Oleh is the headquarters of the

Isoko South Isoko South is a local government area (LGA) in the Isoko region of Delta State, Nigeria. With its headquarters at Oleh, Nigeria, it is one of the two local governments that make up the Isoko region. The other is Isoko North, which has its hea ...

Local Government Area, one of the two administrative units in the

Isoko region Isoko is a region of Delta State and Bayelsa state in southern Nigeria and is inhabited by an ethnic group of the same name, the Isoko people. The region is divided into two Local Government Areas, Isoko North (headquartered at Ozoro) and Isoko ...

Delta State Delta is a States of Nigeria, state in the South South (Nigeria), South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named after the Niger Delta—a large part of which is in the state—the state was formed from the former Bendel State, on 27 August 1 ...

, Southern

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

Politics and Government

As the administrative center for the local government, it houses the council offices. The town is under the leadership of a monarch, His Royal Majesty (H.R.M.) Ovrawah A. Omogha 1 (JP) FCAI, who has the power to appoint his Kinsmen (also known as Chiefs) who assist him in decision(s) making relating to the affairs of Oleh community. In addition to the monarch and his chiefs, there is also an Oleh community executives headed by an elected president. Both the community executives and the king with his chiefs work together to see to the smooth running of the community affairs. They are also the traditional custodian of the people's customs and traditions. The monarch is influential in Isokoland in matters relating to his kingdom. He is also a member of the state council of traditional rulers, which also provides him a platform for some influence on statewide issues.

Economy

There are different economic classes in Oleh, ranging from civil servants, merchants, skilled and unskilled personnel and farmers. The farmers mostly specialize in food crop farming, fishery, livestock farming and sometimes hunting of bush animals. The food crops cultivated by the farmers include;

cassava ''Manihot esculenta'', common name, commonly called cassava, manioc, or yuca (among numerous regional names), is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America, from Brazil, Paraguay and parts of the Andes. Although ...

, maize, oil palms, plantain and yams. Women form a large proportion of the farming population. They also engage in trading of food crops for cash to meet other basic household needs. On market days, women can be seen peddling their assorted wares in the town markets. Cassava is the source of most of the foods consumed by the people. ''

Garri In West Africa, ''garri'' (also known as ''gari'', ''galli'', or ''gali'') is the flour of the fresh starchy cassava root. In the Hausa language, ''garri'' can also refer to the flour of guinea corn, maize, rice, yam, plantain and mille ...

'', starch meal (''Ozi''), ''Egu (

fufu Fufu (or fufuo, foofoo, foufou ) is a pounded meal found in West African cuisine. It is a Twi word that originates from the Akans in Ghana. The word has been expanded to include several variations of the pounded meal found in other African c ...

)'' are

derivatives.

Demographics

Although there is no definitive population census figure for Oleh, the town is estimated to have a population of over 20,000 people, according to a report by the National Population Commission.

Education

Oleh prioritizes education, with several primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions. Notable government-owned schools include Isoko Central School, Evoja Primary School, Odoro Primary School, Owhara Primary School, Uzi Primary School, Emiye Girl's Grammar School, Emore Grammar School, and Saint Michael's College. The town is also home to the Oleh Campus of

Delta State University Delta State University (DSU) is a public university in Cleveland, Mississippi, a city in the Mississippi Delta. History The school was established in 1924 by the State of Mississippi, using the facilities of the former Bolivar County Agricultu ...

, which offers programs in law and engineering. According to a report by the Delta State Ministry of Education, Oleh has a high literacy rate, with over 80% of residents able to read and write.

Flooding

In recent years, Oleh has faced severe flooding crises due to climate change. In 2022, the town experienced devastating floods that resulted in loss of lives and properties. The flooding also affected the town's economy, restricting vehicular movement and disrupting commercial activities. According to a report by th
Nigerian Meteorological Agency
Oleh is one of the towns in Delta State most vulnerable to flooding.

Notable people

1. Chief Lucky Ogba 2. Kenneth Ogba 3.

Market Days

On market days, the town comes alive with women peddling their assorted wares, including fresh produce, handicrafts, and food items. The market is a hub of activity, showcasing the town's rich cultural heritage and entrepreneurial spirit. A study by the University of Benin found that the market in Oleh is an essential platform for women empowerment and economic development.

References

{{Isoko South Populated places in Isoko South