Orlu () is the second largest
city
A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
in
South East
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 ...
,
Imo State
Imo State ( ig, Ȯra Imo) is a States of Nigeria, state in the South East (Nigeria), South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by Anambra State, Rivers State to the west and south, and Abia State to the east. It takes its n ...
,
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 ...
with a population of 420,600. It has a long history and played a critical role as the headquarters for the
Organisation of African Unity
The Organisation of African Unity (OAU; french: Organisation de l'unité africaine, OUA) was an intergovernmental organization established on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with 32 signatory governments. One of the main heads for OAU's ...
(OAU) and
humanitarian relief
Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance to people who need help. It is usually short-term help until the long-term help by the government and other institutions replaces it. Among the people in need are the homeless, refugees, and ...
agencies during the
Nigeria-Biafra Civil War. The Nigerian headquarters of the British
Cheshire Home
Leonard Cheshire is a major health and welfare charity working in the United Kingdom and running development projects around the world. It was founded in 1948 by Royal Air Force officer Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC.
Leonard Cheshire's aims ...
is in the city. It is the second most developed city after
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, ...
in
Imo state
Imo State ( ig, Ȯra Imo) is a States of Nigeria, state in the South East (Nigeria), South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by Anambra State, Rivers State to the west and south, and Abia State to the east. It takes its n ...
.
Commerce and industries
Orlu is a home for
enterprise
Enterprise (or the archaic spelling Enterprize) may refer to:
Business and economics
Brands and enterprises
* Enterprise GP Holdings, an energy holding company
* Enterprise plc, a UK civil engineering and maintenance company
* Enterpris ...
and industry which gives it the unofficial tag of the commercial capital of Imo state. Many successful Nigerian businessmen, industrialists and champions of industries hail from its eleven local government areas that make up what is widely called Orlu
Senatorial Zone. They include
Orsu
Orsu is a local government area (LGA) and tribe in the Imo State of Nigeria. Orsu is also the name of the dialect of this people. They are an Igbo sub-group located west of Orlu, north of Oguta and in the general areas around Oru East, Oru Wes ...
, Isu,
Njaba
Njaba is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is located in the town of Nnenasa. It has an area of 84 km2 and a population of 143,485 at the 2006 census. The 2011 density projection is 2,004.5 inhabitants/km2. Th ...
,
Nwangele
Nwangele is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. The name was derived from the popular Nwangele river which marks the boundary between Amaigbo and Umuozu Isu. The river which is believed to have originated from Isiekenesi town passes thr ...
,
Nkwerre
Nkwerre is one of the Local Government Areas of Nigeria, Local Government Areas in Imo State, South-East, Nigeria. It is situated in Nkwerre town where the name of the local government area was derived. Its population was placed at 80,270 from the ...
,
Ideato North,
Ideato South
Ideato South is a Local Government Area in Imo State, South-eastern Nigeria. Ideato South, with a total of 23 autonomous communities has its headquarters in the town of Dikenafai, the source of Orashi River. Ideato South has an area of 88&nbs ...
,
Oru East
Oru-East is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is at Omuma. The following are towns that make up Oru East: Akatta, Akuma, Amagu, Amiri, Awo-Omamma, and Omuma.
Oru East is bounded by Njaba LGA, Mbaitolu, Orlu, ...
,
Oru West
Oru West is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Mgbidi.
It has an area of and a population of 159,300 according to the 2016 Nigerian census.
The postal code
A postal code (also known locall ...
,
Ohaji/Egbema
Ohaji-Egbema is an oil-rich Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is Mmahu-Egbema. Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area as presently constituted was created by the Gen. Ibrahim B. Babangida’s administration by the Augu ...
and
Oguta
Oguta is a town on the east bank of Oguta Lake in Imo State of southeastern Nigeria.
Oguta is called "Oguta-Ameshi" or "Ameshi"- by its aborigines. Indigenes - consists of two parts, the old part which holds the 27 villages of Oguta, and the ...
