# TRADE AND EMERGENCE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN TIVLAND (1900 – 2020)

Benjamin Wankaa Yio, PhD<fnref n="1" />; Terngu Sylvanus Nomishan<fnref n="2" />

Online Published: March 3, 2025

## Abstract

Trade and entrepreneurship are inextricably linked in all societies. Humans do not only engage in trade. They do so to profit, and when they can distinguish themselves in specific areas, they become successful entrepreneurs in those sectors. This research investigates the relationship between trade and entrepreneurship in Tivland from pre-colonial to post-colonial periods. The study contends that trade has existed among the Tiv people of Central Nigeria since far before colonialism. However, colonialists' integration of the Tiv economy into the global capitalist market increased trade in Tivland, resulting in the rise of many Tiv traders and entrepreneurs. However, from the late 1990s to the present, Tivland has seen a significant drop in trade and business. Several factors have been identified as contributing to the decline, including a drop in agricultural and industrial productivity in Benue State, a lack of adequate business education, a lack of financial discipline among younger generations, a lack of a good business succession plan, cultural impediments, and poor government policies, among others. To overcome hurdles, the government must establish an enabling climate for businesses to prosper, and citizens must have a favourable business mentality to stimulate trade and entrepreneurship. The study employs a historical approach to analysis, drawing on both secondary and primary sources.

**Key words:** Trade, Entrepreneurship, Benue State, Tivland, African studies.

## 1. Introduction

Since time immemorial, man has needed to meet his basic requirements and live happily in his surroundings, which has led to the birth of trade. People in the same community rely on one another to make a good living. One way this is accomplished is through the trade of products and services between community members. The gift economy, an early type of trade, involved the exchange of commodities and services without an express agreement for immediate or future rewards. A gift economy involves the exchange of goods without the use of money. However, modern traders typically negotiate using a medium of exchange, such as money. Trade can be local, national, or worldwide, depending on the geographical area involved (Dollar and Kraay 2004).

Tiv civilization, like other communities on the African continent, went through various periods of commerce before colonisation (Nomishan and Sani 2023). Before the arrival of the white man, trading existed in pre-colonial Tiv society and was widely practised by the people. Before the arrival of the British, Tivland had a rich history of internal and foreign trade. The availability of markets and trade channels in Tivland prior to the colonial era demonstrates the prevalence of barter trading and other non-Western currencies among the inhabitants.

It should be noted, however, that the arrival of Europeans in Africa, and the subsequent integration of African economies into the global capitalist market (including the Tiv economy), gave trade in Africa and Tivland a new

<footnote n="1">¹ Department of History and International Studies, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria
E-mail: benjamin.yio@fulokoja.edu.ng
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1022-5814</footnote>

<footnote n="2">² Department of Archaeology and Museum Studies, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria
E-mail: terngu.nomishan@fulokoja.edu.ng
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8275-3134</footnote>
definition. The introduction of modern currency, Western crops (meant for industrial applications in Europe), and taxation into the Tiv economy in the early 1900s actually encouraged trade and led to a shift in the Tiv people's economy and the rise of young entrepreneurs in Tivland.

## 2. Conceptual Clarifications

* Trade

Trade is the movement of commodities and services from one person or entity to another, usually in exchange for money. A market, as defined by economists Dollar and Kraay (2004), is a system or network that allows for commerce. Trade is a fundamental economic term that involves the purchase and sale of commodities and services, with compensation provided by a buyer to a seller, or the exchange of goods or services between two parties. Within an economy, producers and consumers can engage in trade. International trade enables governments to open up new markets for both commodities and services (David Ricardo 1846). Trade originated from human communication in primordial times. Trading was the primary means of exchange for prehistoric (predating written records) people who exchanged products and services in a gift economy prior to the invention of modern cash. Some believe that trade originated with the first transactions in primitive times. Aside from traditional self-sufficiency, prehistoric people relied heavily on trading to exchange products and services (David Ricardo 1846).

Similarly, the prehistoric Tiv community was distinguished by various economic and trading practices. According to Bohannan and Bohannan (1968), before the British colonial administration introduced European coinage, the traditional Tiv economy was based on a multicentric complex of mutually exclusive exchange categories, specialised purpose money, and peripheral markets, a system that had not yet been penetrated by foreign trade and market values. The three principal sectors of exchange, classified hierarchically according to moral considerations, were subsistence, prestige goods, and women or rights in human beings other than slaves, particularly dependent women and children.

In modern times, commerce exists primarily as a result of specialisation and the division of labour, a dominant form of economic activity in which people, groups, or even countries focus on a specific component of production yet sell their produce for other products and necessities.

* Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship involves pursuing profitable opportunities through innovative individuals who create new systems, resources, or processes to produce new goods or services and enter new markets (Bateman and Snell 2009). It includes establishing and growing organisations and actively participating in the processes. While often seen as a rare talent, entrepreneurship can be developed through learning. Timmons describes it as a way of thinking and recognising opportunities, helping people move from poverty to wealth (Timmon 1999).

