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Isoko is a region of Delta State and Bayelsa state in southern Nigeria and is inhabited by an ethnic group of the same name, the Isoko people. The region is divided into two Local Government Areas, Isoko North (headquartered at Ozoro) and Isoko South (headquartered at Oleh).
The Isoko community is commonly known for farming, fishing and the production of palm oil and kernels. This region used to be a part of the defunct "Mid-West Region". It later became part of Bendel State, before Bendel State was split to form Edo and Delta states. The asenstors of isoko are Orowa,Upke, Izo. They were the first set that came from Benin to settle in delta
The Isoko region is located in Delta State of modern Nigeria.
Isoko region is in the tropical rain forest area of the Niger-delta. The region experiences high rainfall and high humidity most of the year. The climate is equatorial and is marked by two distinct seasons. the dry and rainy seasons. The dry season lasts from about November to April and is significantly marked by the cool "harmarttan" dusty haze from the north-east winds. The rainy season spans May to October with a brief dry spell in August.
Some major towns in Isoko region are:
The main economic activity is food crop farming. And the staple food crops include cassava and yams. There is also the widespread production of palm oil and palm kernels. Limited amount of hunting and fishing is also done. Women form a large proportion of the farming population. They also engage in trade of food crops for cash to meet other basic household needs. On market days, it is common to see Isoko women peddling their assorted goods around neighboring villages.
Cassava is the source of most of the foods consumed by the Isoko people. Garri, starch meal (Ozi), Egu are cassava derivatives.
Food crop production has been declining rapidly recently. This has been largely attributed to soil damage resulting from frequent crude oil spills from pipelines belonging to some of the major oil producing companies (including Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), whose pipeline network transverse the landscape). This has led to large-scale frustrations with Shell Petroleum Development Company, and has resulted in skirmishes and, recently, kidnappings for ransom in some neighboring communities.
There is no definitive population census figure on the region of Isoko and, indeed, most of Nigeria. The various Nigerian census figures have been controversial and are deemed unsupportable. [1]
The Isoko people are predominantly Christians such as the late Evangelist Cornelius Adam Igbudu who founded the Anglican Adam Preaching Society. Traditional worship still thrives despite the strong onslaught of Christian principles. "Ọghẹnẹ" is the word for God. Although it can be generally termed as traditional religion, there are however some practices that are peculiar to some Isoko community. For instance in the town of Emevor, some important festivals like "Idhu and Owhoru" which are celebrated annually and biannually.
Popular mode of transport is the motorcycle and bicycle. Inter-city travel is by bus or car.
The Isoko Region is a home to Delta State University, - popularly known as Oleh Campus - it is a State government owned university in Nigeria with the main campus located at Abraka. The Oleh campus was established with the 1995 Amended Edict. The university houses the Faculty of law and Faculty of Engineering.
Isoko Region is also a home to The Delta State Polytechnic Ozoro, it is one of the three polytechnics in Delta State, Nigeria. The polytechnic offers National Diplomas and Higher National Diplomas in courses of Science, Social science and Art.
There are also Several secondary schools and postsecondary schools in the region. The Isoko people know the value of education and encourage their young ones to attend school. The Isoko people have been known to be very passionate about location of education infrastructure in their communities, believing it is a mark of progress.
Early emphasis was on teacher-training schools and this led to a glut of teachers in the community. This is rapidly changing as opportunities offered by other professions are recognized.
Major post-primary educational institutions in the region include Notre Dame College, Ozoro; James Welch Grammar School [Best school in the Isoko land], Emevor; Saint Joseph's Teacher's College, Ozoro; Saint Michael's College Oleh; Anglican Grammar School, Ozoro, Ofagbe Technical College, Ofagbe, and several more. Post-secondary schools include a campus of the Delta State University at Oleh and the Delta State Polytechnic at Ozoro.
Idheze Irri is one of the towns in the Isoko South Local Government area of Delta State, Nigeria.
