The Ake of Nigeria

The Ake of Nigeria, numbering approximately 4,400 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an Akye ethnolinguistic community of Lafia LGA in Nasarawa State, central Nigeria, living principally in four villages. They mostly adhere to Ethnoreligion and Ake is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Ake

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: Nigeria
People Cluster: Benue
Primary Language(s): Ake (aik)
Primary Religion(s): Ethnoreligion
Population: 4,400
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG013633
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Ake of Nigeria

Join others around the world in praying for the lost to be saved, the gospel to advance, the global Church to grow, and for laborers to be sent out and sustained in the harvest.

Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Ethnoreligion
Religious Affiliation: Ethnoreligion

55%
%
Ethnoreligion Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Ake
Language Family: Atlantic-Congo

58%
%
Akye Speakers

Media Resources in Ake:

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Bible Resources in Ake:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Ake bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Ake are Engaged yet Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations but there are sustained efforts at establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Next steps for the Ake:
Continue prayer and fasting for this group
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Pray specifically for the Ake of Nigeria

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
readIsaiah 53:6

Pray that those who have wandered far from God will be drawn back to Him, recognizing their need for a Savior and finding forgiveness and new life in Christ.

The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.
readMatthew 4:16

Pray that those who dwell in darkness and live in the land of the shadow of death may be drawn out of darkness into His marvelous light.

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
readLamentations 3:24

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ and walk through trials, they will be satisfied with the Lord as their portion and will place all their hope in Him.

And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
readColossians 1:20

As believers cross cultures to tell others about Jesus, praise God for allowing them to be a part of His reconciling all things to Himself, asking Him to help them remember their role in His beautiful plan of salvation for others.

Ake Across Countries (ROP3 - 100182) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

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