Levi O’Bem Yakubu is an internationally recognized Master Potter, pioneering ceramic artist, entrepreneur, and vocational educator whose work has helped bring Nigerian ceramics to the global stage. As President of Dajo Pottery Ltd, based in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria, he has spent more than four decades advancing ceramic art, developing indigenous production techniques, training artisans, and building a legacy of innovation and excellence.

His contributions have earned him several prestigious national honors, including the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM), and the National Local Raw Materials Content Award (NLRMCA). His international achievements further reflect his commitment to showcasing Nigerian creativity, technical expertise, and cultural heritage to the world.

A Legacy Forged in Clay: The Story of Levi O’Bem Yakubu

Born in 1954 in Zaki-Biam, Benue State, Nigeria, Levi O’Bem Yakubu inherited a rich family tradition of pottery. His name, O’Bem, meaning “Man of Peace,” reflects an identity rooted in heritage, perseverance, and community.

He belongs to the Amachigh-Dajo family, a lineage renowned for pottery among the Tiv people of Nigeria’s Benue Valley. Within this tradition, pottery was historically practiced predominantly by women. Yakubu broke with convention by becoming the first male in four generations of his family to pursue the craft professionally.

Rather than allowing this cultural tradition to remain confined to its historical boundaries, he sought to preserve it while introducing new techniques, technologies, and commercial opportunities. His journey represents a meeting point between indigenous knowledge and modern industrial design.

An Exceptional Talent from an Early Age

Yakubu’s artistic abilities emerged during his secondary school education at Bristow Secondary School in Gboko, Benue State. Despite the absence of a dedicated art instructor, his principal, Miss Geraldine Vandenberg, recognized his talent and encouraged his development.

He subsequently sat as the school’s sole candidate for the West African School Certificate examination in Fine Art and passed with distinction in 1974. This achievement marked an important milestone in his educational journey and laid the foundation for a career devoted to art and design.

In 1979, he graduated from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, with a degree in Industrial Design, specializing in Ceramics. He later pursued further studies at the International Ceramics Research and Development Centre in Bandung, Indonesia, expanding his knowledge of ceramic technology, production, and design.

His education provided the technical foundation for a career that would combine artistic expression, industrial production, entrepreneurship, and vocational training.

From the Classroom to Industrial Innovation

Following his university education, Yakubu began a career in teaching, helping to establish Ceramic Arts Departments at two institutions in Benue State: Murtala College of Arts, Science and Technology, now associated with Benue Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, and the School of Basic Studies, now Alfred Akawe Torkura Polytechnic, Makurdi.

Through these roles, he contributed to the development of ceramic education and helped create opportunities for students to acquire practical skills in the field.

However, his ambitions extended beyond the classroom. He envisioned a Nigerian ceramics industry capable of producing quality products locally, developing indigenous raw materials, creating jobs, and competing in international markets.

The Birth of Dajo Pottery Ltd

In 1985, following the Nigerian military administration’s ban on imported ceramic tableware, Yakubu made a decisive entrepreneurial move. He resigned from his academic position to establish Dajo Pottery Ltd.

At the time, entering the manufacturing sector was a considerable risk, particularly amid economic uncertainty and the technical demands of ceramic production. Nevertheless, Yakubu committed himself to building a commercially viable enterprise around local resources, technical knowledge, and innovative design.

Over the decades, Dajo Pottery developed into a recognized Nigerian ceramics enterprise, producing decorative and functional ceramic products while promoting the potential of locally sourced materials.

The company is particularly associated with marble-effect ceramics and specialized decorative applications. Its reported adoption of digital ceramic technology for incorporating imagery into floor and wall tiles represents an important aspect of its innovation strategy, enabling customized ceramic murals and large-scale decorative installations.

Through Dajo Pottery, Yakubu has demonstrated how traditional craftsmanship can evolve into an industrial enterprise without losing its cultural identity.

Pioneering Marble Ceramics and Digital Ceramic Technology

One of the defining features of Yakubu’s career is his commitment to technological innovation in ceramics.

