Ikwuano Ikwuano | |
---|---|
Motto: Onye Ahala Nwanneya | |
Coordinates: 5°26′N7°34′E / 5.433°N 7.567°E | |
Country | ![]() |
State | Abia State |
Headquarters: | Isiala Oboro |
Created | 1991 |
Government | |
• Type | Democratic |
• Local Government Chairman | Dr. Anthony Nzeribe Nwaubani |
• Local Government Deputy Chairman | Hon. Awuwa Lucky Chibuikem |
Area | |
• Total | 281 km2 (108 sq mi) |
Elevation | 122 m (400 ft) |
Population (2022) [1] | |
• Total | 200,800 |
• Density | 710/km2 (1,900/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
3-digit postal code prefix | 440 |
Area code | 440 |
ISO 3166 code | NG.AB.IK |
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Ikwuano is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in Isiala Oboro. The name 'Ikwuano' etymologically indicates that there are four different ancient kingdoms that make up the community called Ikwuano. These include Oboro, Ibere, Ariam/Usaka and Oloko. [2]
The postal code of the area is 440. [3] It is one of the five Local Government Areas that make up the Abia Central Senatorial District. [4] As at 2024, the executive chairman is Dr. Anthony Nzeribe Nwaubani. [5] Obi Aguocha currently serves as the Federal Representative representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives. [6] The member representing Ikwuano State Constituency at the Abia State House of Assembly is Engr. Boniface Isienyi. [7]
The present Ikwuano Local Government Area was part of the Bende Division in the then Southern Province created by the British Colonial Government as part of their “Divide and Rule” system of government and administration towards the beginning of the 19th Century. This was as early as the time Calabar was the capital of Nigeria.
When the Southern province was further divided, Ikwuano still remained part of the Bende Division. The present Bende town was the administrative headquarters where the District Commissioner resided. The District Commissioner, Nwa D.C., as he was known and called held courts at Bende and Oloko. At this time what was later carved out as Aba Division was part of the Bende Division, under the jurisdiction of Nwa D. C. The present Umuahia township later replaced Bende as the administrative headquarters after the extension of the Nigerian rail line from Port-Harcourt to Enugu between 1915 and 1916. [8] [ unreliable source? ]
Ikwuano Local Government Area was among the new local government areas that were created on 27 August 1991 when the General Ibrahim Babangida's Administration created Abia State from the old Imo State. [9] It was carved out of the defunct Ikwuano-Umuahia of the Old Imo State.
The Aba Women's Riot began in Oloko. The demonstration occurred when thousands of women of Igbo origin from Bende, Umuahia, Owerri and other regions in the South East made the trip to Oloko, one of the four principal communities of Ikwuano. The cause of this movement was due to the worry that a new taxation plan was being implemented that would demand women, most especially widows, to pay taxes which they were not mandated to pay earlier on. [10]
Ikwuano is known for cultures and arts which include Ekpe, which is usually in January in the different Ikwuano communities coinciding with their respective market days, New Yam (Iri-Ji) and Afo Amaghi Onuma festivals. Their cultural dances are Eketensi Ritual dance, Oro, Ikperikpeogu (War Dance), Uko and so on. They also have Oba and Ekpe societies. [11] Popular delicacies in Ikwuano include Ofe Achara, Ukazi Soup and Ugwu Soup. [12] The predominant languages spoken in Ikwuano are Igbo and English languages. The four clans speak distinct Igbo dialects though mutually intelligible. Ikwuano brides are known to have some of the costliest bride prices in Igboland. Traditional marriages are held in high esteem. [11]
