| Official Name: | Osisioma Ngwa | ||||||
| Settlement Type: | LGA and town | ||||||
| Pushpin Map: | Nigeria | ||||||
| Subdivision Type: | Country | ||||||
| Subdivision Name: |  Nigeria | ||||||
| Subdivision Name1: | Abia State | ||||||
| Unit Pref: | Imperial | ||||||
| Area Total Km2: | 198 | ||||||
| Population As Of: | 2006 | ||||||
| Population Total: | 219,632 | ||||||
| Timezone: | WAT | ||||||
| Utc Offset: | +1 | ||||||
| Coordinates: | 5.1497°N 7.3303°W | ||||||
| Module: |
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Osisioma Ngwa is a Local Government Area of Abia state of Nigeria. Its headquarters are located in Osisioma town.[1]
It has an area of and a population of 219,632 as per 2006 census data of Nigeria.
The name "Osisi" means tree, plant or wood and the name "Oma", means good, fine, beautiful in the Igbo language. Thus, Osisioma means: good tree or fine plant or beautiful wood. It is a name associated with tree and beauty which is derived from the popular ornamental flower tree called Delonix regia, a species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae, and subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It is noted for its fern-like leaves and flamboyant display of flowers. In many tropical parts of the world, it is grown as an ornamental tree and in English, it is given the name royal poinciana, flamboyant, flame of the forest, or flame tree (one of several species given this name) which is typically planted to decorate courtyards in houses in Osisioma Ngwa. A greater part of Aba city is in Osisioma Ngwa stretching up to Faulks Road.
Osisioma people generally make a living as farmers, traders, artisans and craftsmen. The typical Osisioma Ngwa men in the old days usually wear what is called "ọgọdọ". Ọgọdọ is a type of white woven cloth tied around the waistline to cover nakedness and the women use the fabric as a wrapper to cover the body from chest flowing down to the knees. Contemporarily, just like most Igbo communities, men dress down in trousers and shirts with shoes, sandals or slippers to work, shop or office just like their female counterparts but the traditional male attire preferred for occasions and big celebrations in Osisioma culture consists of a special top called 'Isiagụ' and trousers of any colour usually worn with sandals or shoes and red cap to match.
Osisioma Ngwa is a flat land without hills or mountains and has a headwater located at Okpu Umuobo that runs through the thick forest cutting across into the city of Aba River waterside in Ogbor Hill. The river is a tributary of the Imo River located in the Southern part of Nigeria. Osisioma Ngwa shares boundaries with Ukwa West and Ugwunagbo in the South, Aba South Local Government Area and Aba North Local Government Area in the East, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area in the North and Omuma Local Government Area, Rivers State in the West.
Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway cuts through Osisioma Ngwa with the Aba-Owerri Road running through it from Aba Town Hall down to Olaz Oil filling station.[2]
It has other major routes such as the NNPC depot road which leads to Osisioma Ngwa local government headquarters as well as Osisioma Police Divisional Headquarters, High and Magistrates Court and Ekeakpara market down to Owerrinta the boundary between Abia State and Imo State.
Over the course of the year, Osisioma's average percentage of cloud-covered sky varies significantly by season.
In Osisioma, the clearer portion of the year lasts for 2.6 months, starting around November 24 and ending around February 12.[3]
December is the clearest month of the year in Osisioma, with 39% of the sky being clear, mostly clear, or partly overcast on average.[4]
Beginning about February 12 and lasting 9.4 months, the cloudier portion of the year ends around November 24.[5]
In Osisioma, April is the cloudiest month of the year, with 88% of the sky being cloudy or partly cloudy on average.[6]
Agriculture is the major occupation of the people of Osisioma Ngwa. They are mostly subsistence farmers and grow Cassava, Oil Palm, Rafia Palm, Vegetable, Ube (Local Pear), Plantain, Okra, Maize, melon, red pepper, yam, and cocoa yam. Some people rear animals such as goats, sheep, fowl and occasionally cattle, but largely don't grow crops or rear animals in commercial quantity.
Community leadership in Osisioma Ngwa is designated on the Traditional Ruler popularly called "Eze" which means King. The Eze is a person widely perceived to represent a community in its traditional religion and socio-economic development. The position of a traditional ruler is not hereditary and is subjected to the democratic process of nomination, selection, appointment and coronation of the eligible candidate among peers who contested for the post by the state Governor.
