Abia State ( ig, Ȯha Abia) is a

state State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States * ''Our S ...

in the South-East geopolitical zone 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 ...

, it is bordered to the north and northeast by the states of Enugu, and Ebonyi, Imo State to the west,

Cross River State ) , image_map = Nigeria - Cross River.svg , map_alt = , map_caption = Location of Cross River State in Nigeria , coordinates = , coor_pinpoint ...

to the east,

Akwa Ibom State Akwa Ibom State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered on the east by Cross River State, on the west by Rivers State and Abia State, and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean. The state takes its name from the Qua Iboe ...

to the southeast, and

Rivers State Rivers State, also known as Rivers, is a state in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria (Old Eastern Region). Formed in 1967, when it was split from the former Eastern Region, Rivers State borders include: Imo to the north, Abia and Akwa ...

to the south. It takes its name from the acronym for four of the state's most populated regions: Aba, Bende, Isuikwuato, and Afikpo. The state capital is

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 ...

while the largest city and commercial centre is Aba. Abia is the 32nd largest in area and 27th most populous with an estimated population of over 3,720,000 as of 2016. Geographically, the state is divided between the

Niger Delta swamp forests The Niger Delta swamp forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in southern Nigeria. It consists of freshwater swamp forests in the Niger Delta of the Niger River. This swamp forest is the second largest in Africa, after the Congolian swamp f ...

in the far south and the drier

Cross–Niger transition forests The Cross–Niger transition forests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of southeastern Nigeria, located between the Niger River on the west and the Cross River on the east. Once a rich mixture of tropical forest and savanna woodland ...

with some savanna in the rest of the State. Other important geographical features are the Imo and Aba Rivers which flow along the Abia's western and southern borders, respectively. Modern-day Abia State has been inhabited for years by various ethnic groups, but it is predominantly inhabited by the Igbo people. In the pre-colonial period, what is now Abia State was a part of

Arochukwu Arochukwu Local Government Area, sometimes referred to as Arochuku or Aro Oke-Igbo, is the third largest local government area in Abia State (after Aba and Umuahia) in southeastern Nigeria and homeland of the Igbo subgroup, Aro people. It is ...

-based

Aro Confederacy The Aro Confederacy (1690–1902) was a political union orchestrated by the Aro people, Igbo subgroup, centered in Arochukwu in present-day southeastern Nigeria. Their influence and presence was all over Eastern Nigeria, lower Middle Belt, an ...

before the confederacy was defeated in the early 1900s by British troops in the

Anglo-Aro War The Anglo-Aro War (1901–1902) was a conflict between the Aro Confederacy in present-day Eastern Nigeria, and the British Empire. The war began after increasing tension between Aro leaders and the British after years of failed negotiations. ...

. After the war, the British incorporated the area into the

Southern Nigeria Protectorate Southern Nigeria was a British protectorate in the coastal areas of modern-day Nigeria formed in 1900 from the union of the Niger Coast Protectorate with territories chartered by the Royal Niger Company below Lokoja on the Niger River. The ...

which later merged into

British Nigeria Colonial Nigeria was ruled by the British Empire from the mid-nineteenth century until 1960 when Nigeria achieved independence. British influence in the region began with the prohibition of slave trade to British subjects in 1807. Britain a ...

; after the merger, Abia became a centre of anti-colonial resistance with the

Women's War The Women's War, or Aba Women's Protest ( Igbo: ''Ogu Umunwanyi''; Ibibio: ''Ekong Iban''), was a period of unrest in colonial Nigeria over November 1929. The protests broke out when thousands of Igbo women from the Bende District, Umuahia an ...

that started in Oloko. After independence in 1960, the Abia was a part of the post-independence Eastern Region until 1967 before the region was split and it became part of the East Central State. Less than two months afterwards, the former Eastern Region attempted to secede in the three-year long

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 ...

with Abia as a part of the secessionist state of

Biafra Biafra, officially the Republic of Biafra, was a partially recognised secessionist state in West Africa that declared independence from Nigeria and existed from 1967 until 1970. Its territory consisted of the predominantly Igbo-populated form ...

. At the war's end and for the reunification of Nigeria, the East Central State was merged as one until 1976 when Imo State](including now-Abia) was formed by the Murtala Muhammed regime. Fifteen years afterwards, Imo State was divided with eastern Imo being broken off to form the new Abia State; but in 1996, part of Abia's northeast was removed to form a part of the new

Ebonyi State Ebonyi State ( ig, Ȯra Ebonyi) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north and northeast by Benue State, Enugu State to the west, Cross River State to the east and southeast, and Abia State to the southwe ...

. Economically, Abia State is based around the production of crude oil and

natural gas Natural gas (also called fossil gas or simply gas) is a naturally occurring mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons consisting primarily of methane in addition to various smaller amounts of other higher alkanes. Low levels of trace gases like carbo ...

along with agriculture, mainly of yams,

maize Maize ( ; ''Zea mays'' subsp. ''mays'', from es, maíz after tnq, mahiz), also known as corn (North American and Australian English), is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. The ...

taro Taro () (''Colocasia esculenta)'' is a root vegetable. It is the most widely cultivated species of several plants in the family Araceae that are used as vegetables for their corms, leaves, and petioles. Taro corms are a food staple in Afri ...

oil palm ''Elaeis'' () is a genus of palms containing two species, called oil palms. They are used in commercial agriculture in the production of palm oil. The African oil palm '' Elaeis guineensis'' (the species name ''guineensis'' referring to its c ...

