Ahmed Tijani Anaje, who had just been appointed as the paramount ruler (Ohinoyi) of Ebiraland, by Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, is a retired military officer, a learned Islamic scholar and a product of royalty within the Kingdom of Ebiraland in Kogi State.
Below is his full profile:
*BIRTH*
He was born on 29th June, 1974 into the popular and polygamous family of Late Alhaji Muhammed Anaje Aliyu of Asuwe clan, the then District Head (Onoba-Obanyi) of Okengwe, and Mrs Sefiyat Muhammed Anaje of Omoye Clan both of Okengwe-Ehi indigenous settlement.
He is married to Hajia Husseina Ahmed Anaje of Akuta Clan from Ovehira, and blessed with Five (5) Children.
*EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND*
He attended Saifudeen Primary School, Okengwe where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1983. He obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC) from Ebira Muslim Community College Okengwe (EMCCO) in Okene LGA of Kogi State in 1993. He started his Islamic Studies at Sharafudeen Madrasat, Okengwe under the leadership of Mukadam Alhaji Yakubu Ta’aba. He also learned Islamic studies under the then late Chief Imam of Ebira land, Alhaji Musa Galadima before he proceeded to attend Mahad Arabic School Madina Elekuro in Ibadan. All under distinguished spiritual guidance of his beloved mother, Sayida Bilqis Inyas. His Majesty later acquired a Diploma in Applied Psychology from University of Jos.
*WORKING CAREER*
His Royal Majesty, Alhaji (Dr.) AhmedTijani Muhammed Anaje, the Ohinoyi of Ebira land
was enlisted into the Nigerian Army in the year 1995 as 39 Regular intake, where he rose to, and was decorated as warrant officer on the 13th October, 2021 shortly to his resignation and ascension to the stool of Okengwe/Okene.
And as a people-oriented full-blooded Ebira individual, his passionate “extra-curricular” impressions to rapport and mingle could not have been distorted by his job specification in most of his places of primary assignment as a military personnel. This is corroborated by his election as Vice Chairman of Ebira Community in Jos, Plateau State; Secretary of Ebira Vonya Association in Rukuba, Jos; President of Ebira Vonya Association in Warri, Delta State; and President of Ebira Vabe Association in Takum, Taraba State.
*MILITARY COURSES ATTENDED*
King Anaje did not miss out of the on-the-job training while in the military. He has equipped and groomed himself with a lot of training experiences that helped him do well on the job:
1. African Contingent Training Assistant (ACOTA)
2. Training the trainees (T3)
3. SESORC
4. Counter terrorism
5. Counter Insurgency
6. Quick Response Force (QRF)
7. Rapid Deployment Force (RDF)
8. Special Forces (SF)
*MILITARY OPERATIONS ATTENDED*
There are equally successful military operations to practically exemplify the acquired military training:
1. ECOWAS Monitoring Group in Liberia (ECOMOG)
2. ECOWAS Monitoring Group in Serra – Leone (ECOMOG)
3. United Nations Mission in Serra – Leone (UNAMSIL)
4. United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)
5. African Mission in Sudan (AMIS)
6. United Nation mission in Dafur-Sudan (UNAMID)
7. Operation Harmony in Bakasi
8. Operation Messa in Jos
9. Operation Restore Hope in Niger-Delta
10. Operation Thunder (Aduma) in Akwa-Ibom
11. Operation Restore Order in Maiduguri
12. Operation (BOYANA) North East
13. Operation Zaman Lafiya Dole
14. Operation Lafiya Dole
15. Operation Deep Punch in North East
16. Operation Harbe Kunama
17. Operation Anyiem Apatuma in Taraba & Benue
18. Operation Crocodile Smile
19. Operation Sahel Sanity
20. Operation Hadarin Daji
*MILITARY AWARDS*
King Anaje’s back was patted with recognition of honours for his dedicated blend of military trainings and physical operations. He bagged the Good Performance award from US Embassy under PAE in Serialeone; Gallant Performance Award by the then Commanding Officer of 93 Battalion, Major DH Ali Keffi; and another Performance Award by the UN Field Commander, General ML Agwayi at the United Nations Headquarters, El-Fashir, Dafur of Sudan.