Delta State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named after the Niger Delta—a large part of which is in the state—the state was formed from the former Bendel State, on 27 August 1991. Bordered on the north by Edo State, the east by Anambra and Rivers states, and that south by Bayelsa State while to the west is the Bight of Benin which covers about 160 kilometres of the state's coastline. The state was initially created with 12 local government areas in 1991, but was later expanded to 19 and now has 25 local government areas. Its capital city is Asaba which is located along the River Niger on the northeastern end of the state, while the state's economic center is the city of Warri on the southwestern coastline.
Ofagbe is a town about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) southeast of Ozoro, the headquarters of the Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. Legend has it that the town was established by three families who migrated from various points in the then Benin Kingdom to settle and call the town "home."
Aradhe is a town in the Isoko North Local Government Area (LGA), Isoko region of Delta State, Nigeria. The town has an estimated population of 20,000 inhabitants. Aradhe has a primary school called Aradhe Primary School founded in 19XX and a secondary school called Aradhe Grammar School founded in 19xx. The inhabitants of Aradhe are friendly and accommodating. The major occupation of the people are farming and trading. Aradhe Market day comes up every seven days interval. Major articles traded are garri, Cassava Starch, Yams. Palm oil, fruits etc. The Town is surrounded by swampland. Aradhe share a royal crown with two other communities which are Ovredhe and Ellu. The three communities are called Eraewhosa meaning Three Crown.
Isoko North is one of two Local Government Areas (LGA) in the Isoko region of Delta State, southern Nigeria – the other being Isoko South. The population of Isoko North was approximately 112,000 as of 2003. Its headquarters are in the town of Ozoro which has 14,000 seater capacity Olympic size stadium at the Delta State Polytechnic Ozoro, now upgraded to a University. There are 13 Electoral Wards in the Local Government Area. Major towns in Isoko North are Ozoro, Owhelogbo, Otor Owhe, Oghara-Iyede and Emevor. The people are mostly Christian and traditional worshippers. Isoko North contains oil producing regions, and is the location of some of the recent conflict in the Niger Delta.
The Niger Delta is the delta of the Niger River sitting directly on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean in Nigeria. It is located within nine coastal southern Nigerian states, which include: all six states from the South South geopolitical zone, one state (Ondo) from South West geopolitical zone and two states from South East geopolitical zone.
The Mid-Western Region was a division of Nigeria from 1963 to 1991, from 1976 being known as the Bendel state.
Isoko South is a local government area (LGA) in the Isoko region of Delta State, Nigeria. With its headquarters at Oleh, Nigeria, it is one of the two local governments that make up the Isoko region. The other is Isoko North, which has its headquarters at Ozoro.
Uzere formerly known as "Uzei" is located in the Isoko South Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State of Nigeria. It has become one of the largest petroleum oil producing communities in Nigeria. Oil exploration started in Uzere in 1957. Uzere has two oil fields(Uzere West and Uzere East) with a total of 43 oil wells producing about 53,000 barrels per day (8,400 m3/d). Uzere has nine communities: Uhei, Ezede, Uweye, Afikioko, Uhroko (Paris), Ekregbesi, Abale, Iwre-Ezede, and Iboro.
Igbide is an Isoko clan located in the Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria.
Ozoro is a city and the headquarter of Isoko North Local Government area of Delta State, Nigeria. It is one of the two administrative units in the Isoko region of Delta State, southern Nigeria. Ozoro had been incorrectly spelt Usoro in some older maps of Nigeria. Ozoro, the capital city of Isoko North, has a population of approximately 186,000 inhabitants.
Oleh is the headquarters of the Isoko South Local Government Area, one of the two administrative units in the Isoko region of Delta State, Southern Nigeria.
