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People group profile · PG013866

The Izi of Nigeria

The Izi of Nigeria, numbering about 767,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a northeastern Igbo people east of Abakaliki in Nigeria's Ebonyi State, tracing descent with the related Ezza and Ikwo from a common ancestor named Enyi, among the last Igbo territories to fall to British colonial conquest after sustained resistance.

They are an indigenous people in the Igbo people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Izii.

Pray for the IziPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Izi people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Izi

Fast facts

Country
Nigeria
Population
767,000
Affinity group
Sub-Saharan African Peoples
People cluster
Igbo
Primary language
Izii (izz)
Primary religion
Protestantism
Strategic Progress Index
No Longer Unreached
Evangelical
2% or Greater but Less than 5%
GSEC
2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
Lostness priority
Marginally Reached People Group
Region
Western Africa, Africa

Where they live

Gospel status

The Izi are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 2% evangelical.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Izi

  • Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
  • Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
  • Send out laborers from this people to the nations

Primary religion

Protestantism · Christianity

98% adherents

Primary language

Izii · Atlantic-Congo family

100% speak Izii

Gospel resources in Izii

  • Bible available, published 2014
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

Bibles

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Izi

  1. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  2. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  3. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  4. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.

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