*APPOINTMENT AS OHI OF OKENGWE/OKENE.
Upon his identification as an excellent leadership material, and after being subjected to some detailed traditional procedures and rites, he was appointed as the Ohi of Okengwe/Okene on the 18th of October, 2021 by Kogi State government under His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello. An appointment he received on the 2nd of November, 2021.
When subsequently, on the 3rd of March, 2022, a separate Ohi stool was created for Okene, King Anaje was finally coronated with a First Class Staff of Office as Ohi of Okengwe on the 5th of March, 2022.
*ACCOUNT OF STEWARDSHIP AS OHI OF OKENGWE-EHI*
HRM Alhaji (Dr) AhmedTijani Muhammad Anaje, within two years of coronation as Ohi of Okengwe, has recorded giant strides in committed service to the people of his domain:
1. As Ohi, he committed the land into God’s capable hands through organized inter-faith prayer sessions on a monthly basis. This is also a successful attempt at checking religious extremism in Okengwe.
2. He led all other Ohis on spiritual cleansing at Ajaokuta.
3. He smoothly led Kogi muslims on Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia in 2022.
4. He facilitated the Ohumanaka perimeter fencing.
5. He facilitated the Okengwe-Ehi burial ground perimeter fencing through Honourable AhmedTijani Damisa.
6. He facilitated farming tools, herbicides and chemical for local farmers through Kogi State APPEALS Project.
7. He facilitated street lights for Okengwe.
8. He established inter-religious committee to coordinate and control religious activities in Okengwe.
9. He abolished clannish bigotry by constituting a 17-man advisory council assisting in decision-making for Okengwe land.
18. Peaceful resolution of Imamship tussle in Ebira land under his able leadership. He chaired the Kogi State government constituted reconciliation committee on Ebira Imamship.
19. Extension of hands of fellowship to the sick in the hospital with palliatives and clearing of bills.
20. Uncommon peaceful celebration during festive periods in Okengwe.
21. He has facilitated water project for Okengwe people.
22. He has embarked on numerous philanthropic activities and empowerment programmes for the people of his community.
He led other Ohis to meet with prominent Ebira Men and Women in diaspora, in Abuja precisely to discuss issues concerning Ebira and the gubernatorial election which led to unprecedented success recorded in the just concluded Governorship Election that another Ebira politician (Ododo) as governor elect in Kogi State.
*APPOINTMENTS AND AWARDS*
King Anaje was a golden fish that could not hide, and this particular truism on him manifested so loud upon his being recognized for different awards and charge for community engagements by a way of appointment:
1. Award of Honorary Doctorate Degree by Executive University, USA on the 2nd of December, 2023.
2. Appointment as Vice Chairman of Ebira Area Traditional Council on the 4th of October, 2022.
3. Appointed Amirul Hajj for the 2022 Hajj pilgrimage on the 9th of June, 2022.
4. Appointed as Reconciliation Committee Chairman on Ebira Imamship tussle on the 23rd September, 2023.
5. Appointed as Kogi Central Patron of Council of Ulama’u of Nigeria on the 25th of July, 2022.
6. Appointed as Patron of Kogi Central League of Imams on the 18th of September, 2022.
7. Appointed as Kogi Central Patron of the Concord Muslim Political Forum (COMPOF).
8. Appointed as Kogi Central Patron of Ansaru Ruhul-Islam Muslim Society of Nigeria (ARIMSON) on the 25th November, 2023.
9. Appointed as Member of Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN) under ICPC on the 6th of March, 2022.
10. Appointed as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Ebira Muslim Community College, Okengwe (EMCCO) on the 8th of December, 2021.
11. Appointed as Grand Patron of the 39 Regular Foundation of the 39 Regular Intake of the Nigerian Army on the 18th of December, 2023.
12. Appointed as Member of Kogi State Honours Award Advisory Committee on the 12th of December, 2023.
His Royal Majesty, Ahmed Tijjani Anaje, the new Ohinoyi was picked from over 70 contestants, to succeed the late Ohinoyi, Alhaji Dr. Ado Ibrahim who died on October 29, 2023 at the age of 94.
