As written by
Abubakar Suleiman
The late, Emir Alhaji Dr. Isa Mustapha Agwai I CFR, hailed from the descendant of the Aliyu Ari royal house. He was born on 15th February 1935 in Kofar Kaura, Lafia town, to the family of Muhammad Al-Mustapha Marafa and Hajiya Halimatu, respectively.
During his early years, he attended a Qur'anic school in Kofar Kaura, Lafia. After gaining fundamental Islamic knowledge and memorizing of the Quran, he enrolled in Lafia Elementary School in 1943.
Having obtained his first school leaving certificate from Lafia Elementary School in 1951, the teenage Isa Mustapha Agwai was admitted to Benue Provincial Middle School, Katsina-Ala.
Upon successful completion of his secondary education in Katsina-Ala in 1958, he later registered at the Institute of Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1958 and obtained his Diploma certificate in Accountancy in 1959.
He began his career in the service of Lafia Native Authority, where he held positions as an assistant treasurer, revenue officer, and later as paymaster in charge of the entire market of Lafia Native Authority.
Isa Mustapha Agwai, in addition to holding several government positions, was bestowed with the traditional title of Dan Galadiman and District Head of Obi. The title automatically elevated him to a full-time member of the Lafia Emirate Council.
The Emir is one of the longest reigned traditional ruler in Africa, that served for 45 years on throne.
Known for his love of peace, fatherly and dedication to African culture, he passed away on Thursday, 10th January 2019, after a prolonged illness in a foreign hospital at the age of 84.