An entrepreneur, according to Antonites (2003), is someone who can create a vision from nothing, willing to take calculated risks and assemble a skilled team to seize opportunities. Kpelai (2009) defines an entrepreneur as someone who starts new ventures manages resources, and accepts risks to meet economic needs. Key traits of entrepreneurs include commitment, leadership, opportunity obsession, risk tolerance, creativity, self-reliance, adaptability, and motivation to excel. Successful entrepreneurship training involves understanding the economic environment and individual behaviour. Business incubators also play a crucial role in nurturing entrepreneurship (Bateman and Snell 2009).

Entrepreneurs are both born and made. Some have natural abilities, while others succeed through mentorship, training, supportive regulations, and a favourable economic climate. In studying trade and entrepreneurship development in Tivland from 1900 to 2020, it's essential to highlight the link between commerce and the rise of modern enterprise in Tivland. Key factors that influenced the growth of commerce and entrepreneurship in Tivland during this period must also be identified.
Tivland has been a trade and entrepreneurial hub for decades, even before British colonial rule. The early 20th century saw a significant influx of British traders, missionaries, and officials due to efforts to control Northern Nigeria, especially after the Northern and Southern Protectorates merged in 1914.

**3. Objectives of the Study**

This study seeks to achieve the following objectives:

* To examine the relationship between trade and the development of entrepreneurship in Tivland during the period under study;

* To highlight the major factors that promoted trade and entrepreneurship among the Tiv before the late 1990s;

* To identify and discuss key pioneers of trade and entrepreneurship in Tivland within the study period;

* To identify the primary factors that led to the decline of entrepreneurship and trade in Tivland since the late 1990s;

* To chart a path forward for the revival of trade and entrepreneurship in the Tiv nation.

**4. Research Method**

The study used a historical approach, combining primary and secondary data. Throughout this study, many secondary sources have been explored, ranging from pre-colonial to colonial to post-colonial. Primary sources, such as oral interviews, were employed to validate several facts during the course of this work. The study also employs several transdisciplinary concepts from management and social sciences to ensure a more thorough investigation of facts. The research is qualitative in nature since it entails the analysis of largely non-numerical data in order to interpret, analyse, and form conclusions about the events under investigation using objective reasoning.

**5. Trade and Entrepreneurship among the Tiv on the Eve of the Colonial Penetration**

Before colonialism, Tivland had a robust trade network. According to Dorward (1974), Tivland was crisscrossed by major trade routes connecting the Hausa savanna states with the southern forest and the Bight of Biafra. From Abinsi on the Benue River, traders travelled to Katsina-Ala in Tivland, then to Obudu, Ogoja, and Calabar. Another route connected Ibi on the Benue River to Wukari and Takum. Takum was a key junction, linking various regions including Kentu and the main Kola towns. Hausa traders dominated long-distance trade, bringing cattle, horses, cloth, and beads while collecting salt from Keana and Awe. Large salt caravans were common even in the early 1900s. In the late 19th century, elephant hunting for ivory was significant in Tivland, but by the 1890s, elephant herds were depleted due to intensive hunting by local and Hausa hunters (Dorward, 1976). This map illustrates key trade routes in the Middle Benue region during the 19th century.

Fabric, rather than ivory, was the primary commodity in the Tiv trade. Weavers and dyers were present in almost every sizeable community in Middle Benue. Ruxtun (1909) noted that in Munshi (Tivland), a specific long strip of cloth was produced and sold in large quantities to Hausa traders for women's pants (fatari), which were then distributed throughout Northern Nigeria. This Munshi cloth was also used to make short gowns for the talakawa (Hausa commoners), and the strips served as the primary currency among the Munshi people.

In addition to exporting undyed fabric to the emirates, tugudu cloths were valuable in the kola and ivory trade of the Bameda grass fields, known as gudu. Gordon (1907) stated that spinning and weaving were major businesses among the Munshi, as their clothing was in high demand. Various types of cloth were made, the most common being a durable, large white coarse cloth made in narrow strips and sewn together. Other popular types included translucent cloth woven in one piece and a finer quality blue and white cloth.

Tugudu cloth became the standard unit of Tiv currency, fulfilling all requirements for money: durability, divisibility, a standard of value, a mechanism of exchange and payment, and wealth accumulation. At the start
of the colonial era, a tugudu was worth four shillings, a pueikondo was worth two shillings, and an individual tsar or strip was worth two pence to five half-pence. Two atsar equaled one Udam bronze rod (Dorward 1976).

Makar (1994) reported that in 1854, W.B. Baikie visited Mbakpa on the Benue River's southern bank and observed thriving trade between the Tiv and the atoatiev, despite strained relations. After this 1854 visit, Europeans did not return to Tivland until the 1880s, when European commercial activity on the Benue flourished (Makar 1994).

Intensive European trade on the Benue River began in 1874 when the West African Company established a trading post at Bomasha, thereby, spurring trading activities between the British and tribes along the Benue River, including the Tiv. The Europeans brought various goods, including salt, iron bars, beads, gunpowder, machetes, flasks, tin boxes, looking glasses, and cotton cloth. This trade peaked during the rainy season when the rivers Benue and Katsina Ala allowed larger steamers to sail. The Tiv also traded through British outposts in non-Tiv territories such as Loko, Ibi, and Donga (Makar 1994).

