PONYAN in brief

The village called Ponyan (earlier called Kponyan by the missionaries in the early 20th century i.e. 1908-1960) is located in Yagba East Local Goernment of Kogi State, Nigeria. This village is situated in the tropical rain forest of nigeria. Ponyan, Nigeria. It is on Latitude, 7.9833333, Longitude, 5.7, Altitude (feet), 1315, Lat (DMS), 7° 58' 60N, Long (DMS), 5° 42' 0E. The population of Ponyan according to 1991 Nigerian census was 7500. Ponyan is integrated into two communities, Odo Ponyan and Oke Ponyan.

An SIM (now ECWA) primary school was founded in 1938 at the centre of the town. Several other public and private primary schools are found in the village including a Baptist primary school. A secondary school (Oke Oyi Secondary school, now Oke-Oyi Science School) was established in 1969 by the catholic missionaries. Another secondary school (Ponyan Comprehensive High School) was established in 1982 just at the back of the ancient ECWA primary school.

Map1, Map2, Map3,

Source: http://www.fallingrain.com/world/NI/0/Ponyan.html 07/01/2005

Ponyan Comprehensive School was not established by the missionaries but by the community efforts. Several industrious children of Ponyan came out to the task of pionering a formidable, indigineous secondary school. Among these are Mr. L.K. Osanimi, Mr. Reuben E. Obashe, Mr. Mesole, Mr. Kuponiyi (The list will be upgraded as soon as information is available.

At the inception of the school, retirerees like Mr. R.E. Obashe voluntarily took up the taks of the principal of the school. Mr. Robert A. Ogun was  charged with administrative work. Mr. Abayomi Babatunde, became a teacher. Mr. Ajekigbe Babatimehin
was thier librarian

Ponyan is one of the major towns in the Yagba East Local Government because it serves as the location of one of the principal secondary schools in the former Kwara state. Oke-Oyi secondary school was one of the most important secondary school in then Kwara state. For example, for the one month of excursion in July 1982, Offa High school, Offa, Crowther Memorial College Lokoja and Oke-Oyi Secondary School Ponyan were the sole representaives of Kwara State in the international French Excursion that took place in Atakpame, Togo. In 1981, Oke Oyi secondary schoo came to the top of the list in WAEC examination.

The infrastructures in place at Oke-Oyi secondary school has no equal in the sub-region. This is the reason why the school was eventually changed to Science school.

Two major rivers feeds the valley of this town. River Oyi serves as a wall at the extreme end of the town while the stream OHODA flows all through the town. Other smaller streams are Eran, Omi-Ata,

Missionary work was pioneered by SIM in yagba area. Tommie Titcombe, arrived in the Egbe area in 1908. The work extended to Ponyan in the following years. Today there are three ECWA churches, two Baptist churches, Two CAC, Two Cherubim and Seraphim churches, One Methodist, One Catholic, One Deeper Life among others

Presently we are interested in compiling names and work of sons and daughters of Ponyan. Please send email to me at vabc_robert@hotmail.com to include your name, work and internet site in this compilation.

PLACES OF TOURIST INTEREST IN KOGI STATE

i. Lord Lugard's residence and office at Lokoja

ii. The site where the Royal Niger Company's flag was replaced with the Union Jack in 1890

iii. Mount Patti with 15 square kilometer flat top at Lokoja

iv. The Iron of Liberty where slaves were freed in 1860

v. Cemeteries of deposed and exiled emirs of Kano, Zaria and Bida in colonial times

vi. The first primary school in Northern Nigeria, built in 1860s.

vii. The biggest European cemetery in Nigeria fro European soldiers of the West African Force stationed at Lokoja until 1926 and Missionaries, some dating back to 1867

viii. Niger-Benue Confluence, seen from Mount Patti

ix. Agbaja Plateau at 335 to 366 metres above the sea level, 14 kilometers from Lokoja.

x. World War Cenotaph for soldiers of the two world wars with their names

xi. Koton-Karfe Cave with three openings

xii. Osome Falls at Ukpogo of Kilometer 4, Okene- Ajaokuta road (50 meter high falls)

xiii. Egeneja Warm Spring in Bassa LGA

xiv. Earth Bridge at Eugene, Ofu-Olamaboro boundary, under which Maboro river flows

xv. Uloja Native Authority Guest House in Dekina where Atta Igala, Ame Oboni, hanged himself

xvi. Ofejiji Falls at Okura - Olafia.

xvii. Inikpi Statue-in memory of the daughter of Atta Igala who was buried alive to save the kingdom during a war

xviii. Ojugwo-Atogwu: an ancient earthwork declared a national monument by the Federal Government in 1963.

xix. Atta Ebirra Palace built in 1927

xx. Okoro-Agbo Mountain in Ogidi in Ijumu LGA

xxi. Kpata Rocks, Bassa LGA

xxii. Awo Tunnel of Onoja (one kilometer long) for royal family's hiding place during wars in Idah

xxiii. Aafin Kabba: Obaro's Palace, some two centuries old

xxiv. About 400-year old Odogo Tower for war surveillance on the enemies' activities

xxv. Pottery Works in Bassa LGA

Source: http://www.napep.com/states/kogi_state.html 26/01/2005