- Era
- Colonial Era (1900-1960)
- Century
- 20th century
- Decade
- 1940s
- Location
- Gboko, Tivland
The British colonial administration allowed the Tiv to select a paramount ruler for the first time; Makir Zakpe of Mbaduku District was chosen in September 1946 and became the first Tor Tiv.
In 1944 the Governor of Nigeria, Sir Arthur Richards, formally permitted the Tiv to select a paramount chief. By September 1946 the contest had narrowed to two candidates representing the two great Tiv lineages: Makir Zakpe (born 11 April 1896, Mbayar, Mbaduku District — representing Ipusu) and Gondo Aluor (representing Ichongo). Zakpe was chosen 25 votes to 11, with 18 abstentions, becoming the first holder of the newly created Tor Tiv paramount stool. He was installed as a Second Class Chief by the Governor of Northern Province at Gboko. He died on 11 October 1956 in Gboko, aged 60, and was buried at Abagu.
Created the paramount traditional-ruler institution that still heads Tiv traditional governance today, and marked British recognition of a unified Tiv political leadership for the first time.
- Tor Tiv paramount stool
Sources disagree on the exact installation date: the Wikipedia infobox gives a reign start of 19 September 1946, while its own article text describes installation on 1 November 1947, with a coronation ceremony rescheduled to 3 April 1947. Recorded here as 'selected Sept 1946, installed Nov 1947' pending resolution against a primary source (e.g. Northern Province government gazette).
- Makar, Tesemchi. The History of Political Change Among the Tiv in the 19th and 20th Centuries. Fourth Dimension Publishers. 1994. https://books.google.com/books?id=O2J0AAAAMAAJ (accessed 2026-07-27)
- I am Benue. HRM Chief Makir Zakpe, Tor Tiv I. I am Benue. 2024. https://www.iambenue.com/makirzakpe/ (accessed 2026-07-27)
- Wikipedia contributors. Makir Zakpe. Wikipedia. 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makir_Zakpe (accessed 2026-07-27)