The commercial interaction between the British and the Tiv led to conflicts due to misunderstandings. Makar identified at least five instances where the Royal Niger Company dispatched constabulary men to Benue to quell such events. These conflicts were mainly due to misunderstandings of motives rather than commercial rivalry, unlike in the Niger Delta, where competition to dominate coastal trade was prevalent.

By 1906, more British officials visited Tivland to learn about the culture and people. Alexander Boyed, interested in the Tiv country, chose to map it. By 1912, the British had colonized all of Tivland. The pacification of Tivland to secure British rule was a significant undertaking that lasted several years. During this period, trading operations increased, and the Tiv economy's monetization and integration into the Western global economy facilitated the entry of various foreign products into the Tiv market. This encouraged trade between the Tiv and other tribes, particularly the Hausa and other southeastern tribes.

Starting in 1912, a group of Tiv entrepreneurs emerged through remarkable trade and commercial ventures. According to Bohannan (1955), the introduction of money, pacification of the countryside, and cash crops led to a new factor: men's commerce increased rapidly. Unlike women's trade based on subsistence goods, men's trade involved goods procured and traded over long distances, such as smoked fish, camwood, kola nuts, and cotton. Young men travelled up to 150 miles to sell their items at the best prices, conducting trade in money to increase their wealth.

This section focuses on Tivland's commerce and commercial activities before and during the early British presence. The arrival of Europeans brought revolutionary changes, impacting all aspects of Tiv life. Subsequently, trade was boosted, and early entrepreneurs emerged from these activities. Before the British arrival, many Tiv traders were not interested in long-distance trade, which was dominated by the Hausas and other southeastern tribes. However, as colonial activities intensified, various developments changed Tivland's socioeconomic landscape, fostering young Tiv traders' determination to succeed in their ventures. The most frequent business involved buying and selling local and imported European products, which were in high demand.

The British introduced cash crops such as beniseed, new cotton species, groundnuts, and soybeans, imposing heavy taxes on the Tiv to encourage hard work and farm productivity. This period saw the emergence of young entrepreneurs in Tivland, more determined than ever to succeed in their ventures. The following section highlights notable Tiv entrepreneurs and the circumstances surrounding their rise, providing insights into their impact on Tivland's socioeconomic landscape.

## 6. Synopsis of the Life and Times of Notable Tiv Entrepreneurs (19th to 20th Centuries)

This section features a brief biography of five individuals, just a handful of the many pioneers of commerce and entrepreneurship in Tivland. This is meant to provide some insights into the lives and times of these remarkable characters in order to understand better, the circumstances that led to their emergence and the extent to which they influenced Tivland's socioeconomic landscape at the time. The decision to include or exclude people from this discussion should not be difficult. I can only choose five people who have had a
significant impact on Tivland's trade and entrepreneurship, as well as its cultural background, within the time period covered. To save space, just five characters were chosen, which corresponds to the chronological order of their emergence.

* Nomigo Andoor - Circa 1886-1964

Shagbaor Nomigo Andoor, born around 1886 in the Mbatyough District of Mbaduku (now Vandeikya Local Government Area, Benue State), was recruited by the British colonial authority at nineteen in 1905. He undertook punitive trips to southern Nigeria, serving as an interpreter for languages like Igbo, Efik, Yoruba, Kalabari, and French, and engaging in combat. As the first Tiv courtman in the colonial paramilitary, he was seen by the 1920s as the first Tiv elite and aristocrat due to his extensive career (Mbapuun 2009).

Nomigo's success began with large-scale farming. Each season, he filled train wagons with yams, grain, beniseed, black-eyed beans, groundnuts, Bambara nuts, and cassava flour for sale in southern Nigeria. He built relationships with traders from Iboland, Yorubaland, Cameroon, and the Republic of Benin. Nomigo excelled in various roles for the British, including worker, steward, cook, horseman, and courtman, gaining significant advantages over his peers through his lengthy association with the British (Mbapuun 2009).

His exposure to the British provided numerous opportunities. He knew where to market his agricultural products for profit, transporting them south and selling them at higher prices. This venture brought him substantial wealth. He also traded in palm oil, salt, camwood, and spices from southern Nigeria and Cameroon, mentoring apprentices like Fave Uchichi and Bebe Abia.

In 1934, Nomigo moved to Ukolo in Ogoja province (now Cross River State) but later returned to Mbaduku. He then ventured into large-scale farming, making considerable profits in the 1940s. This success enabled him to buy a truck and enter the transportation business. He died on February 17, 1964, after being baptized as Christopher by the Roman Catholic Church, leaving behind successful descendants (Mbapuun 2009).

Nomigo Andoor's story illustrates how early exposure and diverse experiences enabled him to build and manage a profitable business. His success in large-scale farming and mentorship of young Tiv dealers highlights his significant entrepreneurial impact.

