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
The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each se ...
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 ...
. 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 North is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarter is in the town of Okpuala-Ngwa.
It has an area of 283 km and a population of 153,734 at the 2006 census.
The postal code of the area is 451.
Famous people ...
,
Isiala Ngwa South
Isiala-Ngwa South is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Omoba.
Omoba is a railway town 22 kilometres away from Aba city centre. After coal was discovered at Udi, the Eastern Railway with station ...
,
Obi Ngwa
Obingwa is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Mgboko.
It has an area of 395 km and a population of 181,439 at the 2006 census.
The postal code of the area is 453.
Populated areas
* Mgbo ...
,
Osisioma,
Ugwunagbo
Ugwunagbo is a local government area of Abia State, Nigeria.
It has an area of 108 km and had a population of 97,710 at the 2011 census. It is a suburb of Aba.
Economy
Ugwunagbo depends solely on farming. It supplies farm products like ...
,
Ukwa East
Ukwa East is a Local Government Area located in Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the town of Akwete. Ukwa East is bordered by Akwa Ibom State and Rivers States.
It has an area of 280 km and a population of 58,865 at the 2006 census. It ...
,
Ukwa West
Ukwa West is a Local Government Area in Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the town of Oke Ikpe.
It has an area of 271 km2 and a population of 88,555 at the 2006 census.
The postal code of the area is 452.
Ukwa west is bounded to t ...
.
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
Josaiah Ndubuisi Wachuku (also spelled Josiah Wachukwu) was king, paramount chief, servant leader and Eze of Ngwa-land – in the then Aba Division of Eastern Nigeria – during British colonial times.
He was the father of Jaja Wachuku, t ...
, who died on Monday 2 January 1950, was
Eze
Eze (pronounced ) is an Igbo word which means King. Such words as Igwe and '' Obi'', plus others, are used by Igbo people as titles of respect and homage to the Eze. Igwe is derived from the Igbo word ''Igwekala'' or ''Eluigwekala'', "the sky or ...
, 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
Umuahia () is the capital city of Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. Umuahia is located along the rail road that lies between Port Harcourt to its south,and Enugu city to its north. Umuahia has a population of 359,230 according to the 2006 Nige ...
zone, on the west by
Owerri
Owerri ( , ) is the capital city of Imo State in Nigeria, set in the heart of Igboland. It is also the state's largest city, followed by Orlu, Okigwe and Ohaji/Egbema. Owerri consists of three Local Government Areas including Owerri Municipal, ...
and
Mbaise
Mbaise is a region in Imo State in southeastern Nigeria. In the heart of Igboland, the region includes several towns and cities. It is a group of indigenous clans, connected by intermarriage. With a population density of over 1,000 people per squ ...
, on the east by
Ikot-Ekpene and
Abak
:''Abak is also a nickname for the painter Hans von Aachen. For the place in Pakistan, see Abak, FATA.''
Abak is a town and Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The LGA was previously part of Cross River State. It was later sub di ...
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
Akwete town is the headquarters of Ukwa East local government area of Abia state, Nigeria. Akwete is located 18 Kilometers northeast of the oil-rich city of Port Harcourt and 18 Kilometers southeast of the commercial city of Aba. Akwete is an i ...
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
Mgboko is a town home to the Local Government Headquarters of Obi Ngwa, Abia State, Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria ...
,
3.Osisioma,
4.
Umuoba,
5.
Owerrinta
Owerrinta is a town in Isiala Ngwa South local government area of Abia State, Nigeria. It is a satellite town
Satellite cities or satellite towns are smaller municipalities that are adjacent to a principal city which is the core of a metro ...
,
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
Isiala-Ngwa North is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarter is in the town of Okpuala-Ngwa.
It has an area of 283 km and a population of 153,734 at the 2006 census.
The postal code of the area is 451.
Famous people ...
,
4.
Isiala Ngwa South
Isiala-Ngwa South is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Omoba.
Omoba is a railway town 22 kilometres away from Aba city centre. After coal was discovered at Udi, the Eastern Railway with station ...
,
5.
Obi Ngwa
Obingwa is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Mgboko.
It has an area of 395 km and a population of 181,439 at the 2006 census.
The postal code of the area is 453.
Populated areas
* Mgbo ...
