Gboko is a fast-growing town in the Benue State of North-central Nigeria. The name Gboko also refers to a Local Government in Benue State. The population for the town is over 500,000, mostly Tiv people. It is the traditional capital of the Tiv tribe and it has the official residence of the Tor-Tiv, who is the paramount traditional ruler of the Tiv people that spread across Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Nasarawa, and Enugu States. Gboko was also the headquarters of the Tiv Native Authority. The famous Tiv politician Senator Joseph Saawuan Tarkaa has his tomb in Gboko. Many of the prominent Tiv sons and daughters have a home in Gboko where they visit often. Prominent Tiv sons that lived in Gboko include Engr. Senator Dr. BAI Gemade, Prof. Ignatius Ayua Yeke, Gen. Inienger, Senator Dr. Jack Gyado, Sen. Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, Sen. Dr George Akume, Chief Denen Tofi, the business magnate, Engr Tachia jooji, Brigadier General Atom Kpera, Mike Mku, Amb. E. Agum, Engr Zedesha, Chief Isaac I. Shaahu, Rev. Fr. Dr. Vitalis Torwel, Lanem Atoh, Dominic Mhenga-Iorfa Mtem and many others. Gboko is also the home town to the Super Falcons player, Francisca Ordega. Despite their frequent visit and having homes in the town, Gboko remains highly underdeveloped in terms of infrastructure, poor road networks and youth unemployment is very high as can be seen among many youths inhabiting the town, who survive mostly on riding commercial motorcycles popularly known as "Okada". The Dangote Cement Plant, once owned by the Benue State Government is situated at Gboko. The town is also called "G-Town" by many today. Important annual events in Gboko are the Kwagh-hir Festival and Tiv Day celebration. Kwagh-hir is the Tiv traditional theater. It is the festival of storytelling and it usually includes Big animal puppets. It is staged at any time of year and on special occasions. The Tiv Day celebration is the day when all Tiv sons and daughters resident in all other parts of the world converge in Gboko to celebrate the cultural heritage of the Tivs and also deliberate on developmental issues affecting the Tiv people. Until recently, Gboko was also home to the BCC Lions Football Club, the winners of the Confederation Cup in 1990 who defeated the prominent "Club Africain" of Tunisia in the final of the Confederation Cup to clinch the coveted trophy. Gboko is quite popular due to the location of the headquarters of the Living Seed Ministry, founded by the renowned preacher Bro Gbile Akanni. Gboko is close to the border town Kastina Ala. Kastina Ala is a popular boundary between Benue and Taraba states. Notable educational institutions in Gboko include: •University of Mkar •FIDEI Polytechnic •Gboko Polytechnic •Gboko College of Education, Luga •College of Health Technology, Mkar - Queen of the Rosary Secondary School - Federal GovernmentGirls' College. - CDM Academy International - Princess Adeja International Secondary School - Sora International