Dajo Pottery has been associated with the production of marble-effect ceramic wares in commercial quantities, helping demonstrate the possibilities of combining artistic design with industrial manufacturing.

The company has also embraced digital ceramic applications, using ceramic glaze pigments to reproduce images on tiles for customized decorative projects. This approach expands the role of ceramics beyond conventional tableware and building materials, creating opportunities for architectural decoration, artistic installations, murals, and bespoke interior design.

By combining technical experimentation with creative vision, Yakubu has helped position ceramics as both a functional material and a medium for artistic storytelling.

His work illustrates the economic potential of developing local manufacturing capabilities, strengthening technical expertise, and creating products that reflect Nigerian identity while serving diverse markets.

Developing Skills and Empowering the Next Generation

For Yakubu, the success of the ceramics industry depends not only on products and technology but also on the people who sustain it.

Throughout his career, he has championed vocational education, practical training, and human capital development. His work as a master trainer has involved several institutions and programmes, including:

• National Directorate of Employment (NDE).
• Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).
• Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
• Nigerian Army Rehabilitation and Resettlement Programme.
• Christian Benevolent Foundation (CBF), Lagos, Nigeria.

Through these initiatives, he has helped provide opportunities for people to develop practical skills and explore pottery and ceramics as pathways to employment and entrepreneurship.

Training Traditional Potters in Abuja

Between September and October 2013, Yakubu led an extensive capacity-building workshop on behalf of the Christian Benevolent Foundation for 15 traditional potters in Giri Village, within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The programme reflected his commitment to strengthening existing pottery traditions while introducing approaches that could improve production skills, product quality, and economic opportunities.

His training philosophy recognizes the importance of passing knowledge from one generation to the next while equipping artisans to respond to changing markets and production demands.

International Engagements and Global Recognition

Yakubu’s influence extends beyond Nigeria. As a ceramic artist, technical specialist, and trainer, he has participated in international educational and professional engagements.

He has served as a visiting lecturer at institutions in the United States, including Calvin College, Trinity College, Dordt College, and Abraham Lincoln and Denver Christian High Schools.

He has also provided specialist ceramics consultancy in connection with international development organizations, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

These engagements have provided opportunities to share expertise, promote cultural exchange, and demonstrate the value of Nigerian ceramic knowledge within wider international conversations about art, technology, and industrial development.

His participation in exhibitions and competitions across Africa and Asia has further strengthened his international profile.

National Honors and Professional Awards

Yakubu’s career has attracted recognition from Nigerian institutions and international ceramic organizations. Among his major honors and reported awards are the following:

• 2000 — Member of the Order of the Niger (MON): A national honor recognizing his contributions to the ceramics industry.
• 2002 — First Trophy, African Shippers Council Exhibition, Dakar, Senegal: Recognition at an international exhibition.
• 2004 — National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM): An acknowledgment of his contribution to productivity and enterprise development.
• 2006 — National Local Raw Materials Content Award (NLRMCA): Recognition associated with the development and utilization of local raw materials.
• 2007–2009 — International Ceramics Excellence Award, Jingdezhen, China: Reportedly won for three consecutive years at an international ceramics exposition.
• October 2011 — China International Kaolin Grand Prix for Ceramic Art: Selected in the Excellent Works category in Jingdezhen, China.
• October 2012 — Best Exhibit Award, China International Ceramics Fair: Recognition at a major international ceramics event.
• 2000–2017 — African Arts and Crafts Expo, Abuja: Reportedly received the African Continental Overall Best Product Design Award in Ceramics six times during this period.

These achievements reflect the range of his professional activities, from artistic design and technical innovation to enterprise development and the promotion of Nigerian-made products.

A Record of Historic Milestones

Beyond his formal awards, Yakubu’s career is distinguished by a number of milestones that, according to his professional biography, demonstrate his pioneering role in Nigerian and African ceramics.

Education and Professional Development

• Reportedly became the first student from Benue State to earn a distinction in Fine Art in the West African School Certificate examinations in 1974.
• Graduated in Industrial Design from Ahmadu Bello University in 1979, with a specialization in Ceramics.
• Established Dajo Pottery Ltd as a commercial ceramics enterprise after his university education.
• Participated in a South-South Cooperation programme in fine ceramics and pottery in Indonesia in 1990.

