Obowo | |
---|---|
City | Nigeria |
State | Imo State |
Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
Obowo, also spelled Obowu is a Local Government Area in Imo State, Nigeria formed during the Ibrahim Babangida administration in May 1989. It was carved out of Etiti Local Government Area with its headquarters at Isi Nweke. [1] There are twenty-two autonomous communities in Obowo Local Government Area. Achara, Amanze, Umuariam, Umunachi, Umuagu, Ehume, Umungwa, Umulogho, Odenkwume, Okwuohia, Amuzi, Alike, Avutu, Umuosochie and Umuoke are towns in the L.G.A. Obowo is located about 45 minutes from Owerri, across the Imo River and is less than 30 minutes from the Umuahia and Ahiara in opposite directions with the Amanze seven and a half (71/2) junction and landmark in-between. It is surrounded by Ahiazu and Aboh Mbaise Local Government Areas to the north and Umuahia Abia State to the East.
The people of Obowo Local Government Area are known for farming and fishing and they produce palm oil, kernel, local baskets, brooms and rice. They are also known for politics and as a result, the Local Government Area produced the first executive Governor of Imo State in the person of late Sam Mbakwe. [2] Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, Director-General (DG) of the DMO, spanning the period July 2007 to June 2017. Other prominent politicians in Obowo Local Government Area include Chris Okewulaonu, Chike Okafor, Dr Goderick Anosike, Sylvester Anyanwu, Longinus Anyanwu, Charles Ugwu, Celestine Ngobiwu, Fabian Ihekweme, Kennedy Ibe and Ike C. Ibe.
A cultural festival known as "Iwa Akwa Festival" exists in Obowo Local Government Area. Other festivals in the area include Ekpo, Mbomuzo and Egbe-Nkwu. There are also some tourist attraction centers in Obowo Local Government Area. They include the Green Coloured Abadaba Lake which is situated at Okwuohia Autonomous Community, Iyi-Ukwu and the Umuariam Game Reserve Center with live monkeys.
The Obowo Local Government Council was formed by the defunct Ibrahim Babangida Administration during the creation of Local Governments in Nigeria in May 1989. [3] It was formerly a part of the Local Government Etiti headquartered in Isi-Nweke. [3] It is home to about twenty-two autonomous communities. [3]
Formerly based around farming and fishing, the economy of Obowo now includes areas of industrial services, ranging from manufacturing to communications. [3] Obowo people produce a large quantity of palm oil, kernel, local baskets, brooms, and rice. [3]
The people are politically active. The first Executive Governor of Imo State, Chief Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe, was born in Nigeria. [3] Other prominent politicians from Obowo include Christ Okewulaonu, Chike Okafor, Sylvester Anyanwu, Longinus Anyanwu, Charles Ugwu, Goderick Anosike, Chika Okafor, Celestine Ngobiwu B.U Nwoko, Kennedy Ibeh, Ike C. Ibe and Chike Okafor who is the current house of representative member. Also the LGA has produced a lot of academicians and notable citizens that rose to the pinacle of their career, although they are too numerous to mention but a couple of them are Prof B.B Nwoke, Prof Mrs Anyanwu, Prof Columba Nwoke, Engr Philip Chukwu, Engr Godwin Chukwu, Engr Celestine Uche Nwokorie, DCP C Amaechi, DCP Innocent Brown, DCP Ihechere, ACP Albert M. Okechukwu, Bri General Okechukwu Nkem.
Obowo have a very rich cultural festival, the Iwa-Akwa Festival, which embraces the general Obowo citizen. [3] Other festivals include, Ekpo, Mbomuzo, Egbe-Nkwu. [3] Popular tourist attractions in the area are Green Coloured Abadaba Lake which is located in Okwuohia Autonomous Community, Iyi-Ukwu, and the Umuariam Game Reserve Centre with live monkeys. [3]
Owerri is the capital city of Imo State in Nigeria, set in the heart of Igboland. It is also the state's largest city, followed by Orlu, Okigwe and Ohaji/Egbema. Owerri consists of three Local Government Areas including Owerri Municipal, Owerri North and Owerri West, it has an estimated population of 1,401,873 as of 2016 and is approximately 100 square kilometres (40 sq mi) in area. Owerri is bordered by the Otamiri River to the east and the Nworie River to the south. The Owerri Slogan is Heartland. It is also called the Las Vegas of Africa, due to the night life of the city and the numerous hotels, casino and leisure parks all over the city.
Abia State University Uturu (ABSU) is a Nigerian public university. It is one of the state-owned universities in Nigeria. These state academic institutions were created to expand admissions and bring professional skills, expertise and modern research facilities close to the city and rural dwellers, and have helped talented students to obtain higher education.
Ihite is a town in Orumba South Local Government Area in Anambra State, Nigeria. It is located south-east of the local government area on the Nnobi-Ekwulobia-Ufuma-Umunze-Ibinta-Okigwe federal trunk road. Ihite shares boundaries with Umunze in Anambra State, Aondizuogu, Ndiochi and Okannachi in Imo state, and Nneato in Abia State.
Samuel "Sam" Onunaka Mbakwe also known as Dee Sam, was an Igbo politician and first democratic governor of Imo State, south east Nigeria, from 1 October 1979 until 31 December 1983.
Ozalla is a prominent town in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria.
Ubakala is a large town in Umuahia South Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State, Nigeria. It is one of the major ancient clans of Umuahia. A popular market for which it is known is the Apumiri Market. Umuahia South Local Government Area Headquarters is located at Apumiri as well. Ubakala is situated southwards of Umuahia main township. Its well defined boundaries geographically places it at the North of Ntigha.
