| Official Name: | Ikwuano | ||||||
| Native Name: | Ikwuano | ||||||
| Settlement Type: | LGA | ||||||
| Motto: | Onye Ahala Nwanneya | ||||||
| Pushpin Map: | Nigeria | ||||||
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom | ||||||
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Nigeria | ||||||
| Subdivision Type: | Country | ||||||
| Subdivision Name: | Nigeria | ||||||
| Subdivision Type1: | State | ||||||
| Subdivision Name1: | Abia State | ||||||
| Subdivision Type2: | Headquarters: | ||||||
| Subdivision Name2: | Isiala Oboro | ||||||
| Government Type: | Democratic | ||||||
| Leader Title1: | Local Government Chairman | ||||||
| Leader Name1: | Osinachi Hyacinth Nwaka | ||||||
| Leader Title2: | Local Government Deputy Chairman | ||||||
| Leader Name2: | Chief Charles Ifeanyi Ugboajah | ||||||
| Established Title: | Created | ||||||
| Established Date: | 1991 | ||||||
| Unit Pref: | Metric | ||||||
| Area Total Km2: | 281 | ||||||
| Population As Of: | 2022 | ||||||
| Population Footnotes: | [1] | ||||||
| Population Total: | 200,800 | ||||||
| Population Density Km2: | auto | ||||||
| Population Blank1 Title: | Ethnicities = Igbo | ||||||
| Population Blank2 Title: | Religions = Christianity | ||||||
| Timezone: | WAT | ||||||
| Utc Offset: | +1 | ||||||
| Coordinates: | 5.4333°N 41°W | ||||||
| Module: |
| ||||||
| Elevation M: | 122 | ||||||
| Postal Code Type: | 3-digit postal code prefix | ||||||
| Postal Code: | 440 | ||||||
| Area Code: | 440 | ||||||
| Iso Code: | NG.AB.IK |
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.[2]
The postal code of the area is 440.[3] It is one of the five Local Government Areas that make up the Abia Central Senatorial District.[4] As at 2023, the executive chairman is Osinachi Nwaka.[5] Obi Aguocha currently serves as the Federal Representative representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives.[6] The member representing Ikwuano State Constituency at the Abia State House of Assembly is Engr. Boniface Isienyi.[7]
The present Ikwuano Local Government Area was part of the Bende Division in the then Southern Province created by the British Colonial Government as part of their “Divide and Rule” system of government and administration towards the beginning of the 19th Century. This was as early as the time Calabar was the capital of Nigeria.
When the Southern province was further divided, Ikwuano still remained part of the Bende Division. The present Bende town was the administrative headquarters where the District Commissioner resided. The District Commissioner, Nwa D.C., as he was known and called held courts at Bende and Oloko. At this time what was later carved out as Aba Division was part of the Bende Division, under the jurisdiction of Nwa D. C. The present Umuahia township later replaced Bende as the administrative headquarters after the extension of the Nigerian rail line from Port-Harcourt to Enugu between 1915 and 1916.[8]
Ikwuano Local Government Area was among the new local government areas that were created on 27 August 1991 when the General Ibrahim Babangida's Administration created Abia State from the old Imo State.[9] It was carved out of the defunct Ikwuano-Umuahia of the Old Imo State.
The Aba Women's Riot began in Oloko. The demonstration occurred when thousands of women of Igbo origin from Bende, Umuahia, Owerri and other regions in the South East made the trip to Oloko, one of the four principal communities of Ikwuano. The cause of this movement was due to the worry that a new taxation plan was being implemented that would demand women, most especially widows, to pay taxes which they were not mandated to pay earlier on.[10]
Ikwuano is known for cultures and arts which include Ekpe, which is usually in January in the different Ikwuano communities coinciding with their respective market days, New Yam (Iri-Ji) and Afo Amaghi Onuma festivals. Their cultural dances are Eketensi Ritual dance, Oro, Ikperikpeogu (War Dance), Uko and so on. They also have Oba and Ekpe societies.[11] Popular delicacies in Ikwuano include Ofe Achara, Ukazi Soup and Ugwu Soup.[12] The predominant languages spoken in Ikwuano are Igbo and English languages. The four clans speak distinct Igbo dialects though mutually intelligible. Ikwuano brides are known to have some of the costliest bride prices in Igboland. Traditional marriages are held in high esteem.