Various towns in Osisioma Ngwa LGA are divided into Autonomous communities which are spearheaded by a traditional ruler and they are as follows:
Abayi, Osisioma and Umungasi are the three major towns with Abayi-Ariaria, Umuojima-Ogbu and Umuakapara rapidly developing into towns. However, Osisioma Ngwa is divided into 10 wards and each ward has different villages in them and these villages also have kindred which are subdivided into clans and households called ‘onumara’. Thus, a village may be made up of 5 to 10 kindred and up to 20 to 30 clans and the household which uniformly constitutes what is called a village. The classification of these villages into wards was adopted by the colonial masters for effective administrative and political purpose and to ensure proper management and accountability. The wards are as follows:
1. Ama – Asaa Ward which comprisesa. Amapu Villageb. Amauzu Villagec. Ibeku Villaged. Mbutunta Villagee. Umuagwu Villagef. Umuihima Villageg. Umuihioma Villageh. Umuimo-Osisiasaa Villagei. Umuimo-Amaogwugwu Villagej. Umuimo-Egbelu Villagek. Umuobasi Villagel. Ekeobasi Village Square
2. Amaitolu/Mbutu/Umuojima Ward which comprisesa. Ariaria Villageb. Abayi Ogbuligba Villagec. Umuechem Villaged. Asamoka Villagee. Mbutu Isiahia Villagef. Mbutu Umugaa Villageg. Umuozuo Villageh. Umuikpo Villagei. Oberete Villagej. Ogbu Villagek. Umudi Villagel. Umuejijie Villagem. Umuidigha Villagen. Alaukwu-Asa Umumgbede Villageo. Umuocheala Villagep. Umuojima Ogbu Villageq. Umuojima Okereke Village
3. Amasator Ward which comprisesa. Abayi Villageb. Ahiaba Villagec. Umungasi Villaged. Umule Villagee. Umuode Villagef. Umuochichi Villageg. Umueze Villageh. Umuocham Village
4. Amator Ward which comprisea. Amapu-Ife Villageb. Amaogwugwu Villagec. Umuagbai Villaged. Umuoyoro Villagee. Umuokiri Villagef. Umuodu Villageg. Umudike Villageh. Umuokoro Villagei. Umuigbe Villagej. Umuokoroukwu Village
5. Amavo Ward which comprisesa. Umuokorocha Villageb. Umuekpe Villagec. Osiloji Villaged. Umuoyoronta Villagee. Umunwankwoala Villagef. Umuokika Villageg. Umudaba Villageh. Umuagbalugba Village
6. Aro-Ngwa Ward which comprisesa. Obiekwesu Villageb. Okpuala Aro Villagec. Umuarakpa Villaged. Umuekea Villagee. Umuejie Villagef. Umuoha Villageg. Umuonyeukwu Village Villageh. Umuotuo Village
7. Okpu – Umuobo Ward which comprisesa. Amuzu Villageb. Mgboko Umuete Villagec. Umuobo Villaged. Umuaba Villagee. Umuagwa Villagef. Umuara Villageg. Uratta Villageh. Amaekpu Village
8. Oso Okwa Ward which comprisesa. Akpaa I Villageb. Akpaa II Villagec. Akpaa III Villaged. Akpaa IV Villagee. Amaiyi Villagef. Amankwu I Villageg. Amankwu II Villageh. Amaugha Villagei. OkpualaUkwu Villagej. Umuaja Villagek. Umuenyiukwu Villagel. Umugala Villagem. Umuncheagu Villagen. Umunpata Villageo. Umuobilohia I Villagep. Umuobilohia II Villageq. Umuohia Village’r. Umuokerete Village
9. Umunneise Ward which comprisesa. Amapu Villageb. Amauzu Villagec. Okpuala Villaged. Umumba Village
10. Uratta Ward which comprisesa. Amapu – Igbengwo Villageb. Egbede Villagec. Egbelu – Owo Villaged. Ibibi Uratta Villagee. Obuzor Villagef. Okpokoroala Villageg. Umuochor Villageh. Umuaduru Villagei. Umuagbara Villagej. Umueji Villagek. Umueke Villagel. Umueze Villagem. Umuigwe Villagen. Umuikaa Villageo. Umuodu – Ehichie Villagep. Úmuokorogbu Village
Names of Executive Chairmen that have governed Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area and Communities of origin:
Education in Osisioma Ngwa receives little support from the State and Federal government, thereby opening up opportunities for private schools to thrive. However, these are some of the Secondary Schools:
Osisioma does not have any State or Federal government institution of higher learning, college or university despite its large population and size.
These health centres have not been inspected and approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), The United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria as standard healthcare facilities to take care of the well-being of residents in Osisioma Ngwa.
Traditionally, the people of Osisioma Ngwa worship a god called “chi” and every household builds a shrine which houses the deity. However, there are other gods such as ‘agwu’ and ‘owu Miri’, but as a result of British colonialism, Christianity was introduced and most families embraced Christianity.
The major Christian denominations in Osisioma Ngwa are the Anglican Church, the Catholic Church, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and the Jehovah's Witnesses. There are also other churches as well as traditional adherents in some quarters.
Adherents of cultural tradition and worshippers of “chi”, “agwu”, “ihi Njoku” and “owu Miri” perform rites to celebrate New Yam Festivals (popularly called ‘Iwaji’ or ‘Ji Oghoo’), Masquerade Festivals (popularly called ‘Ekpe, mmanwu or ekpo’) and New Year Festivals (popularly called ‘afo oghoo’ or ‘ichu afo’) in honour of their gods and goddesses to mark these events.
Traditional rulers who are the custodian of these cultural values and traditions are in charge of announcing dates as well as organizing the venues for such celebrations and performance of traditional rites.
Osisioma is not naturally endowed as other localities, but here are the few landmarks and tourist attractions.
Apart from Ariaria International Market, the current urbanisation of Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area and the influx of companies within the Local Government has adversely affected the popular ancient traditional markets. However, there are:
Crime has been one of the major setbacks that has been detrimental to the development of Osisioma Ngwa. From armed robbery attacks to kidnapping, every community and village in Osisioma has had its share of criminal incidents. The prevalence of crime has been attributed to lack of government investment in security; there is only one police station serving the entire Osisioma Ngwa LGA.
The postal code of the area is 451.[7]