Imo State is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by Anambra State, Rivers State to the west and south, and Abia State to the east. It takes its name from the Imo River which flows along the state's eastern border. The state capital is Owerri and the State's slogan is the "Eastern Heartland."
Umukabia[Ojim Ukwu Nnu Egbe] is a village in the Ohuhu community of Umuahia North Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. There are also several other villages in Nigeria with the same name. Umukabia comprises 3 small villages namely; Okpuala being the eldest, followed by Umuagbom and Azummiri. Within these 3 small villages are 6 compounds-For Okpuala, they comprise-Agbom Na Omurumba and Umu Eze Aguma. Azumiri is regarded as a single compound. In the case of Umuagbom, there are three compounds, namely, Umuezeocha, Ibeneze also Uhu Ukwu Na Ezegiri and Ukwu Udara. Noteworthy is that each of these compounds finds further sub-divisions, comprising family units, each headed by a patriarch, usually the oldest male member of that family unit. This oldest male is also regarded as the ultimate repository of the knowledge, cultures and traditions of the family unit and sometimes Umukabia as a whole. He performs all the rituals and ceremonies regarding the compound and seeks reciprocals with the ancestors through oracles and ritualizations. These elders or patriarchs constitute Umukabia's democratic dispensation and policy making unit, in that they collectively make and take decisions on behalf of the entire Umukabia community. Whatever decisions they make is binding across the village and even beyond to Diasporic sons and daughters of Umukabia. Umukabia's renowned market day is known as Orie Umukabia Orie. Umukabia has a major river known as Ikwu, which traverses the villages in Umuire, Umuegwu Okpula Former Eastern Nigeria Premier, Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara's village and flows into the famous Imo River basin Imo/Abia States, Nigeria.Legend has it that Umukabia sits on a large rock which has made it impossible for bore holes to be successfully dug in any part of the village for the purposes of extracting water. The village holds annual ceremonies known as Iri Ji festival and Ekpe festival which is termed as the village Christmas and holds on an Orie market day after Christmas but never on a Sunday.
Ejemekwuru is an Igbo-speaking community that sits in the North-Western part of Imo State in the southeastern region of Nigeria.
Umundugba is a town in Isu Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria, and is the headquarters of Isu LGA.
The Ohuhu clan of Umuahia north in Abia State Nigeria Igbo people, also referred to as Ohonhaw, form a unique community of people in Umuahia, Abia state, Nigeria, consisting of several Autonomous Communities including Umukabia, Ohiya, Isingwu, Ofeme, Afugiri, Nkwoegwu, Umuawa, Umudiawa, Akpahia, Umuagu, Amaogugu, Umule-Eke-Okwuru, Umuhu-Okigha, Amaogwugwu called Eziama/ Amaudo in Ohuhu etc. Ohuhu was formerly known as Umuhu-na-Okaiuga, or better-known as Ohu-ahia-na-otu. Until 1949, the Umuopara clan used to be part of Ohuhu before they were carved out politically.
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.
Osisioma Ngwa is a Local Government Area of Abia state of Nigeria. Its headquarters are located in Osisioma town.
Owerri Municipal is a Local Government Area in Imo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the city of Owerri. It has an area of 58 km² and a population of 127,213 according to the 2006 census. The postal code of the area is 460. Owerri city sits at the intersection of roads from Port Harcourt, Onitsha, Aba, Orlu, Okigwe and Umuahia. It is also the trade center for palm products, corn [maize], yams and cassava [manioc]. Eke Ukwu Owere market is the main market in Owerri Municipal.
Awka-Etiti, historically known as Awka-Diedo ; later mentioned as Awka-Nkakwu (Okankaku) by colonial authors, is an affluent town comprising seven villages in Idemili South local government area of Anambra state, Nigeria. The seven villages of Awka-Etiti in order of age established are: Nkolofia, Umunocha, Ejighinandu, Iruowelle, Umudunu, Nnaba and Ogunzele.
Ibele is an autonomous community in the Njaba Local Government Area in Orlu Senatorial zone of Imo State, Nigeria. The town is located at the old Douglas road, running from Afor-Umuaka westward in Njaba Local Government Area to Ukworji in Eziama-Obiator of Mbaitoli local government area, then to Oguta.
Amawom is a town in Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. The name is derived from two words; Ama meaning location and Awom meaning farm. Amawom is believed to have been discovered in the 18th century. Awom Oboro and Ibeuzo Ukwu are the autonomous communities of Amawom. English and Igbo are the languages spoken in the town.
Mmaku is a town in the Awgu local government area of Enugu State, Nigeria. The name Mmaku means "Welcomer" or "Embracer". Another derivation comes from the English language, and it means "beauty of wealth."
The 2023 Enugu State gubernatorial election took place on 18th March 2023, to elect the Governor of Enugu State, with Peter Mbah declared winner alongside his running mate Barrister Ifeanyi Ossai of the Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria), after they got the plurality of votes and won over 25% of the votes in two-third of the state. Mr Mbah polled 160,895 votes to defeat his closest challenger, the Labour Party (Nigeria) candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, who scored 157,552 votes. The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Frank Nweke Jr, garnered 17,983 votes to come a distant third, while the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Uche Nnaji, placed fourth, with 14,575 votes. The election was contested in the Tribunal by Chijoike Edeoga but the tribunal eventually upheld the victory of Peter Mbah.
Nimo Owelle, also known as Nimo, is a large town in southeastern Nigeria. As of 2021, the traditional ruler of Nimo is Igwe Max Ike Oliobi.