It has an area of 281 km. It lies between the latitudes 5 24lN and 5 30lN and between the longitudes of 7 32lE and 7 37lE.[13]
It borders Umuahia North and Bende to its north, Umuahia South and Isiala- Ngwa North to its west, Ini to the east and Obot-Akara to the south.[14]
The population of Ikwuano during the 2006 census was 137,993. As at 2015, it increased to 175,078.[15] The area is inhabited primarily by the Igbo people.[16]
It experiences an average weather temperature of 28 °C. The area witnesses two distinct seasons which are the rainy and dry seasons. The average humidity level is put at 62%.[17]
Ikwuano is in the humid forest zone of Nigeria. The Local Government Area has an average rainfall of 2351 mm, average minimum diurnal temperature of 22.90C and relative humidity range between 80 and 90%.[18]
The vegetation of the area is predominantly lowland rainforest, which makes it suitable for growing yam, cassava, maize, cashew and ginger. This has led to the area becoming the food basket of Abia State.
Farming is one of the key economic activities of the Ikwuano people. The area also hosts a number of markets where a variety of commodities are bought and sold. They include Ahia Ndoro and the Ariam Market. In fact, Ikwuano is situated in the palm belt of Eastern Nigeria. Other important economic engagements of the Ikwuano people are hunting, craftsmanship and wood carving.[19] [20] [21] [22] [23]
The four clans of Ikwuano have a total of 58 villages. They are listed as follows:[24] [8] [25] [26]
| Amaegbu, Ariam Ala-Ala, Ariam Elu-Elu, Azunchai, Ekpiri Ala-Ala, Ekpiri Elu-Elu, Ekwelu, Ndieke, Ndiokoro, Ndiorie, Obugwu, Obeama, Oboni, Upa, Usaka Ukwu | ||
| Amuro, Elemaga, Iberenta, Ihim, Inyila, Isiala, Itunta, Iyalu, Nkalunta, Ngwugwo, Obuohia, Obuoru, Umuemenike, Umulu | ||
| Ahuwa, Amaoba Ikputu, Amaoba Ime, Amawom, Aro Ajatakiri, Aro Ayama, Ekebedi, Isiala, Ndoro, Nnono, Ntalakwu, Obunta, Ogbuebulle, Okwe, Umuariaga, Umudike, Umugbalu, Umuigu, Umuokwo | ||
| Ahaba, Akanu Nchara, Amizi, Awomukwu, Azuiyi, Etoruo Nchara, Obuohia Okike, Oloko, Umugo, Usaka Eleogu |
Villages in Ikwuano are constitutionally placed under 43 autonomous communities, each autonomous community is led by an Eze. These communities are:
| Title | Clan | Name | Class | Village | Autonomous Community | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eze Kwesiri I of Abaa Ukwu | Eze HRM David Chukwuemeka Isinguzo | 1 | Abaa Ukwu | |||
| Chimere I of Etoruo | Eze HRM N. Hart Agunaegbe (JP) | 1 | Afa | |||
| Agu I of Agumba | Ariam/Usaka | Eze HRM Joseph Obaji | 1 | Ekwelu, Upa | Agumba | |
| Efuma II of Agbalu Ozu | Oboro | Eze HRM Justice Chino Uwaga | 2 | Umugbalu | Agbalu Ozu | |
| Awom II of Awom Oboro | Eze HRM Elder Chukwudike Ebila Ironsi | 2 | Amawom | Awom Oboro | ||
| Igwebuike II of Oruigwe | Oboro | Eze HRM Chukwuemeka Elefuanya Ezeoma | 2 | Nnono | Oruigwe | |
| Oko I of Oloko Ancient Kingdom | Oloko | Eze HRM Torty David Igbokwe | 1 | Azuiyi, Oloko, Umugo, Usaka Eleogu | Oloko Ancient Kingdom | |
| Okike I of Obuohia Okike | Eze HRM Mgbeonyere Eleribe | 1 | Obuohia Okike | Obuohia Okike | ||
| Chimere I of Ugwuegbu | Ariam/Usaka | Eze HRM Ambrose Obileche Nwagwu | 1 | Obugwu, Amaegbu | Ugwuegbu | |
