Orlu, Imo
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Orlu () is the second-largest
city A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...
in
Imo State 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 name from the Imo R ...
, South East,
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, ...
, with a population of 420,600. It has a long history as the headquarters for the
Organisation of African Unity The Organisation of African Unity (OAU; , OUA) was an African intergovernmental organization established on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with 33 signatory governments. Some of the key aims of the OAU were to encourage political and ec ...
(OAU) and humanitarian relief agencies during the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War. The city houses the Nigerian headquarters of the British Cheshire Home. 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, Nigeria, Orlu, Okigwe and Ohaji/Egbema. Owerri consists of three Local Government Areas of Nigeria, Loc ...
in
Imo state 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 name from the Imo R ...
.


History


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 and is unofficially known as the "commercial capital" of Imo state. Many successful Nigerian businessmen and industrialists hail from the twelve local government areas that make up the imo west Senatorial Zone. They include Orlu, Orsu, 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. The ...
, Nwangele, Nkwerre, Ideato North, Ideato South,
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, 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 towns of the local government area is within the host communities of Amaifeke, Ihioma/Ebenese, Umuna, Umuowa, Umutanze, Okporo, Orlu-Gedegwum, Amike 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, 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-sized chemical and pharmaceutical companies. The multipurpose Imo International Market which houses one of the three most influential pharmaceutical markets in
West Africa West Africa, also known as Western Africa, is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations geoscheme for Africa#Western Africa, United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Gha ...
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 Medication (also called medicament, medicine, pharmaceutical drug, medicinal product, 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 ...
manufacturers and marketers in the whole African continent. The Ogbosisi Timber Centre is located within the quickly 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

Many towns in Orlu hold cultural festivals. The people of Orlu have made important contributions to the education, sports, and political growth of
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, ...
. Orlu is a homeland for the Igbo people of Nigeria.


Notable people

Notable members of the ruling family include Eze Patrick I Ibeakanma Acholonu, the first Senator to represent the 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 (LGA) of Nigeria. The city lies between the Port Harcourt- Enugu- Maiduguri rail line, being the nearest cit ...
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 196 ...
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, author, researcher, playwright and Senior Special Adviser to President Obasanjo in the 4th Republic; Eze Dr. Patrick II Chinedu Acholonu, Igwe XI, Duru IX of Orlu Gedegwum. The footballer 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, hails from Amaifeke Orlu while the immediate past governor, and current Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District and Chairman of House Committee on Culture & Tourism Owelle Rochas Okorocha 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. Other notable residents include: * Ada Jesus – Nigerian actress and comedienne * Chiamaka Nnadozie – footballer * Joseph Chukwudi Obidiaso – footballer * Fredrick Ogechi Okwara – footballer


Autonomous communities

Orlu Local Government Area consists of over thirty-three autonomous communities. They include towns like: * Alaoma Oweere-Ebeiri * Amaifeke * Amike * Eziachi * Ihioma * Ihitte-Owerre * Mgbee * Obibi-Ochasi * Obinugwu Autonomous Community * Obor * Ogberuru * Okporo * Oweer-Ebeiri * Umuago * Umudioka Ancient Kingdom * Umudioka UKWU * Umudioka-Oweere * Umueze * Umuna * Umuowa * Umutanze * Umuzike


Missionary activities

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlu (
Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
'' 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 succeeded Bishop Gregory O. Ochiagha who had served as the
Bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...
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''). It also has a diocese of the
Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...
communion. The region also has a number of orthodox and Protestant churches to boost its Christian activities. In addition, there exist an
Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...
Diocese of Orlu with its headquarters at Nkwerre created by the Anglican church of Nigeria in 1984 with the Rt.Revd S. Ebo as the first bishop, today, The Anglican diocese of Orlu has over 30 Archdeaconries, more than one hundred and fifty five 155 parishes and over 200 serving priests and over a thousand 1000 indigenous Anglican priests, making it the largest Diocese in imo state after seconded by the Anglica
diocese of Owerri
with over 50,000 parishioners.


Climatic information

The average annual temperature ranges from 66 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, rarely falling below 58 or rising over 89 degrees.


Sister cities

Orlu is an emeritus
sister city A sister city or a twin town relationship is a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities for the purpose of promoting cultural and commercial ties. While there are early examples of inte ...
with: *
Austin Austin refers to: Common meanings * Austin, Texas, United States, a city * Austin (given name), a list of people and fictional characters * Austin (surname), a list of people and fictional characters * Austin Motor Company, a British car manufac ...
, United States


See also

* Ishiobiukwu Gedegwum * Catherine Acholonu * Pats Acholonu * HRM Eze Patrick I * Lazarus Olumba


References


Further reading

* Chuku, Gloria (2004) ''Igbo Women and Economic Transformation in Southeastern Nigeria, 1900-1960'' (Routledge)


External links


Umuna Town Development Union

Orlu Town, USA

Amike Development Union - Orlu, (UK & Ireland Chapter)

Mgbee Autonomous Community - Orlu LGA

Towns in Orlu Local Government Area

Orlu L.G.A List of Towns and Villages Zip Codes
{{Authority control Local Government Areas in Imo State Cities in Imo State