* Igoil Akindi - Circa 1899-1987 (Agro-Business Tycoon)

Igoil Akindi was arguably the most colourful and prominent farmer in Tivland during the 1930s. According to Mbapuun (2009), he was born in the 1890s in Mbaterem, which is now the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State. He entered the agro-business because of his large output of various food crops, which significantly exceeded the average consumption demands of his immediate family at the time. He became a food trader mostly because of his abundant food crops, which were always left unconsumed at the end of each cropping season despite his generous distribution to people.

It is said that a famine ravaged northern Nigeria in the late 1920s and spread to the south, prompting traders from the far north in Kano, Borno, Sokoto, Katsina, and even Cameroon to discover Igoil Akindi, a prominent Tiv farmer who had a pyramid of all types of grains piled outside his house in Kyado village. The northern businesspeople, with the help of Jukun traders, offered to buy the food crops for money as well as other farming instruments such as huge hoes, weeding hoes, and matchets. According to Mbapuun (2009), Igoil Akindi took advantage of a trade opportunity and expanded his farms to better serve his growing customer base.

After the colonial successful fight against stone raids, which fostered lawful trade in the Benue Valley, Igoil Akindi's farming activities thrived. Soon, his agricultural vocation brought him a fortune, as food merchants from all over the country and traders from other destinations flocked to his enormous village gate to purchase from the pyramids of his farm produce.

Chief Igoil Akindi was a very successful agro-entrepreneur at the time, as well as a prosperous man in general. He was said to be the first farmer in the eastern portion of Tivland to purchase a Raleigh bicycle, which was popular at the time and was specially bought for him from Liverpool by a British agent in Ibi. Igoil was named the most prominent beniseed farmer inside the Ibi produce selling agency area. Thus, the British had a tight relationship with him and wanted to purchase beniseed and other export-valued goods (Mbapuun 2009).
At the age of 88, he left a legacy as both a wealthy farmer and a well-known elder in eastern Tivland. Many individuals in his community benefited from his efforts as they transitioned from subsistence farming to cash crop production. This was an impressive effort, given many Tiv farmers at the time would only produce enough food to support their family.

Igoil Akindi recognised the value of mass food production and continued to export his farm products, leading to increased riches. This is precisely what entrepreneurs do anytime there is a chance. This demonstrates that large-scale farming can provide the required resources to move into other companies, as was the case with the early Tiv agro-entrepreneur, Chief Igoil Akindi.

* **Joseph Gberikon Ahenjir - circa 1923-1999 (Trader with a Penchant for Honesty)**

Joseph Gberikon Ahenjir was born in 1923 in Tse Ahenjir village, Anwade, Gaav, in what is now Benue State's Konshisha Local Government Area. He attended St Joseph's Catholic Central School in Kornya from 1934 to 1938 when he completed grade four. By 1934, he had left his native Kornya Parish for Ogoja, where he began a minor trading apprenticeship under a renowned Ibo businessman, Mr Moses Aka. The guy whom Chief Gberikon referred to as his "stepfather" taught him to trade (Mbapuun 2009).

Gberikon, remembering his beginnings, made connections with other Tiv traders who travelled to buy from his master in Ogoja and sell in Tiv markets. Ierkwagh Kajo, one of his close friends and early customers, would spend the night with him after making a purchase from his master, Mr Aka, and then return home to Adikpo. Their connection became closer over time as they discussed their work experiences.

When Chief Ahenjir was leaving Mr Aka, his boss recognised his honesty and hard work and gave him a new Raleigh bicycle and wrappers to start his own business. He also paid the bride price for Ahenjir's wife. According to Ahenjir, he was better placed than any other Tivland business start-up at the time because of this solid basis. Some of his Tivland business contemporaries include Sekpe Abaagu, Ierkwagh Kajo, Tine Nyihar, and Nyikwagh Wombo (Mbapuun 2009).

After being weaned from his master, Mr Aka, Joseph Gberikon Ahenjir began to trade with his buddies in the marketplace. He was considered a highly wealthy dealer at the time because he even owned a bicycle, which was a prestigious mode of transportation at the time. With this bicycle, he could also travel a long distance and visit as many marketplaces as possible in Tivland. This increased his riches significantly.

In 1941, Chief Ahenjir and his companion, Mr Kajo, relocated to Gboko to establish a commercial base. At the time, Gboko was already a thriving town and Tivland's administrative centre. People from all around Tivland were being recruited for positions in the Tiv Native Authority administration. When he arrived in Gboko as an educated Tiv man with a Western education, he was asked to perform some services in Tivland's justice administration, which he accepted (Mbapuun 2009).

Chief Ahenjir was a successful entrepreneur in Tivland. He made significant investments in his diverse businesses, including agro-allied operations. He was an early member of the Tiv Trading League in Tivland. His core phrase was honesty, and it helped him succeed in all aspects of life. He finally retired from the civil service, although he stayed on the commercial perimeter of Gboko town until his death on July 9, 1999, and was buried at Tse Ahenjir, Iwarev in Gaav, Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.