| Dike Oha II of Umudike | Oboro | Eze HRM Onyekwere Joseph Anyaegbu | 2 | Umudike | Umudike | |
| Dike Ukwu I of Umudike | Oboro | Eze HRM Ben Ogechimereze Oriaku | 1 | Umudike | Umudike Ukwu | |
| Ugwuoha I of Awom Na Ebo | Oboro | Eze HRM Christopher .U. Ejirika | 1 | Umuariaga, Umuokwo | Awom Na Ebo | |
| Ahaba I of Isiala Ahaba | Oloko | Eze HRM Sir Chima Onyemachi | 1 | Isiala Ahaba | ||
| N/A | Oboro | Vacant | N/A | Okwe | Okwe Ukwu | |
| Igwe I of Ariam Osoigwe | Eze HRM Daniel Adieze Gbufor | 1 | Ariam Elu-Elu, Ndiorie | Ariam Osoigwe | ||
| Isioha II of Isiama | Eze HRM Prof. Sunday .C. Ezeribe | 2 | Isiala Oboro, Obunta | Isiama Oboro | ||
| Eze Ala II of Ala-Ala Oboro | Eze HRM Ezeji Uzu Analaba | 2 | Ogbuebulle, Ekebedi | Ala-Ala Oboro | ||
| Oru I of Oru Onyerubi | Eze HRM Ralph Ukachi Ogbonna | 1 | Ndoro, Aro Ayama | Oru Oboro | ||
| Uha I of Uha-la-Uda | Eze HRM Chukwuemeka Aguocha Ukenye | 1 | Uha-la-Uda | |||
| Eze Onye Oruru I of Ajatanaigu | Eze HRM Larry Ogbonnaya .I. Agwu | 1 | Umuigu, Aro Ajatakiri | Ajata Na Igu | ||
| Akoo II of Umuakoo | Eze HRM Monday Unadindu Okoro | 2 | Itunta, Obuoru | Umuakoo | ||
| N/A | Ariam/Usaka | Vacant | N/A | Oboni, Ndieke, Ndiokoro | Ikemba | |
| Eze Ukwu I of Ahaba Ukwu | Oloko | Eze HRM Dr. Chimezie Nwabueze | 1 | Ahaba Ukwu | ||
| Igwebuike I of Umuokeigbo | Oboro | Eze HRM Valentine .C. Ohunta | 1 | Umuigu | Umuokeigbo | |
| Eze Oha II of Usaka Ancient Kingdom | Ariam/Usaka | Eze HRM Victor Peter Nwosu | 2 | Usaka Ukwu | Usaka Ukwu | |
| Oro II of Oro Ibere | Eze HRM Stanley .O. Ijenwa | 2 | Iberenta, Iyalu | Oro Ibere | ||
| Eze Ugo I of Ibere | Eze HRM Williams Ugochukwu | 1 | Ngwugwo, Umulu | Ibere Ancient Kingdom | ||
| Igwebuike I of Amanchai | Eze HRM Smart Bartholomew Ndukwe | 1 | Azunchai, Obeama | Amanchai | ||
| Ugwu I of Ugwu Ibere | Eze HRM Prof. Ezeudo Samuel Ifenwanta | 1 | Inyila, Isiala | Ugwu Ibere | ||
| Eze Udo I of Awom Na Uzie | Eze HRM Dr. Eugene .C. Ndimele | 1 | Amizi | Awom Na Uzie | ||
| Awom II of Awom Ukwu | Oloko | Eze HRM Okpetuoro Chukwudi | 2 | Awomukwu | Awom Ukwu | |
| Ibe I of Ibe Uzo | Oboro | Eze HRM I.C. Ezeala | 1 | Ibeuzo Ukwu | ||
| Ala I of Ariam Ala-Ala | Ariam/Usaka | Eze HRM Onyekwere Onwualimba | 1 | Ariam Ala-Ala | Ariam Ala-Ala | |
| Ime I of Amaoba Ime | Oboro | Eze HRM Emmanuel O'tuwa | 1 | Amaoba Ime | Amaoba Ime | |
| Uzo II of Otu-Uzo | Eze HRM Chidi Kalu | 2 | Amuro, Nkalunta, Ihim | Otu-Uzo | ||
| Ikputu I of Ikputu Oboro | Oboro | Eze HRM Chijioke Imo | 1 | Amaoba Ikputu | Ikputu Oboro | |
| Agbo I of Agbo Ibere | Ibere | Eze HRM Ifeanyi Oluwa | 1 | Elemaga | Agbo Ibere | |
| Eze Oha II of Akanu | Eze HRM Monday .H.O. Okeanya (JP) | 2 | Afa Ukwu | |||
| Apu I of Ntalakwu | Oboro | Eze HRM Prof. Samuel Ajiri | 1 | Ntalakwu | Ntalakwu | |
| Obioma I of Obi Ibere | Ibere | Eze HRM Dr. Dickson .I. Orji | 1 | Obuohia, Umuemenike | Obi Ibere | |
| N/A | Oboro | Vacant | N/A | Ahuwa | Ahuwa Oboro | |
| Eze Okpu II of Ekpiri Osoaji | Ariam/Usaka | Eze HRM Andrew Igbokwe Ekpo | 2 | Ekpiri Elu-Elu | Ekpiri Osoaji | |
| N/A | Ariam/Usaka | Vacant | N/A | Ekpiri Ala-Ala | Ekpiri Onyeike |
...The Tide News Online:::...
. en-US.