Section 1 of 13
Quick Facts & Timeline
Kids' Corner
- The Ogbia people come from the Niger Delta in southern Nigeria.
- Our homeland is Ogbia, in Bayelsa State — a land of rivers, creeks, mangroves and palm trees.
- We are part of the big Ijaw family, but we have our own language: Ogbia.
- Nigeria's first oil was found in Ogbia, at Oloibiri, in 1956.
The Ogbia (also written Ogbinya, Agbeya or Abaya) people are a distinct group within the wider Ijaw (Ijo/Izon) family of the Niger Delta. Most live in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, a land of creeks and rivers — notably the Ekole River, Kolo Creek, Brass River and Agboin River — with freshwater swamps and rainforest.
Ogbia is at the same time a traditional kingdom, a group of four clans, a modern Local Government Area with its headquarters at Ogbia Town, and the place where Nigeria's oil story began.
Timeline
Early settlement
First communities live in the creeks of the Central Niger Delta, at sites such as Ebela — long before written records.
1655
Anyama founded, according to local tradition to be verified.
1940
The Ogbia Brotherhood is founded at Oloibiri by Rev. George Igabu Amangala.
1951
Ogbia gets its own Native Authority, separate from the Southern Ijaw Native Authority Date to be confirmed.
1956
Oil is discovered in commercial quantities at Oloibiri to be verified.
1967
Rivers State is created (27 May 1967); Ogbia is part of it.
1972
Ogbia Town is founded by the Ogbia Brotherhood.
1996
Bayelsa State is created (1 October 1996); Ogbia becomes one of its eight LGAs.
1993
Ogbia Community UK is founded on Saturday 23 October 1993, according to its Constitution.
Launch
Official launch of Ogbia Community UK Date to be added.
Maps
Maps still to be supplied: Nigeria → Bayelsa State → Ogbia LGA, showing where the four clans are.