* **Chief Denen Tofi - circa 1928-2021 (Petty Trading to Riches)**

Chief Denen Tofi was born into the Tofi Anyia family in Mbaade, Mbagen, in what is now Benue State's Buruku Local Government Area. His mother was named Ngulunga Mary (Akpo) Tofi. Farming was the most profitable enterprise at the time, and the affluent individuals in society were farmers with an inconceivable number of wives and children who contributed labour to support the family fortune. Denen was the first son of his mother's six children, and as such, he was expected to follow in his father's footsteps, as tradition required. To acquire the best farming skills, he began accompanying his father to the farm as a child. Despite Denen's ambition to attend school at Gbudu, Mbaade, Mbagen, his father would not let him experience education (Terna 2017).

As the first son of his mother, Denen Tofi's father would provide him with land to plant crops of his choice as a form of mentoring to help him become a successful farmer. Denen would harvest and sell the crops to make
some money. However, he was not content with the results of his small farm. Fortunately for Denen, by the early 1950s, his mother called and advised that he try his hand at a local soap shop named Chahur Mtse in Tiv, where some of his friends also worked. Denen welcomed the idea and his mother contributed the initial funds (five pence) from her palm oil company to launch the business. Denen Tofi's name became a household name in Tivland and throughout Nigeria as a result of this humble beginning (Terna 2017).

Denen continued to trade in the soap industry, travelling to Ihugh market with his business associates to purchase soap and sell it in local markets around his hometown. As time passed, he expanded his business beyond soap sales to include cookies, chocolates, salt, beads, and other products (kelekeche). To get his groceries, he would walk to Yala Market in Ogoja, Cross River State. This business increased Denen's wealth and money.

Denen, a successful merchant and entrepreneur, recognised the need to expand into a new business line: cloth. At first, he mixed the provision and textile businesses but focused more on his new venture. Following the advent of motor transportation, he began travelling to Onitsha to purchase various sorts of clothing for sale. He finally purchased a bicycle, which became his primary mode of mobility to the several local marketplaces in his work area. Denen's bicycle would generate more sales than most of his competitors, and as an entrepreneur, he would continue to grow his company's tentacles in order to increase profits.

Denen found that the Ugba market was the most profitable among the markets he visited for sales. This pull effect eventually led him to shift his commercial empire to Ugba, which is now part of Benue State's Logo Local Government Area. During the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), Denen transferred his business empire from Ugba to Gboko in order to capitalise on the commercial environment produced by the enormous exodus of Igbos to eastern Nigeria. Denen used this opportunity to grow his different enterprises in Gboko (Terna 2017). His economic interests later grew through shareholdings in food goods, rice and flour mills, the oil and chemical industries, and distributorships of Benue Cement Company, International Breweries, Benue Breweries, and Michelin Tyres and Tubes Ltd. Other areas of interest include distributors of imported spirits and Nigerian brews (Mbapuun 2009).

Denen chose to go into transportation after his business grew successfully. This transport business flourished quickly, providing for the mobility of people and products while also influencing the pattern of expansion and economic activity in Gboko and beyond. Tofi's lorries, with the strong message "Do Well God Will Help You Tofi," were visible on various routes from Benue to other places such as Onitsha, Jos, and Benue to Gongola/Taraba states, among others, in the 1980s and 1990s. The Benue-Gongola/Taraba road was the busiest for Tofi vehicles.

After achieving success in prior economic ventures, Denen Tofi shifted his focus to education and mental liberation. He sought assistance from Mr Daniel Akiga, an educationist, in establishing a secondary school. Denen eventually created Tofi Memorial Grammar School in 1973 under the motto 'Show the Light'. From humble beginnings, this institution grew and was eventually granted funding by the Benue State government. Thousands of Nigerians have gained access to education through the school, and many have found work as both teachers and non-teachers.

Chief Denen Tofi died peacefully on October 14, 2021, in Myom Hospital in Gboko. He was buried at Mbaade, Mbagen, his rural home. A thorough examination of this remarkable guy has demonstrated how persistence and inherent entrepreneurship traits in a bright individual may propel a business from a small start-up to a conglomerate, as Denen Tofi did.

### Chief Victoria Mbakaan Tsendzuul - 1936-1990

Victoria Mbakaan Tsendzuul, also known as "Madam Naira and Kobo" in Tivland and beyond, was undeniably the first Tiv female entrepreneur to challenge the notion that large-scale business was exclusively a man's domain. She proved that women are equally capable, if not better, than men in business. Born in 1936 in Katsina-Ala town to Mr. Tsendzuul Tyungu, a British colonial official, and Mrs. Nyishor Tsendzuul, from the prominent Mbamo family in Gaambe-ya, Shitile, Victoria grew up alongside her elder brother, Iyorlaha Tsendzuul. Her
father, a respected government courier and translator, retired to Makurdi, which was rapidly developing into a key city in the Benue Valley (Mbapuun, 2009).

After her first marriage to Mr Gbehe Kange, a police officer, ended without children, Victoria embarked on a remarkable journey. She started working as a Medical Aide at Makurdi General Hospital in the 1950s, where her compassionate nature and early exposure to people endeared her to many. In the 1960s, she moved to Gboko and opened a successful tailoring shop, quickly expanding into the contract and transportation businesses, and accumulating substantial wealth in the process. With the commissioning of the Benue Cement Company Plc in the 1980s, she became a prominent figure known as the "Cash Queen" of the Gboko country club and expanded her commercial empire by investing in public enterprises like Benue Breweries and Benue Cement Company (Mbapuun, 2009).