,
6.
Ugwunagbo
Ugwunagbo is a local government area of Abia State, Nigeria.
It has an area of 108 km and had a population of 97,710 at the 2011 census. It is a suburb of Aba.
Economy
Ugwunagbo depends solely on farming. It supplies farm products like ...
7.
Osisioma Ngwa
Osisioma Ngwa is a Local Government Area of Abia state of Nigeria. Its headquarters are located in Osisioma town.
It has an area of and a population of 219,632 as per 2006 census data of Nigeria.
Origin of name
The name "Osisi" means ''tree'', ...
.
8.
Ukwa East
Ukwa East is a Local Government Area located in Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the town of Akwete. Ukwa East is bordered by Akwa Ibom State and Rivers States.
It has an area of 280 km and a population of 58,865 at the 2006 census. It ...
9.
Ukwa West
Ukwa West is a Local Government Area in Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the town of Oke Ikpe.
It has an area of 271 km2 and a population of 88,555 at the 2006 census.
The postal code of the area is 452.
Ukwa west is bounded to t ...
Ngwa and Nigerian civil war
Accordingly, it is said that during the
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War (6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970), also known as the Nigerian–Biafran War or the Biafran War, was a civil war fought between Nigeria and the Republic of Biafra, a secessionist state which had declared its independence ...
, 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
Eze (pronounced ) is an Igbo word which means King. Such words as Igwe and '' Obi'', plus others, are used by Igbo people as titles of respect and homage to the Eze. Igwe is derived from the Igbo word ''Igwekala'' or ''Eluigwekala'', "the sky or ...
Eberechi Dick — Eze Udo I of
Mgboko Ngwa
*
Eze
Eze (pronounced ) is an Igbo word which means King. Such words as Igwe and '' Obi'', plus others, are used by Igbo people as titles of respect and homage to the Eze. Igwe is derived from the Igbo word ''Igwekala'' or ''Eluigwekala'', "the sky or ...
Josaiah Ndubuisi Wachuku
Josaiah Ndubuisi Wachuku (also spelled Josiah Wachukwu) was king, paramount chief, servant leader and Eze of Ngwa-land – in the then Aba Division of Eastern Nigeria – during British colonial times.
He was the father of Jaja Wachuku, t ...
— First
Eze
Eze (pronounced ) is an Igbo word which means King. Such words as Igwe and '' Obi'', plus others, are used by Igbo people as titles of respect and homage to the Eze. Igwe is derived from the Igbo word ''Igwekala'' or ''Eluigwekala'', "the sky or ...
of
Ngwa Land
*
Okezie Ikpeazu
Okezie Victor Ikpeazu (born 18 October 1964) is a Nigerian politician who serves as the Governor of Abia State, in office since 29 May 2015. He was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. He was re-elected as the governor of Ab ...
— Current
Governor of Abia State
*
Nkechi Ikpeazu — First Lady of Abia State
*
Paul Agbai Ogwuma
Dr. Paul Agbai Ogwuma (born 24 April 1932) is a Nigerian banker who was Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria between 1993 and 1999 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha and his successor General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Background
Og ...
— 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
Adolphus Nduneweh Wabara (born 1 June 1948) is a Nigerian politician and diplomat who served as the 10th Senate President of Nigeria from 2003 to 2005.
A pioneer member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Adolphus had previously been a me ...
— Former
Senate President of Nigeria
*
Nkechi Nwaogu
Nkechi Justina Nwaogu, is a Nigerian politician and banker, founder and CEO Libra Investment. She is the former Chairman Governing Council and Pro Chancellor University of Calabar. Nwaogu was the Member representing Osisioma Ngwa, Ugwunagbo and ...
— Nigerian politician
*
Blessing Nwagba — Nigerian politician
*
Enyinnaya Abaribe
Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe (born March 1, 1955) is a Nigerian politician who was elected to the Abia-South Senatorial District of Abia State in the Senate of Nigeria in April 2007.
He holds the title Nwadiohanma Ngwa. Enyinnaya is an outspoken s ...
— Nigerian politician
*
Alex Otti — Nigerian economist and politician
*
Jaja Wachuku
Jaja Anucha Wachuku (1 January 1918 – 7 November 1996), a Royal family, Royal Prince of Ngwaland, "descendant of 20 generations of African Eze, chiefs in the Igbo country of Eastern Nigeria," was a Pan-Africanist, and a Nigerian politician, ...
