Auchi is a city in

Edo State Edo, commonly known as Edo State, is a state located in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. As of 2006 National population census, the state was ranked as the 24th populated state (3,233,366) in Nigeria, However there was controversy ...

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

. Auchi Sacred Kingdom (ASK), which is part of Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, serves as the Local Government headquarters. Other towns in the

Etsako West Etsako West is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Auchi. Etsako West is made up of six clans: Uzairue, Auchi, South Ibie, Anwain, Jagbe and Aviele. The major towns in this LGA includes Auchi, Jat ...

local government area include: Uzairue, South Ibie, Agbede and The Anwain Clan. During the

British colonial The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...

rule, it was the headquarters of the Kukuruku Division, the administrative headquarters of five districts. It is the home of

Auchi Polytechnic Auchi Polytechnic is a Federal Polytechnic in Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria. It is one of the first four Polytechnics established in Nigeria. It has over 10,000 students enrolled in business, technology, environmental and arts courses. Histo ...

. Former

UFC The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

Welterweight Champion Welterweight is a weight class in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like Muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts also use it for their own weight division system to classify the ...

Kamaru Usman Kamarudeen Usman (born May 11, 1987) is a Nigerian and American professional mixed martial artist, former freestyle wrestler and retired folkstyle wrestler. He currently competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championsh ...

and former Minister of information and culture

Tony Momoh Prince Tony Momoh (27 April 1939 – 1 February 2021) was a Nigerian journalist and a politician who was Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture (1986–1990) during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. Birth and education M ...

, Jeffrey Obomeghie, Nigerian-American executive and writer, were born in Auchi.

Language

The language spoken by the Auchi people is 'Yekhè' or

Etsako The Anglican Diocese of Etsako was created and inaugurated on the 14th March, 2007 and is one of 13 Dioceses within the Anglican Province of Bendel, itself one of 14 provinces within the Church of Nigeria The Church of Nigeria is the Anglican ch ...

amongst the

Afenmai language Afenmai (Afemai), or Yekhee, is an Edoid language spoken in Edo State, Nigeria by Afenmai people. Not all speakers recognize the name "Yekhee"; some use the district name ''Etsako''. Previously the name used by British colonial administration wa ...

. It is an

Edoid language The Edoid languages are a few dozen languages spoken in Southern Nigeria, predominantly in the former Bendel State. The name ''Edoid'' derives from its most widely spoken member, Edo, the language of Benin City, which has 25 million native and ...

dialect or variant.

History

There are varied historical accounts relating to the origins of the Auchi people. The most popular of these legends asserts that a mass migration from Udo in present-day Benin City led by a man called Uchi accompanied by his family and followers headed north and finally settled for the relative calm of the Guinea Savannah belt known today as

land. This migration is believed to have taken place in the mid-15th century, during the reign of Oba Ewuare of the Benin Kingdom. This period in the Benin empire was characterised by constant wars and incessant strife.

Geography

Auchi town is divided into five grand quarters which could also be referred to as districts; these are in turn made up of 25 villages. The five grand quarters are: * UTSOGUN * AKPEKPE * AIBOTSE * IGBHEI * IYEKHEI *In recent times, 24 extra villages have been created

Religion

Auchi has been a major Islamic town. Irrespective of religion, the people live peacefully. The welcoming and hospitable nature of the Auchi people has to a very large extent contributed to the cultural and religious diversity of the town.

Population

The population grew to 42,638 by 1952, including people from many Nigerian tribes. As of 1995, its population was 140,612. As of 2005–2006, the population was about 150,000 persons. Auchi has in recent years been amongst the fastest growing cities in Nigeria due to several factors:1 There has been mass return of Auchi indigenes and in extension other Etsako indigenes from northern Nigeria due to the urbanization and economic development of Auchi. 2: The emergence of their son Adams aliyu Oshiomhole as Governor of Edo state, who gave Auchi a serious facelift while he was Governor of Edo state. which has then made Auchi a residential hotspots for many Nigerians. 3. Graduates of the institution ( Auchi polytechnic) who has made Auchi home and has refused to return home after service 4. The siting of some industries and companies which has in turn attracted many workers and hoping applicant to Auchi. 5. The rise of famous Apostle Johnson Suleiman who has in turn given Auchi fame, and has brought many Omega fire faithfuls to settle, and also made Auchi a beehive of activities, and a transport hotspot, all these in the last sixteen years has made Auchi a formidable force in Edo state, making it grow in leaps and bounds numerically thereby successfully displacing Ekpoma as the second largest town in Edo state.

Culture and traditions

Auchi Kingdom is headed by a monarchy and the traditional ruler is referred to as the Otaru of Auchi. The 8th of January is designated as Auchi Day. This commemorative day was previously called Uchi Day.

List of Otarus (traditional kings)

* Alhaji Aliru H. Momoh (Ikelebe III) 10th Otaru of Auchi (1996 -) * Alhaji Ahmed Guruza Momoh, the 9th Otaru of Auchi (1973 - 1996) * Abubakar Keremi Momoh, The 8th Otaru of Auchi (1955 - 1970) * King Momoh Jimah Momoh, the 7th Otaru of Auchi (1945 - 1955) * King Momoh Idaeo, the 6th Otaru of Auchi (1919 - 1944) * King Ikharo Ikelebe, the 5th Otaru of Auchi (1905 - 1919) * Odifili, the 4th Otaru of Auchi (1905) * Idaeo Ikelebe, the 3rd Otaru of Auchi (1884 - 1905) * Imoudu Iburogamhe, the 2nd Otaru of Auchi (1872-1884) * Ikelebe the first, 1st Otaru of Auchi (1819 - 1861)

Institutions and infrastructure

Auchi is home to: *

Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...

* Edo Fertilizer Milling Plant (commenced operation in June 2017)

Erosion

Some parts of Auchi have been seriously devastated due to soil erosion. The Federal Government of Nigeria through the

Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) is a World Bank assisted project aimed at addressing the Nigerian gully erosion crisis in Southeastern Nigeria and land degradation in Northern Nigeria on a multi-dimensional scale. This pro ...

(NEWMAP), assisted by the

World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Interna ...

, are now tackling the menace and are making fast progress.

Gallery

File:Ahlaji Ridwan street, Agbede, Auchi, Edo state.jpg File:Auchi Polytechnic gate, Auchi, Edo state 5.jpg File:Auchi Polytechnic gate, Auchi, Edo state 9.jpg File:Etsako West Local Government Secretariat.jpg

References

External links

* * http://www.afemaipeople.com/ * http://stanwilly.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/etsako-people-of-nigeria-history-and.html * http://ihuanedo.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-real-story-of-auchi-town * http://auchipoly.edu.ng {{Authority control Populated places in Edo State