Victoria's success enabled her to invest in her community, providing social and economic amenities such as housing and education. She established the Madam Victoria Farms in Tsambe and focused on mechanised agro-allied food production. Her commitment to her people led to the founding of the Tsendzuul Memorial Secondary School in Tsambe in honour of her late father. In her later years, she dedicated herself to humanitarian work, particularly in healthcare, with plans to build a comprehensive medical complex before her untimely death on June 13, 1990, in a Lagos Island Hospital. Her legacy was further honoured posthumously by the Tiv Traditional Council with the title 'Alomade U Tiv' in 1994, recognizing her as a pioneering Tiv businesswoman and philanthropist (Mbapuun, 2009).

Victoria Mbakaan Tsendzuul's life story is a testament to her pioneering spirit and determination. She shattered stereotypes and demonstrated that with talent, the right mindset, and capabilities, women can excel in business and make a lasting impact on their communities. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of entrepreneurs in Tivland and beyond.

Reflecting on some Legacies of the Early Tiv Traders and Entrepreneurs

Tivland's modern trade and entrepreneurship reached its peak from the late 19th century to the 1980s and 1990s, as evidenced by pioneers. A close examination of the great Tiv men and women who made a name for themselves in trade and commerce revealed that many of them excelled during the 1940s and 1990s.

The preceding investigation proved that commerce and entrepreneurship were integral to the pre-colonial Tiv man. During colonial activities, Tivland was opened up and absorbed into the economy of the metropolis, in this case, the British. This expansion opened up opportunities for modern trade in both European and indigenous commodities. As a result, major socioeconomic transformations occurred in Tiv society, as they did throughout Nigeria and Africa. Western currencies were introduced, and barter trade was finally phased out of the economy, allowing for more freedom in trade and business.

Thus, the introduction of colonial administration in Tivland, which was effectively completed in about 1912, resulted in the rise of new elites such as colonial-appointed traditional rulers, who gradually displaced traditional authority from the elders who had previously ruled. Aside from that, another group of elites arose in the realms of commerce and entrepreneurship. For example, Mr Nomigo Andoor (1886-1964), the first Tiv man to be regarded as a successful merchant and entrepreneur, was a British partner who utilised him in a variety of activities to further their interests in Nigeria's southeastern region. After leaving the British engagement, he chose to apply his exposure and experience in entrepreneurship. Aside from him, many other Tiv entrepreneurs developed during this period as a result of the business atmosphere generated by the fast socioeconomic changes brought about by Western influence.

Successful Tiv traders and entrepreneurs of the time were characterised by personal attributes that led to their success. All of them who were classified as having succeeded in their respective firms at the time possessed entrepreneurial skills that fueled their success. They were risk takers, had self-confidence, were innovative in their thinking and investing, were self-sufficient, and were less concerned with social interactions, particularly during the early stages of their firms. Victoria Mbakaan and Chief Denen Tofi experimented with different
investments and migrated to capitalise on current business prospects. The same can be said for Nomigo and Ahenjir in their efforts to grow their businesses.

These individuals demonstrated financial discipline, accumulating wealth and investing in new company initiatives to increase profits. These outstanding men's and women's achievements have stood out in Tivland's annals of trade and entrepreneurship to this day. This is because, based on all observations, the subsequent generation of these great pioneers of trade in Tivland has been unable to achieve even half of what their predecessors did several decades ago.

### 7. Reflecting on some Legacies of the Early Tiv Traders and Entrepreneurs

Tivland's modern trade and entrepreneurship reached its peak from the late 19th century to the 1980s and 1990s, as evidenced by pioneers. A close examination of the great Tiv men and women who made a name for themselves in trade and commerce revealed that many of them excelled during the 1940s and 1990s.

The preceding investigation proved that commerce and entrepreneurship were integral to the pre-colonial Tiv man. During colonial activities, Tivland was opened up and absorbed into the economy of the metropolis, in this case, the British. This expansion opened up opportunities for modern trade in both European and indigenous commodities. As a result, major socioeconomic transformations occurred in Tiv society, as they did throughout Nigeria and Africa. Western currencies were introduced, and barter trade was finally phased out of the economy, allowing for more freedom in trade and business.

Thus, the introduction of colonial administration in Tivland, which was effectively completed in about 1912, resulted in the rise of new elites such as colonial-appointed traditional rulers, who gradually displaced traditional authority from the elders who had previously ruled. Aside from that, another group of elites arose in the realms of commerce and entrepreneurship. For example, Mr Nomigo Andoor (1886-1964), the first Tiv man to be regarded as a successful merchant and entrepreneur, was a British partner who utilised him in a variety of activities to further their interests in Nigeria's southeastern region. After leaving the British engagement, he chose to apply his exposure and experience in entrepreneurship. Aside from him, many other Tiv entrepreneurs developed during this period as a result of the business atmosphere generated by the fast socioeconomic changes brought about by Western influence.