— 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
Eziuche Chinwe Ubani (born 1 September 1964) is a Nigerian politician and journalist, a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) who represent the Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo constituency of Abia State.
He was elected in 2007.
Background
E ...
— Nigerian politician
*
Uche Ikonne — Nigerian academic and former
Vice-Chancellor
A chancellor is a leader of a college or university, usually either the executive or ceremonial head of the university or of a university campus within a university system.
In most Commonwealth and former Commonwealth nations, the chancellor ...
of
Abia State University Uturu
Abia State University Uturu (ABSU) is a Nigerian public university. It is one of the state owned universities in Nigeria. These state academic institutions were created to expand admissions and bring professional skills, expertise and modern rese ...
*
Bright Chimezie —
Igbo highlife
Igbo highlife is a contemporary musical genre which combines highlife and Igbo traditional music. It first started off in the southeast region of Nigeria, during the 1920s in Lagos. The genre is primarily guitar-based music, with rare characteri ...
musician
*
Adaora Lily Ulasi — Nigerian writer and broadcast journalist
*
Olu Oguibe
Olu Oguibe (born 14 October 1964) is a Nigerian-born American artist and academic.[Olu Oguibe]
Retrieve ...
— Nigerian academic and writer
*
Otosirieze Obi-Young
Otosirieze Obi-Young (born 1994) is a Nigerian writer, editor, culture journalist and curator. He is editor-in-chief of ''Open Country Mag'', an African literary magazine. He was editor of ''Folio Nigeria'', a CNN affiliate that covers Nigeria ...
— Nigerian writer
*
Dandy Jackson Chukwudi — Nigerian writer
*
Emeka Okereke
Emeka Okereke (born 1980) is a Nigerian photographer, filmmaker, writer and visual artist who lives and works in Lagos and Berlin.
Okereke is the cofounder of the Invisible Borders Trans-African Photographers Organisation.
In 2018, he receiv ...
— Nigerian photographer
*
Emma Ugolee — Nigerian media personality and author
*
Chido Nwangwu — Nigerian journalist and editor
*
Osinachi — Nigeria visual artist
*
Nathan Kanu
Nathan Chinenye Okechukwu Kanu is an Anglican bishop in Nigeria: he is the current Bishop of Aba Ngwa North, one of nine within the Anglican Province of Aba, itself one of 14 provinces within the Church of Nigeria.
Kanu was born on 7 March 1966 ...
— Nigerian priest
*
Isaac Nwaobia
Isaac Nwaobia is an Anglican bishop in Nigeria: he is the current Archbishop of Aba and Bishop of Isiala-Ngwa South one of nine within the Anglican Province of Aba, itself one of 14 provinces within the Church of Nigeria.
Nwaobia was born in Is ...
— Archbishop of
Aba and
Anglican Diocese of Isiala-Ngwa South
*
Uche Okechukwu
Uchechukwu Alozie “Uche” Okechukwu also known as Deniz Uygar (born 27 September 1967) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a central defender.
"Uchechukwu" is an Igbo name meaning "God´s will". He was also honoured a ...
— Ex Nigerian International footballer
*
Onyekachi Nwoha
Onyekachi Paul Nwoha (born 28 February 1983 in Aba) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a forward.
Club career
Onyekachi Nwoha began his career with FC Spiders, before he transferred to Enyimba International in 2001. He played for the Ab ...
— 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
Ikechukwu Uche (born 5 January 1984) is a former Nigerian professional footballer who played as a striker.
Known for his acrobatic goal celebrations, he spent most of his professional career in Spain, having arrived in the country before the a ...
— Nigerian footballer
*
Kalu Uche
Kalu Uche (born 15 November 1982) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward.
He spent most of his career in Spain, mainly with Almería, with which he amassed La Liga totals of 117 matches and 27 goals (212 appearances and ...
— Nigerian footballer
*
Ejike Uzoenyi — Nigerian footballer
*
Kennedy Ugoala Nwanganga — Nigerian footballer
References
{{Authority control
Igbo clans
Igbo subgroups
People from Abia State