 | This article is an orphan, as no other articles link to it . Please introduce links to this page from related articles ; try the Find link tool for suggestions. (February 2025) |
Okerenghigho is a community located in the Warri Southwest Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State, Nigeria. It is predominantly inhabited by the ijaw people but owned by the Omadino people, a community of Itsekiri descent, and forms part of the larger Omadino federated communities. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
The name "Okerenghigho" has been subject to linguistic alteration by the Ijaws of Gbaramatu, who refer to it as "Okerenkoko." The original name, Okerenghigho, derives from the Itsekiri language, reflecting the community's historical connections to the Omadino people. [6] [7] [8] [9]
The name Okerenghigho is constructed from two Itsekiri terms: "Okeren," meaning "man," and "Ghigo," meaning "old." Together, these words translate to "Old Man," signifying the community's ancestral heritage. [10]
The origins of Okerenghigho can be traced back over five hundred years, when the Omadino people migrated from Ode in Ijebu, a region in Yoruba land, to establish the settlement of Okerenghigho. As the population grew, additional settlements such as Aghigho, Akpata, and ultimately Omadino were founded, with Okerenghigho serving initially as a seasonal fishing camp. [11]
In the 1800s, Princess Iye of the Warri Kingdom, whose mother hailed from Omadino, requested permission from the Omadino people to use Okerenghigho as temporary shelter for her numerous slaves. This request was granted. At that time, Princess Iye was residing in the Benin River area. Subsequently, an Ijaw individual named Akpata sought permission from Chanomi, the son of Princess Iye, to allow him and his people to settle on a portion of the land in Okerenghigho. This arrangement was also approved after obtaining consent from the Omadino people. [12]
Okerenghigho has been the center of a protracted legal dispute between the Ijaws of Gbaramatu and the Omadino people regarding land ownership. The matter has been litigated up to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, where the Omadino people have routinely prevailed. The court has consistently affirmed the Omadino people's status as the rightful owners of the land, with the Ijaws of Gbaramatu recognized as tenants. [13] [14] [15]
Okerenghigho community is home to the Nigerian Maritime University, which was established with a name that has been a subject of controversy. The name "Okerenkoko" is the ijaw corrupted version of the original Itsekiri name "Okerenghigho". This has led to a longstanding dispute, with the community's historical and legal name being a matter of contention. In 2018, the then Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria intervened, requesting the National Assembly to suspend plans to pass the bill establishing the university until the institution's name was corrected to reflect its original and legally recognized name, Okerenghigho. [16] [17] [18] [19]
Okerenghigho is situated within the Warri Southwest LGA of Delta State. The geographical coordinates of the community are as follows:
- Latitude: 5° 37' 37" N
- Longitude: 5° 23' 34" E
- Decimal Coordinates: 5.62713, 5.39288 [20]
The postal code assigned to Okerenghigho is 332104. [21]
Okerenghigho had a population of 496 in 1963. [22]