Industrial and Entrepreneurial Development

• Established a private ceramics enterprise focused on commercial production and indigenous manufacturing.
• Advanced marble-effect ceramic production and decorative applications.
• Developed Dajo Pottery as a platform for manufacturing, technical innovation, artisan development, and public engagement.
• Pursued vocational training initiatives to expand access to ceramic skills and enterprise opportunities.

International Exhibitions and Cultural Representation

Yakubu has represented Nigerian ceramic art at exhibitions and trade events across Africa and beyond. His reported milestones include:

• Participation in the East African Trade Fair in Kampala, Uganda, in 1998.
• Representation of Nigerian ceramics at an exhibition in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1994.
• Recognition at the African Arts and Crafts Expo in Abuja.
• Participation in international ceramics events in Jingdezhen, China, between 2007 and 2012.
• Selection of his work, The Benue Fisherman, in the Excellent Works category of the China International Kaolin Grand Prix for Ceramic Art in October 2011.

His participation in these events helped bring attention to Nigerian ceramic design and the creative possibilities of combining indigenous artistic traditions with contemporary techniques.

Recognition in Benue State

Yakubu’s professional biography also records a Benue State Merit Award conferred on him by a sitting governor on May 11, 2008. This recognition further highlights the importance of his work to the state’s artistic and entrepreneurial landscape.

Note: Claims involving “first,” “only,” and record-setting achievements should be supported with official award records, institutional documentation, or other reliable evidence before publication.

Dajo Pottery Ltd: A Centre for Creativity, Manufacturing, and Tourism

Located in Makurdi, Benue State, Dajo Pottery Ltd represents the practical expression of Yakubu’s vision for the ceramics industry.

Beyond manufacturing, the enterprise brings together artistic creativity, technical knowledge, vocational training, and the preservation of pottery traditions. Its activities demonstrate how a craft associated with cultural heritage can also support industrial development, employment, tourism, and entrepreneurship.

The company’s reported recognition as a private tourist destination in Benue State adds another dimension to its role. By connecting visitors with ceramic production and artistic practice, Dajo Pottery offers an opportunity to appreciate pottery not only as a finished product but also as a process involving design, materials, craftsmanship, and technical skill.

For aspiring ceramic artists, students, artisans, and entrepreneurs, the enterprise stands as an example of how specialized knowledge can be developed into a sustainable business.

A Lasting Legacy in Nigerian Art and Industry

Levi O’Bem Yakubu’s professional journey reflects the possibilities that emerge when cultural heritage, formal education, entrepreneurship, and technological innovation come together.

From his early achievements in Fine Art to his university education, teaching career, and establishment of Dajo Pottery Ltd, he has pursued a vision of ceramics that extends beyond traditional craft. His work has focused on developing local production, promoting vocational skills, creating opportunities for artisans, and presenting Nigerian creativity to international audiences.

His story also highlights the broader potential of Nigeria’s creative and manufacturing sectors. With appropriate investment in technical education, locally available materials, innovation, and market development, traditional industries can evolve into competitive enterprises that create economic and cultural value.

As a master potter and entrepreneur, Yakubu’s legacy is not defined by awards alone. It also lies in the institution he has built, the skills he has helped transfer, and the possibilities he has opened for future generations of ceramic artists and manufacturers.

His journey offers an enduring lesson: clay can be more than a material for making objects. In the hands of a visionary artisan, it can become a vehicle for preserving heritage, advancing technology, building enterprise, and telling the story of a people to the world.

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Contact Dajo Pottery Ltd

Dajo Pottery Ltd

Address: No. 1, Dajo Pottery Street, Kilometre 5, Makurdi–Gboko Road, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.

Website: www.dajopottery.com

Email: dajopotteryltd@gmail.com

For enquiries about ceramic products, customized tile murals, vocational training, exhibitions, partnerships, and related services, contact Dajo Pottery Ltd through its official channels.