Ellu is an Isoko, countryside community in Delta State of Nigeria that was founded around the 18th century. Bounded in the north by Emu-Uno community, in the south by Ozoro and Idheze communities, in the east by Ofagbe community, and in the west by Owhelogbo community, Ellu is located within longitude 6'13 East and latitude 5'36 North. These geographical boundaries incorporate Aradhe and Ovrode communities, which are Ellu's sister communities in the north and east, respectively. According to the 1995 National census, Ellu has a population of 10,000 people. While a large proportion of the inhabitants of Ellu are subsistence farmers, a growing number are civil servants and small-scale entrepreneurs. The Ovie of Ellu is the traditional head of the community. Majority of the people are professed Christians while a dwindling number still practise the African Traditional Religion. The community has two public primary schools, a public secondary school, and a number of private schools. A government-funded health care centre is also located in the community. Ellu is founded by Akaje, Ogwaru, Ogeidhe, Ogike and Orodo from Owhe. Akaje brothers Egbeta and Esakpa founded Aradhe, while Ovime founder of Ovrode migrated from Uruode in Ellu.
Emevor is a town in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, southern Nigeria. Its population was 8000 as of 2009. Emevor shares boundaries with the villages of Ebor-Iyede, Agharha, Otor Owhe and Orogun. It is about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) to the East of Ughelli township stadium. It has two markets locally known as "Ekiedhe" and "Ekiewo". The traditional ruler of Emevor is known as Odion. There are however other community leaders such as president general, chairman, etc. It is historically known to be a peaceful place. The people speak a distinct Isoko language. It is an oil producing community in the Niger Delta region.
Ikot Udo Abia is a village in ward four of the Etinan local government area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. "Ikot Udo Abia" means followers of Udo Abia. The villagers are the Ibibio people who are of the Afaha group within the Iman Clan. The language spoken in the village isIbibio. Ikot Udo Abia lies in the area of Africa which was affected by the Atlantic slave trade of the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries.
Ase is a coastal community on the shores of the Ase River, off River Niger in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. Ase River derives its name from Ase town. Ase is an idyllic countryside with a spectacular and breathtaking natural beach, evergreen rain-forest vegetation rich in flora and fauna which overhangs the Ase Creek. Ase is a serene natural tourist resort still waiting to be explored. Ase shares common boundaries with Ibedeni, Onyah, Aviara, Uzere, Patani and Trofani.
Onogbokor is an Isoko-speaking town in the Ndokwa East Local Government Area (LGA), Delta State, Nigeria. Until the creation of Delta State in 1991, it was formerly with the Ndoshimili LGA with headquarters located in Kwale, in the defunct Bendel state. It shares common boundaries with Iyede-Ame in the south, Igeh to the east, Umuolu and Itebiege to the north and Akara-etiti on the west. The town has three quarters: Ushie, Ogbe-ekpako and Ove. Inhabitants of the town dominantly speak the Isoko dialect with few migrant Ụkwụànì speakers. They intermarry Ụkwụànìs, Ijaws and other tribes. As a clan, it has four communities: Ewo-Okpe community, Okporo community, Ewo-eboy community and Obere community. There are migrants from neighbouring nearby communities and pockets of Ijaw fishermen and Hausa petty traders in the clan.
Iyede-Ame, derived its name from Iyede, an upland town in Isoko South Local Government Area in Delta State, Nigeria.
Irri is located in the Isoko South local government area of Delta state, Nigeria. It is one of the petroleum producing communities in Nigeria. It is bordered by Uzere, Aviara, Oyede, Idheze and Oleh. Descendants of Irri migrated to form other small villages and towns, such like Ada, Idheze, Ikpide, Ivrogbo, Iwreogboko, Canaan Irri, Ivori, Uro Irri, etc, and they are usually referred to as children of Irri Kingdom. The people are referred to as Emo Irri, which means children of Irri.
Awah, or Avba, is a town in Delta State, Nigeria. Located on the shores of the Ase River in the Ndokwa East Local Government Area, it is one of the Isoko speaking communities found in the Old Aboh political division. Until the creation of Delta State in 1991, it was formerly with the Ndoshimili Local Government Area with headquarters located in Kwale, in the defunct Bendel state.