THE NAME "MAK-UR-DI" AND HOW IT CAME ABOUT.

In the late 19th century, there was a man called Makyur Adi, Son of a fisherman and farmer,  it is estimated that he was born immediately after a tribal conflict between the Jukun's and the Northern settlers had just ended.

Adi was trained to be a fisherman like his father, but it was said that he was more inclined towards trade and farming.

He grew to become a large scale farmer, agricultural merchant and trader of great repute,  Makyur gradually built his economic empire from selling commodities to the Jukun's and herdsmen travellers who would stop nearby to get water for their livestock along the Benue Valley territory known as Lobi.

Makyur Adi was known to be a friendly and generous man with commodities that were rare, so much that merchant ferries will travel from far eastern Africa, Congo and Cameroun to patronise his produce.

His popularity grew rapidly within that region as he acquired vast amount of farm lands over a period of time  and continued to expand.  Whenever these traders got to the Benue valley, they would ask for directions to the place of Makyur Adi.

He was also well known by the neighbouring tribes, especially the Hausa's of the northern region who would refer to him as a man of great wealth. (Mai-Kudi)

Over time , Makyur Adi's vast plantation and settlement would gradually evolve to be popularly reffered to as Mak-ur-di.

Makurdi and the rest of what we know as Benue today was later be carved out by the British for the purposes of administration and reffered to as part of the Lower Benue Province and part of the protectorate of Northern Nigeria.

Makurdi town, today is the capital of Benue state, east-central Nigeria. It lies on the south bank of the Benue River. Benue State is known as a rich agricultural region which lies below the Benue trough currently accounting for 70% of Nigeria's Soya Bean production. 

This is the story as told by an aboriginal of Makurdi - Tyough, from over nine generations of preserved history.

Tyough is the Son of Igbawua
Igbawua, Son of Beetseh
Beetseh,  Son of Kungwa
Kungwa, Son of Kule
Kule, Son of Gate'
Gate', Son of Vyieer
Vyieer, Son of Agumaji
Agumaji, Son of Tyough  (Where he gets his name from)
Tyough, Son of Atom

Agumaji was buried at the banana plantation located at what is currently known as the University of Agriculture staff quarters Makurdi.

His great grandson Kungwa  (Tyough's great grand father)was a fisherman and farmer of great repute , his grave is at what we know today as BBL staff quarters at Gaadi-Gboko road.

Kungwa's Son Beetseh (Tyough's grand father)  was a customary court registrar in wadata and Kungwa's grand Son  (Tyough's father) served as Chairman of Makurdi local government in the third republic.

Tyough is from Ujam village , Ucha hamlet, Nyiev clan of Isherev whose last ten generations have settled in and around Makurdi over the last few hundreds of years.