Successful Tiv traders and entrepreneurs of the time were characterised by personal attributes that led to their success. All of them who were classified as having succeeded in their respective firms at the time possessed entrepreneurial skills that fueled their success. They were risk takers, had self-confidence, were innovative in their thinking and investing, were self-sufficient, and were less concerned with social interactions, particularly during the early stages of their firms. Victoria Mbakaan and Chief Denen Tofi experimented with different investments and migrated to capitalise on current business prospects. The same can be said for Nomigo and Ahenjir in their efforts to grow their businesses.

These individuals demonstrated financial discipline, accumulating wealth and investing in new company initiatives to increase profits. These outstanding men's and women's achievements have stood out in Tivland's annals of trade and entrepreneurship to this day. This is because, based on all observations, the subsequent generation of these great pioneers of trade in Tivland has been unable to achieve even half of what their predecessors did several decades ago.

### 8. Trade and Entrepreneurship among the Tiv in the 21st Century

Evidence abounds indicating that Tivland has regressed in several sectors, including trade and entrepreneurship, from the last quarter of the twentieth century to the present. This is a really worrying development. As a result, for a society to flourish effectively, all of its primary sectors of human activity must develop in tandem. For example, whereas Benue State, and Tivland in particular, performs admirably in the educational and agricultural sectors, the state does poorly in trade, commerce, and industry. Non-indigenes from other states have dominated the informal trade and commerce sector in Benue State for many years.
As a result of capital flight, the majority of wealth earned in the state is lost, leading to a lack of Tiv
entrepreneurs compared to the 1980s and 1990s. Commenting on the young Tiv's inability to follow in the
footsteps of some of the aforementioned great entrepreneurs, Mbapuun claims that it is unfortunate that the
legacy left to us by the early Tiv traders is being neglected in favour of white-collar jobs, politics, and outright
fraudulent practices from the younger generation. What reasons have led to stagnant commerce and
entrepreneurship in Tivland during the late 1990s? The answers to these questions are as varied as the theories
that attempt to explain this occurrence. So, how can we reverse this detrimental tendency in today's highly
competitive Nigeria?

Some argue that Tivland's diminishing trade and entrepreneurship can be attributed to a lack of sufficient business education. According to Hange Or (personal communication, April 14, 2022), in the early 1970s, immediately following the end of the Nigerian Civil War, Igbos began returning to Gboko, as did everyone else in Nigeria, as part of General Yakubu Gowon's government's reconstruction, reconciliation, and rehabilitation programme. At the time, Chief Denen Tofi was the main wholesaler of spirits in Gboko, dominating investment in Nigerian breweries. When the Igbos returned, many of them purchased large motorcycles known as 'Road Masters' from Tofi and supplied them to other dealers. Within a few years, the Igbos seized control of Gboko's beer wholesale business from Denen Tofi.

It has been observed that Tofi did not innovate in his supply chain. He should have hired persons who owned the same large motorcycles and supplied them directly to as many merchants as feasible. This is just one example among many. Mbapuun (2009) supports this position by stating that the problem some of the early Tiv traders and entrepreneurs faced was a lack of business acumen, experience, and managerial expertise, as well as an inability to insure their vehicles, allowing those who ventured into the transport business to claim from colonial insurance companies during a motor accident.

Furthermore, it is often considered that the Tiv people have cultural characteristics that work against their business success. Some view the prevalence of polygamy among Tiv people, particularly the older generation, as a drain on some of their business gains. It is claimed that sibling rivalry and petty jealousy among wives have resulted in the ruin of the hard-earned assets of many successful businesses in Tivland. Mentioned are prominent businesspeople like as Denen Tofi, who had over 30 wives, and Ugor Iwor, who had numerous spouses, among others. These rivalries can occasionally cause major succession and continuity issues for the firm in the event of the death of the father or owner of the business.

Better yet, another school of thought believes that the drop in commerce and entrepreneurship in Tivland during the last few decades is due to a decline in agricultural and industrial productivity in the region. Their reasoning rests on the fact that agriculture is the foundation of wealth in Benue State. The collapse of agro-allied businesses in Benue State has deprived the people a consistent source of revenue that may be used to boost the state's economy. For example, when Taraku Mills was in operation, indigenes purchased and supplied the company with soya beans grown in the state, and some became distributors of the company's final products.

The same is true for More Larger Beer and Benue Bottling Company, producers of Benue soft beverages, which had suppliers, distributors, workers, and a lot of money coming from other areas of the country into Benue State. All of these, and many more, laid the groundwork for the emergence and expansion of business and commerce in Benue State. Thus, their collapse has severed the business climate in Tivland and Benue State at large, and capital flight has become the order of the day, as almost all farm produce in the State is now transported to other parts of the country to feed their industries in their raw state, implying limited income for both farmers and businessmen in Benue State as well as limited job opportunities for the teaming youth.

