Ngwa people

Ngwa people (''Ṅgwà'' ), an Igboid tribe in south eastern part of Nigeria. It's also the largest and most populous ethnic group in Abia state southeastern Nigeria. They occupy an area of about , although some accounts read at least . In 1979, their population was held at an estimate of approximately 1.8 million people, the current population is estimated to be 4 million+ Within the seventeen local government areas of Abia State, Nigeria. Ngwa people occupy nine Local Government Areas which include: Aba North, Aba South, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, Obi Ngwa, Osisioma, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East, Ukwa West.

Aba North and Aba south make up the popular commercial city: Aba which is known for business, creativity and industrialization. Their ethnonym ''Ngwa'' is used to describe the people, their indigenous territory, ethnic group and their native tongue. King Josaiah Ndubuisi Wachuku, who died on Monday 2 January 1950, was Eze, paramount chief and servant leader, Onye Isi: head of Ngwa people during British colonial times.

Origin Of Ndi Ngwa

Accordingly, the present day Ngwa land was, also, inhabited by Ibibio people. There was a man known as Diobu who was a descendant of Iwhuroha. Subsequently, Diobu left Iwhuroha with his followers and was sheltered by Ibibio-Efik people. Notably, Diobu and his followers were highly polygamous. Extensively, Diobu and his followers married Ibibio-Efik women; and became more populated than their host: Ibibio. This triggered Ibibio people to invade and chase them out. Diobu and his followers joined forces with Ohafia and Abiriba people; and fought Ibibio people from all angles.

The Ibibio did not only loose the war; they, also, lost their Land; and were forced to leave what became Abia State. Till today, the people of Obi-Ngwa Local Government Area are at logger-heads with the Ibibio-Efik people because of that unsettled war. The part that Ohafia warriors conquered is the geographical area known as Abiriba. Ngwa did not have a special place they kept their captured Ibibio slaves; so, they simply Ngwanized them. Population of Ibibio people who were Ngwanized was almost as that of Diobu and his followers. *** Observantly, someone can notice that Ngwa people and Ibibio-Efik people are of the same height; although that has changed, now, due to large intake of proteinous foods by Ngwa people.

Villages on the left bank of Imo are inhabited by Ibibios, who once received Ngwa Ukwu (Diobu) and his brothers. After the Ngwa Ibibio war, Ngwa Ukwu settled at what is now the village of Umuolike where he also established his ancestral shrine. 'Aba Ngwa' in a small hut 'Okpu' which is today the capital of Ngwa-land called 'Okpu-Ala Ngwa.' For many years, those three brothers dwelt around Okpu-Ala Ngwa in peace; but as their families increased in number, they moved apart in different directions. There is a serious attempt by other groups who share similar language with Ngwa to claim Ngwa.

Geographical setting

The area covering old Aba Ngwa division is situated in the tropical rain forest of southern Igbo plain in the present Abia State of Nigeria. It has a population of over 1.8 million people; and an area of little over nine hundred square miles (). This area is bounded on the north by the present Umuahia zone, on the west by Owerri and Mbaise, on the east by Ikot-Ekpene and Abak and on the south by Ukwa. Important waterways are: Imo river to the south and west, Aba or Aza River that rises at Abayi and flows south through Aba township into Imo river at a point near Okpontu. Around Nsulu to the northeast, there are two minor rivers; namely: Otamiri and Ohi.

At no point does the land rise above an elevation of 50 feet. The people are largely industrialist, entrepreneurs and farmers, producing yams, cassava, cocoyam, maize and other tropical farm products. Major rural industries include garri and palm produce; in addition to: Akwete cloth weaving in which women from Ihie area were engaged. The old divisional headquarters was Aba, a very important commercial and industrial centre; with major population concentration in:

1. Aba,

2.Mgboko,

3.Osisioma,

4. Umuoba,

5.Owerrinta,

6.Nbawsi,

7.Nvosi and

8.Okpu-Ala-Ngwa.

