic. *

Roseberry Briggs Roseberry Robinson Briggs (1925–2013), sometimes spelled Rosebery, was a Nigerian politician of the National Party of Nigeria. He was the first Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, serving two consecutive terms from 1979 to 1987. He d ...

, politician * Patrick Dele Cole, ambassador to Brazil * Dumo Lulu-Briggs, business magnate, Philanthropist and politician *

Tonye Cole Tonye Patrick Cole (born 11 January 1967) is a Nigerian billionaire businessman, he is the co-founder and former Group Executive Director of Sahara Group an energy conglomerate with operations spanning the entire energy chain in Nigeria and nei ...

, business magnate and politician * Reynolds Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack, politician * Sumner Dagogo-Jack * Rowland Sekibo, Politician and philanthropist * Prof. Raphael S. Oruamabo. Paediatrician and Academic *

Agbani Darego Chief Ibiagbanidokibubo Asenite 'Agbani' Darego, MFR (born 22 December 1982) is a Nigerian model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss World 2001. She was the first black African to win Miss World. Early life Abonnema-native Darego was born i ...

, first native African to win

Miss World Miss World is the oldest existing international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley's widow, Julia Morley, has co-chaired the pageant. Along with Miss Universe, Mi ...

* Rear Admiral Bobmanuel - Military officer * Ibife Alufohai, winner, Miss Valentine International 2010 and Founder of Miss Polo International *

Alabo Graham-Douglas Chief Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas 6th Orubibi of Abonnema, OFR, JP, DSSRS (8 May 1939 – 25 April 2022) was a Nigerian politician who was appointed Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture in 1989, then Minister of Aviation in General Ibrahim Ba ...

, politician * Ibiso Graham-Douglas, Writer and Publisher * Kaladada Ideriah korubo, hematologist/ Prof * Bikiya Graham-Douglas * Nimi Wariboko, Renowned Academic and Professor * Mina Georgewill- Edah, Military Office and Consultant Optometrist * Nabo Graham-Douglas, SAN, Federal Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice * Adolphus Godwin Karibi-Whyte, JSC, CON, CFR, Judge, Supreme Court of Nigeria(1984-2002) and Judge of the United Nations (International Criminal Court- International Criminal Tribunal for The Former Yugoslavia- 1993-1998 * Rear Admiral Anabraba- Military officer * Brig Gen Idoniboye- Military officer * Brig Ibiba Briggs - Military officer

History

Abonnema today

Notable people

References

Further reading