It has an area of 281 km2. It lies between the latitudes 5 24lN and 5 30lN and between the longitudes of 7 32lE and 7 37lE. [13]
It borders Umuahia North and Bende to its north, Umuahia South and Isiala- Ngwa North to its west, Ini to the east and Obot-Akara to the south. [14]
The population of Ikwuano during the 2006 census was 137,993. As at 2015, it increased to 175,078. [15] The area is inhabited primarily by the Igbo people. [16]
It experiences an average weather temperature of 28 °C. The area witnesses two distinct seasons which are the rainy and dry seasons. The average humidity level is put at 62%. [17] [18]
Ikwuano is in the humid forest zone of Nigeria. The Local Government Area has an average rainfall of 2351 mm, average minimum diurnal temperature of 22.90C and relative humidity range between 80 and 90%. [18] [17]
The vegetation of the area is predominantly lowland rainforest, which makes it suitable for growing yam, cassava, maize, cashew and ginger. This has led to the area becoming the food basket of Abia State. [19] [20] [21]
Farming is one of the key economic activities of the Ikwuano people. The area also hosts a number of markets where a variety of commodities are bought and sold. They include Ahia Ndoro and the Ariam Market. In fact, Ikwuano is situated in the palm belt of Eastern Nigeria. Other important economic engagements of the Ikwuano people are hunting, craftsmanship and wood carving. [19] [22] [21] [23] [20]
The four clans of Ikwuano have a total of 58 villages. They are listed as follows: [24] [8] [25] [26]
Clan | Village |
---|---|
Ariam/Usaka | Amaegbu, Ariam Ala-Ala, Ariam Elu-Elu, Azunchai, Ekpiri Ala-Ala, Ekpiri Elu-Elu, Ekwelu, Ndieke, Ndiokoro, Ndiorie, Obugwu, Obeama, Oboni, Upa, Usaka Ukwu |
Ibere | Amuro, Elemaga, Iberenta, Ihim, Inyila, Isiala, Itunta, Iyalu, Nkalunta, Ngwugwo, Obuohia, Obuoru, Umuemenike, Umulu |
Oboro | Ahuwa, Amaoba Ikputu, Amaoba Ime, Amawom, Aro Ajatakiri, Aro Ayama, Ekebedi, Isiala, Ndoro, Nnono, Ntalakwu, Obunta, Ogbuebulle, Okwe, Umuariaga, Umudike, Umugbalu, Umuigu, Umuokwo |
Oloko | Ahaba, Akanu Nchara, Amizi, Awomukwu, Azuiyi, Etoruo Nchara, Obuohia Okike, Oloko, Umugo, Usaka Eleogu |
Villages in Ikwuano are constitutionally placed under 43 autonomous communities, each autonomous community is led by an Eze.
Autonomous Community | Village(s) |
---|---|
Abaa Ukwu | Amaoba Ikputu |
Afa | Etoruo Nchara |
Afa Ukwu | Akanu Nchara |
Agbalu Ozu | Umugbalu |
Agbo Ibere | Elemaga |
Agumba | Ekwelu |
Ahaba Ukwu | Ahaba |
Ahuwa Oboro | Ahuwa |
Ajata Na Igu | Umuigu, Aro Ajatakiri |
Ala-Ala Oboro | Ogbuebulle, Ekebedi |
Amanchai | Azunchai, Obeama |
Amaoba Ime | Amaoba Ime |
Ariam Ala-Ala | Ariam Ala-Ala |
Ariam Osoigwe | Ariam Elu-Elu, Ndiorie |
Awom Na Ebo | Umuariaga, Umuokwo |
Awom Na Uzie | Amizi |
Awom Oboro | Amawom |
Awomukwu | Awomukwu |
Ekpiri Onyeike | Ekpiri Ala-Ala |
Ekpiri Osoaji | Ekpiri Elu-Elu |
Ibere Ancient Kingdom | Ngwugwo, Umulu |
Ibeuzo Ukwu | Amawom |
Ikemba | Oboni, Ndieke, Ndiokoro, Upa |
Ikputu Oboro | Amaoba Ikputu |
Isiala Ahaba | Ahaba |
Isiama Oboro | Isiala Oboro, Obunta |
Ntalakwu Oboro | Ntalakwu |
Obi Ibere | Obuohia, Umuemenike |
Obuohia Okike | Obuohia Okike |
Okwe Ukwu | Okwe |
Oloko Ancient Kingdom | Azuiyi, Oloko, Umugo, Usaka Eleogu |
Oro Ibere | Iberenta, Iyalu |
Oruigwe | Nnono |
Oru Oboro | Ndoro, Aro Ayama |
Otu-Uzo | Amuro, Nkalunta, Ihim |
