Ufuwai Bonet

Ufuwai Bonet (born c. 1935) is a Nigerian traditional ruler serving as the Oegwam Oegworok (monarch) of Gworok (Kagoro) Chiefdom, a first-class traditional state in southern Kaduna State. He is also known by the title "Chief of Kagoro (Gworok)". Bonet ascended the throne in October 2008 following the death of his predecessor, Gwamna Danladi Awan. As of 2016, he has served as the deputy chairman of the Kaduna State Council of Chiefs and Emirs.

Early Life and Ascension

Born prematurely around 1935 in Kagoro, Bonet overcame significant health challenges in childhood, including recurrent illnesses that nearly claimed his life. He pursued education despite these obstacles, beginning at the Native Authority Primary School established in 1943, where he learned the alphabet using sand under a mango tree near the palace. He later earned a doctoral degree and became known for his resilient charisma and belief in divine intervention.

Upon the death of Gwamna Danladi Awan—the longest-serving monarch in Nigeria, who reigned for 63 years—Bonet applied for and was selected for the vacant stool. He was turbaned as the new Chief of Kagoro in October 2008, becoming the sixth Oegwam Oegworok since the chiefdom's creation in 1905 by the British colonial administration.

Reign and Contributions

Under Bonet's leadership, the Kagoro Chiefdom has prioritized community welfare, cultural preservation, and peaceful coexistence with neighboring communities. He has been recognized for fostering relative peace in southern Kaduna amid regional insecurity, with only sporadic incidents of attacks and kidnappings reported. Bonet has actively promoted cultural revival through events like the annual Afan National Cultural Festival, which he has hosted multiple times, including in 2019, where he decried the ongoing security challenges in the region. In 2025, he emphasized the festival's role in promoting unity and preserving Kagoro heritage for future generations, while appealing for enhanced government support in agriculture and security.

Bonet has been a vocal advocate for peacebuilding. In January 2017, following attacks attributed to Fulani terrorists, he addressed Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, during a palace visit, assuring that any reported incidents were acts of revenge by his people and not unprovoked aggression. In February 2017, speaking to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), he urged Christian leaders to unite and engage political figures to address the violence, noting that perpetrators had extended attacks to southern regions. During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, he instructed village and ward heads in his domain to enforce compliance, particularly among liquor sellers reluctant to adhere to restrictions.

In 2023, Bonet hosted a New Year Peace Prayer Summit in place of the traditional Afan Festival, organized with the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria, to foster interfaith harmony between Christians and Muslims. He has met with national figures, including Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi in 2023, who pledged anti-corruption measures, and Governor Nasir El-Rufai in 2022, who assured improved security following terrorist attacks. In a 2025 interview marking his 90th birthday, Bonet highlighted government efforts to restore peace amid insurgency and emphasized community collaboration for development.

Bonet led a pilgrimage for Kaduna State Christians in 2011 to Israel, Egypt, Rome, and Greece, during which two participants absconded.

Honors and Recognition

Bonet holds the national honors of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). In September 2025, President Bola Tinubu congratulated him on his 90th birthday, praising his contributions to peace, security, and cultural preservation in Kaduna State since 2008.

References

1. "Ufuwai Bonet". Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
2. "President Tinubu Celebrates Chief of Kagoro Ufuwai Bonet on 90th Birthday". State House, Abuja. 10 September 2025.
3. "Kagoro". Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
4. "Insurgency: Beyond hardship, govt’s also making efforts to return peace to some parts of the country – Kagoro monarch". Blueprint Newspapers. 12 September 2025.
5. "Going Down Memory Lane With Bonet @ 90". Leadership. 13 September 2025.
6. "Afan Festival: Celebrating Kagoro’s cultural heritage". Daily Trust. 9 March 2025.
7. "President Tinubu Salutes Dr. Bonet on 90th Milestone". Voice of Nigeria. 10 September 2025.
8. "Gwamna Awan". Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
9. "Tinubu celebrates Kagoro monarch, Ufuwai Bonet, at 90". The Nation. 10 September 2025.
10. "A Brief History of Oegworok people: Their Moietic Evolution and Trajectory". NokMegaPress. 11 May 2023.
11. "Gov. El-Rufai Visits Kagoro Chiefdom, Assures Residents Of Improved Safety". TVC News. 30 March 2022.
12. "Nigeria Chiefdom Ushers in the New Year with a Peace Prayer Summit". Global Peace Foundation. 3 February 2023.
13. "Nigeria: Kagoro Home to Afan Cultural Festival". allAfrica. 15 January 2010.
14. "Obi meets with southern Kaduna traditional rulers, pledges to stamp out corruption". The ICIR. 21 January 2023.
15. "AFAN FESTIVAL: Kagoro Celebrates Life and Culture, honour Sons, Daughters". News Daily Nigeria. 3 January 2020.

External Links

• Ufuwai Bonet on Wikipedia(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ufuwai_Bonet)
• Kagoro Chiefdom History(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kagoro)
• Kaduna State Council of Chiefs(https://kadunastate.gov.ng/council-of-chiefs/)

See Also

• Gworok (Kagoro) Chiefdom
• Kaduna State Council of Chiefs and Emirs
• Afan National Cultural Festival