Similarly, self-discipline in business is linked to financial discipline. Trade and entrepreneurship are two human pursuits that demand extreme financial discipline to succeed. It is vital to highlight that an entrepreneur's primary goal is to start a firm and profit from it while also expanding his wealth. Thus, if the business succeeds, the entrepreneur reaps the benefits of profit; if it fails, he or she bears the loss. Entrepreneurs would likely tolerate the former but not the latter, therefore their motivation is usually profit reward. To do this,
entrepreneurs must have strong financial discipline. Many experts have claimed that the greatest impediment to Tiv business success is a lack of financial discipline on the part of their investors.

As Hange or points out, many bright Tiv businesspeople had excellent opportunities in the past but failed to establish themselves as successful businessmen, owing to irresponsible spending. This is also attributed to retrogressive socio-cultural practices among the Tiv people, which promote an undue reliance on a promising member of the family by the rest of the family members, overburdening those in business with unnecessary financial demands.

The demise of Yuteco Nig. Ltd, which was founded in Gboko in June 1988, is partly due to the owner's lack of financial discipline, who stayed at the Sheraton Hotel in Abuja from January 1st to December 31st and was named the best customer of the year. The downfall of Liambee Supermarket in Gboko in the 1990s is also ascribed to a lack of fiscal discipline. The list is limitless. Even if some Tiv entrepreneurs have done well in this aspect, many others have failed as a result. The goal of this discussion is to rekindle our entrepreneurial instincts and redirect our worries in order to overcome these insurmountable obstacles, as our forefathers did.

Furthermore, it is important to argue that Benue State's location in Nigeria's Middle Belt region, a landlocked region with no direct access to the sea, has denied the Tiv people the opportunity to participate and compete effectively with other groups such as Yoruba and Igbos in the lucrative import and export business. It is documented that the majority of southern Nigerian groups, including the Yoruba and Igbos, as well as other Niger Delta Tribes, used their early contact with Europeans in trade, politics, and religion to establish strong trade and commercial links with the West, which has continued to give them an unfair advantage over other Nigerians in trade and business. While true, this does not justify the recent decline in entrepreneurship in Tivland. As a result, with sufficient desire and determination, our people may break into these lucrative economic sectors and claim their fair portion of the economy.

Another reason for the failure of some entrepreneurs, according to James Kua, a leading soya bean merchant in Benue State in the 1990s and early 2000s, was a conspiracy of businessmen, particularly from the south, to dupe or swindle their Tiv business partners in business transactions. Kua claims that in the late 1990s, he received an opportunity to supply five (5) truckloads of soya beans to a company in Lagos. Following the supply, he was paid for only two (2) trucks, and all attempts to pay for the remaining three trucks failed, resulting in a significant loss of business capital.

James Kua also stated that a large number of his business associates in the same industry were deceived in a similar manner. He regrets that this was an intentional attempt by some entrepreneurs of southern extraction to destroy the Tiv business middlemen and have direct access to the local soya bean market in Tivland at a lower rate (James Kua, Personal communication, May 20th, 2022). They eventually prospered, but many soya bean traders in Tivland failed because they were unable to recoup from their misfortune.

## 9. Conclusion

It is appropriate to highlight the solution to the problem of diminishing commerce and bad performance in entrepreneurship in Tivland, as mentioned in this discourse. The investigation revealed that trade and business had existed in Tivland long before the arrival of the white man. It was also proved that the introduction of Europeans and their subsequent inclusion of the Tiv economy into their capitalist global economy created additional commercial opportunities in Tivland, resulting in the rise of many modern traders and entrepreneurs. However, during the last three decades, this conversation has indicated a significant fall in the area of business development in Tivland. Although the discourse has attempted to explain this tragic scenario by identifying some contributing elements, it is feasible to infer that all of the obstacles to successful commerce and entrepreneurship in Tivland are surmountable.

For example, addressing cultural challenges can involve eliminating unfavourable cultural traits that hinder business growth. As a result, culture is dynamic, making it simpler to accept and instil beneficial cultural traits
from other Nigerians, such as the Igbos, who excel in trade and entrepreneurship throughout Nigeria and beyond.

Young Tiv entrepreneurs should study the pioneers of trade and commerce in Tivland to learn from their success and apply it to modern commerce and entrepreneurship. A handful of the great early Tiv entrepreneurs have been mentioned above, which has made for intriguing reading and food for thought.

The government plays a crucial role in entrepreneurship development in developing countries. Therefore, the Benue State government should implement policies that encourage wealth creation through commercial agriculture, trade, and youth entrepreneurship. This can be accomplished by providing financing facilities enabling adolescents to engage in profitable agricultural and commercial enterprises based on their individual preferences. A deliberate policy by the state government to promote agro-allied industries will make agriculture more appealing to the youth and promote trade and entrepreneurship in Benue State, particularly Tivland.

To summarise, Nigeria is a multi-ethnic country with fierce competition for survival. The Tiv people cannot afford to sit back and watch other groups dominate the public and private sectors. We must wake up and take action if we are to survive in 21st-century Nigeria and the ever-changing global economy. Both the government and private Tiv persons must respond to the challenge of charting a novel path forward for Tivland's commercial regeneration.

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