Denen Tofi

Chief Denen Tofi who held the chieftency title of “Ijor Agboghol I Tiv”, was popularly know for his business phrase “Do well and God will help you”. Simply know as Tofi, he was one of the foremost industrialists in Benue, being the owner of Paradise and New State Hotels, Tofi Memorial Grammar School, National Oil, and several other companies. The custom of record-keeping was not highly valued in the traditional African society, particularly in the Tiv pre-colonial community. Consequently, it has been difficult to pin down the precise date of Denen Tofi’s birth, and we can only rely on approximations. Based on the information at hand, Denen Tofi was probably born around 104 years ago in Mbagen, which is now part of the Buruku Local Government Area in Benue State. His father, Tofi Anyia, and his mother, Ngurunga (also known as Agbo Tofi), came from the Gber Dogo of Konshisha Local Government Area but he was brought up in Kunav Clan in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State. Denen Tofi was reported to have taken around 22 wives, and the exact number of his children remains uncertain.

Denen Tofi’s Religion

In matters of faith, Denen firmly believed in the existence of God Almighty (Aondo). He was a devout Catholic, which inspired him to build St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mbagen, Buruku Local Government Area. His strong religious convictions influenced his business motto: “Do good, and God will help you.”

Denen Tofi Social Life

Denen Tofi was a prominent figure in Gboko, serving as the patron of the Gboko Vigilante Group, an organization dedicated to maintaining a safe and crime-free environment in the commercial and metropolitan areas of Gboko. In his free time, he enjoyed watching football matches and cultural dances. Denen Tofi was also the patron of Tofi and Sons Group of Companies Limited, which is headquartered at 18 J.S Tarka Way, Gboko. His company’s headquarters is a prominent landmark in the Gboko business center. Materially, Tofi owned properties across Gboko and was involved in government contracts, having undertaken projects for various state administrations.

Starting Bussiness

Denen Tofi started his independent life by practicing subsistence farming before becoming a small-scale trader. He began by purchasing locally made Asawa soap at Obudu and Iyala Markets in Cross River State to sell at Ihugh Market and other markets in Tivland. He expanded his small-scale trade (kerekeche) and also started trading in petali (a type of wrapper made with two ropes of different sizes), Atsahur Atondun (Soda soaps), Asa (beads), and many other articles of trade.

In his quest for wealth, Denen Tofi left his hometown of Mbagen in the early 1940s and settled in Ugba, located in the present Logo Local Government Area of Benue State. He established himself as a respected farmer, stating emphatically that farming was in his blood and everything else came second. Alongside his farming activities, he began purchasing clothes for retail, primarily focusing on Wax prints from Manchester, England, which he bought in Onitsha. Eventually, he started buying grains in bulk every season and sold them to traders from the Northern, Eastern, and Western parts of the country. This enabled him to establish himself as a prominent middleman in Ugba, sought after by all traders from outside Tivland.

Growing Stronger in Business

Tofi dedicated his time to selling clothing materials that he bought from Onitsha for the local consumers of Ugba, Anyiin, Zaki-Biam, Buruku, and Kyado. He worked tirelessly, riding his bicycle several miles to and from the market places in the area. As his business flourished, Denen decided to relocate from Ugba to Gboko during the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970). Gboko was fast emerging as a thriving metropolis with booming business activities. In Gboko, Denen began buying and storing grains (Ajia) with Inja Amokaha, Ageba Akosu, Saluun Akosu, and his younger brother Tsesar Tofi to be sold at high rates when the supply of grains was low. Denen further diversified his business activities, covering various enterprises such as starting his famous school despite being uneducated. He also started some hotels and a filling station.

Tofi Business Enterprises: Achievements and Impacts

Denen made significant achievements and impacts in his entrepreneurial activities. He established hotels with beer parlours named Paradise and New State Hotels, which were highly recognized and valued in Gboko at that time. The Paradise Hotel was located in the current Gboko Main Market and was managed by several individuals, employing numerous staff including waiters, cashiers, attendants, and cleaners. The last manager of the hotel was Mr. James Anyam, and Tony Gbishe was also part of the support staff. When Benue State was created from the Benue Plateau State, Denen established another hotel called “New State,” located behind Zenith Bank PLC in Gboko. Both hotels offered beer services. Additionally, Denen founded a secondary school named Tofi Memorial Grammar School, Gboko (TMGSG) in 1973. Despite not having received a formal Western education, Denen claimed to have a strong command of grammar. This led to the establishment of TMGSG, which provided secondary education to the people of Gboko and beyond. The school received grant aid in 1973 and had a substantial student population. It also created job opportunities for both academic and non-academic staff, as well as casual workers.