The Tiv people are the fourth largest ethnic group in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, trailing the Hausa/Fulani, Ibo, and Yoruba. Estimates place the Tiv population at over 5 million. Nigeria has a population of about 140 million spread among 350 ethnic groups. The Tiv people reside in Benue State on the banks of River Benue, one of the two largest rivers in Nigeria, the other being River Niger. The Tiv occupy a land mass of about 100,000 square miles, and are indigenes of six other states in Nigeria: Taraba, Plateau, Nassarawa, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, and Niger.

The Tiv people are said to have originated from south-central Africa, with over 20 generations recorded from Tiv himself to the present. Although time has obscured the exact dates of the landmarks that make Tiv history, colonial historians made efforts to tally times with significant events that make the history of a nation factual.  For example, evangelists have revealed that the migration of Tiv from the southern part of Central Africa began around 1800. By 1850 Tiv descendants were seen in large numbers in the south of what we now know as River Benue.

Although there are conflicting accounts of the migration of Tiv, two schools of thought exist. One account is that about 200 years ago, the Tiv people commenced the migration from the Sonkwalla Hills. It would appear through historical records that these hills can be located some kilometers south-east of Udam from Gboko, the seat of the Tiv kingdom. Another account locates Swem Hill, also said to be migration point of the Tiv, about seventy kilometers further south-east from Sonkwalla Hills and goes further to assert that Tiv moved from there to Ibenda Hill. This conflict now stands as a challenge to the present generation of Tiv historians who are now saddled with the task of authenticating for future generations of Tiv.

From their modest beginnings, the Tiv people have made significant strides, and have entrenched themselves into the mainstream of Nigeria life. Tiv sons and daughters dot all parts of the world, and have made significant strides in all fields of human endeavor. The Tiv people now boast of producing the greatest concentration of well-educated Nigerians of any other ethnic groups.

About Nigeria

The Federal Republic of Nigeria, a republic in western Africa, is bounded by Niger on the north, by Chad and Cameroon on the east, by the Gulf of Guinea on the south, and by Benin on the west. The most populous country (140 million people) of Africa, Nigeria has an area of 923,768 sq. km (356,669 sq mi). Its name is derived from that of its major river, the Niger. Abuja is the capital and Lagos is the largest city.  Initially composed of a number of ethnically based kingdoms and states, the area of modern Nigeria was brought under British rule by 1906. It became an independent state on October 1, 1960.

Following a period of tension among its ethnic groups, especially the Yoruba of the southwest, the Ibo of the southeast, and the Hausa and Fulani of the north, Nigeria was ruled by the military from 1966 to 1979. During the period from 1967 to 1970 peoples of the southeast attempted—ultimately without success—to secede from Nigeria by forming the Republic of Biafra. The period of civilian rule (1979-1983) ended with a military coup.

In 1999, Nigeria ushered in a new era of civilian rule with the election of President Olusegun Obasanjo.  The newest president of Nigeria under civilian rule, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar-Adua was sworn into office on May 29, 2007.  

The current governor of Benue State, Honorable Gabriel Suswam was sworn in on the same day.