. The city centres of the local government area are within the host towns of Amaifeke, Ihioma/Ebenese, Umuna,
Umuowa,
Umutanze,
Okporo,
Orlu-Gedegwum and
Owerre-Ebeiri. When all of the LGAs in the zone are included Orlu's population is estimated to be approaching 3,000,000 inhabitants.
Orlu is the permanent site for various industries including state and federal agencies like the
Imo State University Teaching Hospital
IMO or Imo may refer to:
Biology and medicine
* Irish Medical Organisation, the main organization for doctors in the Republic of Ireland
* Intelligent Medical Objects, a privately held company specializing in medical vocabularies
* Isomaltooligosa ...
, the state-owned cardboard industry in Owerri-Ebeiri, the newly built Imo State School of Nursing and Health Technology at Okporo as well as many small and medium size chemical and pharmaceutical companies. The multipurpose Imo International Market which houses one of the three most influential pharmaceutical markets in
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Maurit ...
is based in Orlu due to the high number of Orlulites in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. Consequently, the Orlu Zonal Area has the highest concentration of indigenous
pharmaceutical
A medication (also called medicament, medicine, pharmaceutical drug, medicinal drug or simply drug) is a drug used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease. Drug therapy (pharmacotherapy) is an important part of the medical field and re ...
manufacturers and marketers in the whole of African continent.
The Ogbosisi Timber Centre is located within the quick expanding Orlu Urban area and the city centre. The Nigeria Immigration Training School (NITS) in Umuowa and the Technological Skills Acquisition Centre (TESAC) are also based in the city.
Cultural festivals
The towns in Orlu urban have different cultural masquerade heritages through which they express their communal attributes, descents and heritages inckuding in
Mmanwu
Mmanwu is a traditional masquerade of the Igbo people of Southeastern Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a countr ...
, Ebuebu, Oghu, Okonko,
Ekeleke and Okorosha. The people of Orlu have made important contributions towards the educational, sports and political growth of
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 ...
.
The Orlu community from which the city and entire zone derives its name from comprises 10 villages and is ruled by the Igwe of Orlu. The current Igwe is Eze Dr. Patrick II Chinedu
Acholonu.
Notable people
Notable members of the ruling family include Eze Patrick I Ibeakanma
Acholonu, the first Senator to represent Orlu/Okigwe division (presently Orlu Zone and
Okigwe
Okigwe is the third largest city in Imo state in Nigeria after Owerri and Orlu. Okigwe is located in the Okigwe Local Government Area of Nigeria. The city lies between the Port Harcourt- Enugu-Maiduguri rail line, being the nearest city to the ...
Zone) in the old
Federation of Nigeria
The Federation of Nigeria was a predecessor to modern-day Nigeria from 1954 to 1963. It was a British protectorate until its independence on 1 October 1960.
British rule of Colonial Nigeria ended in 1960, when the ''Nigeria Independence Act 1960 ...
as well as the
1st Republic; the late
Justice Ignatius Chukwudi Pats Acholonu, the first Orlu indigene to become a Supreme Court justice; Dr. Douglas Acholonu, former deputy governor of Imo state in the 3rd Republic;
Dr. Mrs Catherine Acholonu, notable author, researcher, playwright and Senior Special Adviser to President Obasanjo in the 4th Republic;
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 ...
Dr. Patrick II Chinedu
Acholonu, Igwe XI, Duru IX of Orlu
Gedegwum.
The heroic
Samuel Okwaraji who died playing for Nigeria hails from Umudioka Orlu hence the city's main stadium name: Umuowa. The Former Governor of the state, Chief
Achike Udenwa
Achike Udenwa (born in 1948) was the governor of Imo State in Nigeria. He became governor after winning the election in 1999. Udenwa won re-election in 2003, and his term ended on 29 May 2007.
He is a member of the People's Democratic Party. Udenw ...
, hails from Amaifeke Orlu while the immediate past governor, and current Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District and Chairman House Committee on Culture & Tourism
Owelle Rochas Okorocha
Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha (born 22 September 1962) is a Nigerian politician of Igbo people, Igbo extraction, from Imo State. He is the senator representing Imo West Senatorial district at the 9th Senate of Nigeria, Nigerian Senate. He is als ...
hails from Ogboko where the
Eastern Palm University is located, in the outskirts of the city. Orlu Senatorial Zone has produced the highest number of governors in Imo State.
