The Auchi Kingdom: A century of growth and innovations 1920 - 2020 by Yakubu Suleiman Department of Historical Sciences University of Pardubice, Czech Republic E-mail: susukhaldun@yahoo.com Obomeighie, Wajeed Writer and Journalist Abuja (FCT), Nigeria E-mail: wajeedobomeghie50@gmail.com Abstract The history of the Auchi Kingdom is one that has been given very little attention over the years despite the importance and significance of its robust and significant cultural heritage. The strategic location of the Kingdom was the reason why the British made it the headquarters of the former Kukuruku District by the British colonialist which later became defunct and renamed Afenmai in 1954. Despite the Kukuruku District became defunct, the Auchi Kingdom remained the Headquarters of Afenmai land. The Auchi Kingdom, as the Divisional Headquarters since 1920, attracted a lot of visitors and traders from far and wide who came for economic activities and also to witness the splendour of the ever growing and prosperous Kingdom. The Auchi Kingdom had experienced a lot of innovations, growth and development since the British established her rule over the Kingdom. Some notable innovations by the British colonialist includes new administrative policies, modern official staff building complex and quarters, new prison yard, Western Education, new network of roads, abolition of some bad cultural practices et.c. The end of British colonialism in 1960 did not put an end to the development in the Auchi Kingdom but surprisingly, it even increased till date. Auchi remains one of the fastest growing urban centers in Nigeria. The aim of this paper, therefore, is to celebrate a hundred years of a Kingdom as an administrative headquarters and to prove that the Kingdom had experienced progressive growth and innovations with physical evidence to show. This paper adopts a historical approach, with the use of primary and secondary sources, to arrive at its conclusion. Introduction The history of many communities in Nigeria are either distorted or completely forgotten. This is due to the fact that the reading and writing culture is gradually dying due to modern technology, unconcern and most especially, the attitude of the youth. The Auchi Kingdom is no exception to this backdrop. The history of the Auchi Kingdom before 1920 shows how through the contact with the Nupe and the British brought about new societal features, some of which have remained with the people till date. The history and expansion of a Kingdom is important in the organization of a political unit, especially in a country like Nigeria were the creation of states and local government areas is a recurring phenomenon. The Auchi Kingdom, in last one hundred years, experienced expansion and growth that is seen and appreciated by visitors over the years. Successive federal and state governments also contributed immensely to the development/construction of many roads and other infrastructural amenities which has singled out the Kingdom to be a mega Kingdom with a first class King (Otaru). The Auchi Kingdom has a wonderful strategic location making it a truly deserved choice location for an administrative headquarters. The paper aims to explain the circumstances and events that led to creation of the Kingdom as the District headquarters and the wonderful happenings within the Kingdom in the last one hundred years. The origin of the Auchi Kingdom There are different versions of the origin of the Auchi people. The professional historian believes that any important history must have different versions and that of the Auchi Kingdom is no exception. For the sake of consistence and originality, it is highly imperative that one focusses on the most popular version. The Auchi Kingdom is town located exclusively on latitude 70 N and longitude 6.250 E of the globe. 1 The town is bounded on the east by South Ibie, on the north-east by Jattu; on the north by Ayua, iyuku and Imeke; on the northwest by Ikpeshi and Ihievbe Ogben; on the south by Ivbiaro and Warrake and on the south by Era and Ayuele-Ugioli. The location of Auchi is hilly with pockets of valleys and flat plains. It is at a meeting-point between the rain forest and guinea savannah. 2 IJRDO - Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research ISSN: 2456-2971 Volume-6 | Issue-6| June, 2021 1