| Official Name: | Ughelli Kingdom |
| Pushpin Map: | Nigeria |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Nigeria |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Nigeria |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Delta State |
| Government Type: | Monarchy |
| Leader Title: | OVIE (King) |
| Leader Name: | H.R.M Ajuwe, Oharisi III (JP) |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Ethnicities |
| Population Blank2 Title: | Religions |
| Coordinates: | 5.5°N 64°W |
Ughelli is a town in Delta State, Nigeria, and one of the 24 kingdoms that make up the Urhobo Nation. It also serves as the headquarters of Ughelli North local government area of Delta State.[1] The city is indigenous to the Urhobo ethnic nationals, but there is a mixture of several other tribes from the country & abroad. It is an industrial and agricultural spot of Delta State.
Ughelli is in a central location in Delta State and a major town for the Urhobo Tribe, also one of the oldest kingdom in Delta State tracing back to the 14th and 15th century. The city of Ughelli is ruled by a hereditary ruler known as Ovie. The king, Oharisi III, lives in the Ovie Palace situated at Otovwodo-Ughelli.
Ughelli oral tradition has it that the great ancestor and founding father of Ughelli ("Ughene"), is the second son of Oghwoghwa (a Prince from Benin Kingdom). As history has it, Oghwoghwa in search of his own kingdom first settlement was at Tarakiri and later left for Oviri Ogor (current site of Ogor Techinal College). Ughene later left Oviri Ogor and founded Ovwodoawanre (Old Settlement), before the present settlement headquarters at Otovwodo (traditional headquarters).Ughelli has several schools, a general hospital, and a local government secretariat. The city is a link between Delta North and Delta South. The city has crude oil and gas reserves hence the presence of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
Ughelli town is the administrative headquarters of Ughelli North Local Government Area.[2]
Ughelli is organized as a local government area (LGA)[3] with a Chairman elected by the people and Councilors representing wards. It has various departments overseeing functions such as finance, health, education, agriculture, and works, headed by departmental heads. Traditional institutions, including traditional rulers and chiefs, also play a role in local governance. Committees may be formed to handle specific tasks. Ughelli's organization is governed by the Nigerian constitution and local government laws, following a multi-tiered system of government with federal, state, and local levels of administration.[4]
Ughelli's latitude and longitude coordinates are: 5.500187, 5.993834.[5] It is a town in Southern Nigeria and the oldest kingdom of the 24 kingdoms of the Urhobo people. Ughelli is located in close proximity to the floodplains of the West Niger Delta river, and is surrounded by neighbouring communities and villages. Among these are Agbara-Otor, Agbaro, Ufuoma, Otokutu, Ogor.
| Ruler | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| Ughene | 1440 | 1460 |
| Inere | 1461 | 1524 |
| Evweresoso | 1525 | 1567 |
| Agwaide | 1568 | 1594 |
| Arhavwode | 1595 | 1647 |
| Adague | 1648 | 1706 |
| Useh | 1707 | 1757 |
| Akporoba | 1758 | 1806 |
| Esejuvevwo | 1807 | 1855 |
| Oghoghovwe I | 1856 | 1884 |
| Idjesa | 1885 | 1916 |
| Oharisi I | 1917 | 1943 |
| Oharisi II | 1944 | 1980 |
| Oghoghovwe II | 1981 | 1991 |
| Oharisi III | 1992 | Present |
Ughelli is gradually becoming a home of Sports after the foundation of Ughelli Rovers Football Club who compete in the Nigeria Nationwide League[6] the 3rd tier of Nigerian domestic football and play their home games at the Ughelli Township Stadium