Ugwuegbu | Obugwu, Amaegbu |
Ugwu Ibere | Inyila, Isiala |
Uha-la-Uda | Nnono |
Umuakoo | Itunta, Obuoru |
Umuokeigbo | Umuigu |
Umudike | Umudike |
Umudike Ukwu | Umudike |
Usaka Ukwu | Usaka Ukwu |
Title | Name | Autonomous Community |
---|---|---|
Eze Kwesiri I of Abaa Ukwu | Eze HRM David Chukwuemeka Isinguzo | Abaa Ukwu |
Chimere I of Etoruo | Eze HRM N. Hart Agunaegbe (JP) | Afa |
Eze Oha III of Afa Ukwu | Eze HRM Okeugo Okwuenyia | Afa Ukwu |
Efuma II of Agbalu Ozu | Eze HRM Justice Chino Uwaga | Agbalu Ozu |
Agbo I of Agbo Ibere | Eze HRM Ifeanyi Oluwa | Agbo Ibere |
Agu I of Agumba | Eze HRM Joseph Obaji | Agumba |
Eze Ukwu I of Ahaba Ukwu | Eze HRM Dr. Chimezie Nwabueze | Ahaba Ukwu |
N/A | Vacant | Ahuwa Oboro |
Eze Onye Oruru I of Ajatanaigu | Eze HRM Larry Ogbonnaya Agwu | Ajata Na Igu |
Eze Ala II of Ala-Ala Oboro | Eze HRM Ezeji Uzu Analaba | Ala-Ala Oboro |
Igwebuike I of Amanchai | Eze HRM Smart Bartholomew Ndukwe | Amanchai |
O'tuwa I of Amaoba Ime | Eze HRM Emmanuel Nwankwo O'tuwa | Amaoba Ime |
Ala I of Ariam Ala-Ala | Eze HRM Onyekwere Onwualimba | Ariam Ala-Ala |
Igwe I of Ariam Osoigwe | Eze HRM Daniel Adieze Gbufor | Ariam Osoigwe |
Ugwuoha I of Awom Na Ebo | Eze HRM Christopher Uzumgba Ejirika | Awom Na Ebo |
Eze Udo I of Awom Na Uzie | Eze HRM Dr. Eugene Chimezie Ndimele | Awom Na Uzie |
Awom II of Awom Oboro | Eze HRM Elder Chukwudike Ebila Ironsi | Awom Oboro |
Eze Ukwu I of Awomukwu | Eze HRM Ifeanyi Ekwuronu | Awomukwu |
N/A | Vacant | Ekpiri Onyeike |
Eze Okpu II of Ekpiri Osoaji | Eze HRM Andrew Igbokwe Ekpo | Ekpiri Osoaji |
Eze Ugo I of Ibere Ancient Kingdom | Eze HRM Williams Ugochukwu | Ibere Ancient Kingdom |
Uzo II of Ibe Uzo | Eze HRM Prof. Innocent C. Ezeala | Ibeuzo Ukwu |
N/A | Vacant | Ikemba |
Ikputu I of Ikputu Oboro | Eze HRM Chijioke Imo | Ikputu Oboro |
Ahaba I of Isiala Ahaba | Eze HRM Sir Chima Odomegbulam Onyemachi | Isiala Ahaba |
Isioha II of Isiama | Eze HRM Prof. Sunday C. Ezeribe | Isiama Oboro |
Apu I of Ntalakwu | Eze HRM Prof. Samuel Ajiri | Ntalakwu Oboro |
Obioma I of Obi Ibere | Eze HRM Dr. Dickson I. Orji | Obi Ibere |
Okike I of Obuohia Okike | Eze HRM Mgbeonyere C. Eleribe | Obuohia Okike |
N/A | Vacant | Okwe Ukwu |
Oko I of Oloko Ancient Kingdom | Eze HRM Torty David Igbokwe | Oloko Ancient Kingdom |
Oro II of Oro Ibere | Eze HRM Dr. Stanley Iroabuchi Ijenwa | Oro Ibere |
Igwebuike II of Oruigwe | Eze HRM Chukwuemeka Elefuanya Ezeoma | Oruigwe |
Oru I of Oru Onyerubi | Eze HRM Ralph Ukachi Ogbonna | Oru Oboro |
Uzo II of Otu-Uzo | Eze HRM Chidi Hyacinth Kalu | Otu-Uzo |
Chimere I of Ugwuegbu | Eze HRM Ambrose Obileche Nwagwu | Ugwuegbu |
Ugwu I of Ugwu Ibere | Eze HRM Prof. Ezeudo Samuel Ifenwanta | Ugwu Ibere |
Uha I of Uha-la-Uda | Eze HRM Chukwuemeka Aguocha Ukenye | Uha-la-Uda |
Akoo II of Umuakoo | Eze HRM Monday Unadindu Okoro | Umuakoo |
Igwebuike I of Umuokeigbo | Eze HRM Valentine C. Ohunta | Umuokeigbo |
Dike Oha II of Umudike | Eze HRM Onyekwere Joseph Anyaegbu | Umudike |
Dike Ukwu I of Umudike | Eze HRM Benjamin Ogechimereze Oriaku | Umudike Ukwu |
Eze Oha II of Usaka Ancient Kingdom | Eze HRM Victor Peter Nwosu | Usaka Ukwu |
Tenure | Name |
---|---|
1992-1995 | Sir Chima Odomegbulam Onyemachi |
1995-1997 | Promise Odinkemere |
1997-1999 | Chief Uche Mpamah |
1999-2003 | Barr. Kevin Chima Ugboajah |
2003-2007 | Barr. Kevin Chima Ugboajah |
2008-2010 | Barr. Stanley Ojigbo |
2016-2018 | Ezinne Ngozi Orji |
2020-2022 | Chief Stephen Mpamugo |
2024- | Dr. Anthony Nzeribe Nwaubani |
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: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)