Johnbull E. Okpara hails from Umuaghobe Isiekenesi,
Ideato-South, Johnbull Okpara is the current Controller/Accounting Chief at Citigroup, formal Vice President at American Express (AMEX) and formal Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, New York.
*
Ada Jesus
Mercy Mmesoma Obi Nnadi ( née Obi; 19 April 1998 – 21 April 2021), popularly known as Ada Jesus was a Nigerian actress and comedian.
Early life and education
Ada Jesus was from Orlu, Imo, Nigeria. She graduated from Imo State University.
Ca ...
– Nigerian actress and comedienne
*
Joseph Chukwudi Obidiaso – footballer
*
Fredrick Ogechi Okwara (born 1989), Nigerian professional footballer
Autonomous communities
Orlu Local Government Area consists of over thirty-three autonomous communities. They include towns like Umuna, Eziachi, Obor, Umuzike, Umutanze, Obinugwu, Umudioka,Amike,Umueze,Umudioka UKWU, Umudioka Ancient kingdom, Mgbee,Oweer-Ebeiri, Alaoma Oweere-Ebeiri,Orlu, Okporo, Amaifeke, Ihioma,Umudioka-Oweere,Umuowa, from there the First Chairman, USA Chapter of the Nigerian ruling party, The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP USA Chapter), Prof. Ikegwuoha, Bernard-Thompson Onyemauchechukwu hail
Owerre-Ebeiri the home over the longest traditional ruler in the history of Nigeria late Eze Ben Uzomah who was on the throne for over 50 years, Umuowa,
Amike
Amike is a town and autonomous community in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Amike is composed of Villages which include Umuokwaraebika, Umudimodu, Umudimoha, Umuowerre, Eshime, Umuduruewuru, Umudim, Umutukutu, Umuduruelem, Umug ...
, Mgbee, Amaifeke, Ihioma, Okporo, Ogberuru, Obibi-Ochasi, Umuago, Umutanze and Ihitte-Owerre, Orlu is a homeland for
Igbo
Igbo may refer to:
* Igbo people, an ethnic group of Nigeria
* Igbo language, their language
* anything related to Igboland, a cultural region in Nigeria
See also
* Ibo (disambiguation)
* Igbo mythology
* Igbo music
* Igbo art
*
* Igbo-Ukwu, a ...
people of Nigeria.
Missionary activities
The
Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlu (
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
''
Dioecesis Orluanus'') was erected on November 29, 1980 and houses the Holy Trinity Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in west and central Africa.
Augustine T. Ukwuoma
Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Afric ...
succeeded Bishop
Gregory O. Ochiagha who had served as the
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
of Orlu since its creation. Orlu is also the location of Nigeria's only parish of the
Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (the ''
Nne Enyemaka Shrine
The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, Radius, radially arrayed compass directions (or Azimuth#In navigation, azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east ...
''. It also has a diocese of the Anglican communion.
The region also has a number of orthodox and Protestant churches to boost its Christian activities.
Sister cities
Orlu is
twinned with:
*
Austin
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...
, United States
See also
*
Ishiobiukwu Gedegwum
*
Catherine Acholonu
*
Pats Acholonu
Ignatius Chukwudi Pats Acholonu (also known as ''Crown Prince Hon. Justice Ignatius Chukwudinka Kingsley Pats Acholonu JSC, CON'' or ''Pats-Acholonu'', July 15, 1936 – May 14, 2006) was a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria
The Supreme Court ...
*
HRM Eze Patrick I
*
Lazarus Olumba
References
External links
Umuna Town Development UnionOrlu Town, USAAmike Development Union - Orlu, (UK & Ireland Chapter)Mgbee Autonomous Community - Orlu LGATowns in Orlu Local Government AreaOrlu L.G.A List of Towns and Villages Zip Codes
{{Authority control
Local Government Areas in Imo State
Cities in Imo State