Modern day Ngwa land is divided into: Obi-Ngwa, Aba-Ngwa, Isiala-Ngwa, Osisioma-Ngwa; spread within Abia State: Nigeria, as LGAs: Local Government Areas; namely:

1. Aba North,

2. Aba South,

3.Isiala Ngwa North,

4.Isiala Ngwa South,

5.Obi Ngwa,

6.Ugwunagbo

7.Osisioma Ngwa.

8. Ukwa East

9. Ukwa West

Ngwa and Nigerian civil war

Accordingly, it is said that during the Nigerian Civil War, Ngwa people suffered a lot like every other Igbo region in eastern Nigeria. Children suffered from kwashiorkor which came from malnutrition and the adults struggled to survive. The struggle for healthy eating continued until a chief reported to be Josiah Duruem Nwangwa began to collect supplies from various organisations; making his home a relief station for the purpose of helping Ngwa people survive during the Civil War. "Great suffering was experienced in the northern Ngwa region, which formed part of the Biafran 'siege economy' during the period between May 1968 and December 1969."

Notable people

* Eze Eberechi Dick — Eze Udo I of Mgboko Ngwa
* Eze Josaiah Ndubuisi Wachuku — First Eze of Ngwa Land
* Okezie Ikpeazu — Current Governor of Abia State
* Nkechi Ikpeazu — First Lady of Abia State
* Paul Agbai Ogwuma — Nigerian economist and former Governor Central Bank of Nigeria
* Emeka Ananaba — former Deputy Governor of Abia State
* Chris Akomas — former Deputy Governor of Abia State
* Eric Acho Nwakanma — former Deputy Governor of Abia State
* Adolphus Wabara — Former Senate President of Nigeria
* Nkechi Nwaogu — Nigerian politician
* Blessing Nwagba — Nigerian politician
* Enyinnaya Abaribe — Nigerian politician
* Alex Otti — Nigerian economist and politician
* Jaja Wachuku — Nigerian politician
* Chuku Wachuku — Nigerian economist
* Nwabueze Nwokolo — Nigerian lawyer
* Nwakanwa Chimaobi — Nigerian politician
* Anthony Eze Enwereuzor — Nigerian politician
* Chijioke Nwakodo — Former Chief of Staff to Okezie Ikpeazu
* Clifford Ohiagu — Nigerian politician
* Eziuche Ubani — Nigerian politician
* Uche Ikonne — Nigerian academic and former Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University Uturu
* Bright Chimezie — Igbo highlife musician
* Adaora Lily Ulasi — Nigerian writer and broadcast journalist
* Olu Oguibe — Nigerian academic and writer
* Otosirieze Obi-Young — Nigerian writer
* Dandy Jackson Chukwudi — Nigerian writer
* Emeka Okereke — Nigerian photographer
* Emma Ugolee — Nigerian media personality and author
* Chido Nwangwu — Nigerian journalist and editor
* Osinachi — Nigeria visual artist
* Nathan Kanu — Nigerian priest
* Isaac Nwaobia — Archbishop of Aba and Anglican Diocese of Isiala-Ngwa South
* Uche Okechukwu — Ex Nigerian International footballer
* Onyekachi Nwoha — Nigerian footballer
* Luther Obi — Nigerian-South-African rugby player
* Kennedy Ugoala Nwanganga — Nigerian footballer
* Faith Friday Obilor — Nigerian footballer
* Pascal Ojigwe — Nigerian footballer
* Onyekachi Okafor — Nigerian footballer
* Onyekachi Okonkwo — Nigerian footballer
* Henry Onwuzuruike — Nigerian footballer
* Philip Osondu — Nigerian footballer
* Ikechukwu Uche — Nigerian footballer
* Kalu Uche — Nigerian footballer
* Ejike Uzoenyi — Nigerian footballer
* Kennedy Ugoala Nwanganga — Nigerian footballer

References

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Igbo clans
Igbo subgroups
People from Abia State