, and

cassava ''Manihot esculenta'', commonly called cassava (), manioc, or yuca (among numerous regional names), is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America. Although a perennial plant, cassava is extensively cultivated ...

. A key minor industry is manufacturing, especially in and around Aba. With its fast growing population and industrialization, Abia has the joint-eighth highest

Human Development Index The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistic composite index of life expectancy, education (mean years of schooling completed and expected years of schooling upon entering the education system), and per capita income indicators, wh ...

in the country.

Geography

Azumini Blue River in Abia state, Nigeria

Abia State occupies about 6,320 square kilometres, it us bounded on the north and northeast by the states of Enugu, and Ebonyi. Imo State to the west,

Cross River State ) , image_map = Nigeria - Cross River.svg , map_alt = , map_caption = Location of Cross River State in Nigeria , coordinates = , coor_pinpoint ...

and

to the east and south east respectively, and

to the south. The southernmost part of the State lies within the

Niger Delta Swamp Forests The Niger Delta swamp forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in southern Nigeria. It consists of freshwater swamp forests in the Niger Delta of the Niger River. This swamp forest is the second largest in Africa, after the Congolian swamp f ...

, while the rest of the state, lies within the

. The southern portion gets heavy rainfall of about per year and it is intense between the months of April through October. The most important rivers in Abia State are the Imo and Aba Rivers which flow into the

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...

through Akwa Ibom State.

History and population

Abia State is one of the thirty-six States in Nigeria, and has about seventeen Local Government Areas, out of the 774 Local Government Areas that make up the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Abia State was created on the 27th of August 1991, during the government of General Ibrahim Babangida. The State is located in the south-eastern part of Nigeria. Abia state was created out of Imo State, and the two sister states share boundaries. Abia State is known as one of the constituent states of the Niger Delta region. The state has its capital at Umuahia while the commercial city of the state is Aba. Abia State is also referred to as God's own state. The name "Abia" is an abbreviation of four of Abia state's densely populated regions Aba, Bende, Isuikwuato, and Afikpo. The Igbo people, who are one of the indigenous peoples of the South-eastern part of Nigeria, make up 95% of the population. Their traditional language,

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 ...

, is in widespread use. English is also widely spoken, and serves as the official language in governance and business. In Abia State over 7 million people are mainly Christians.

Climate

Aba experiences a warm and gloomy wet season as well as a scorching and oppressive dry season. The temperature rarely drops below 61°F or rises over 91°F throughout the entire year, fluctuating between 68°F and 88°F. The beach/pool score indicates that the best time of year to visit Aba for hot-weather activities is from late November to early February.

Infrastructure and economy

Crude oil and

gas Gas is one of the four fundamental states of matter (the others being solid, liquid, and plasma). A pure gas may be made up of individual atoms (e.g. a noble gas like neon), elemental molecules made from one type of atom (e.g. oxygen), or ...

production is a prominent activity, as it contributes over 39% of the State's

GDP Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced and sold (not resold) in a specific time period by countries. Due to its complex and subjective nature this measure is ofte ...

.Nigeria's 36 States and the FCT, Economic, societal and political profiles, World Bank Report However, the indigenous oil companies – through the Marginal Fields Programme (MFP) – have not found it easy to attract the requisite funding and infrastructural capacity, to explore some of the marginal oil fields which are about 50 in the State. The manufacturing sector only accounts for 2% of the

. The industrial centre of the state is in Aba, with

textile Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, different fabric types, etc. At first, the word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics. However, weaving is not the ...

manufacturing,

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 an ...

s, soap, plastics,

cement A cement is a binder, a chemical substance used for construction that sets, hardens, and adheres to other materials to bind them together. Cement is seldom used on its own, but rather to bind sand and gravel ( aggregate) together. Cement mi ...

, footwear, and cosmetics. In addition to the above, Abia State Government has just built a 9,000 capacity multipurpose International Conference Centre in Umuahia. This edifice of international standard was built by Governor T.A Orji, to enhance tourism as well as boost the state economy, through hosting of major International and Local events. Representing 27% of the GDP, agriculture – which employs 70% of the state workforce – is the second economic sector of Abia. With its adequate seasonal rainfall, Abia has much

arable land Arable land (from the la, arabilis, "able to be ploughed") is any land capable of being ploughed and used to grow crops.''Oxford English Dictionary'', "arable, ''adj''. and ''n.''" Oxford University Press (Oxford), 2013. Alternatively, for th ...

that produces yams,

potato The potato is a starchy food, a tuber of the plant ''Solanum tuberosum'' and is a root vegetable native to the Americas. The plant is a perennial in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Wild potato species can be found from the southern Unit ...

es,

rice Rice is the seed of the grass species '' Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly ''Oryza glaberrima'' (African rice). The name wild rice is usually used for species of the genera '' Zizania'' and '' Porteresia'', both wild and domesticat ...

, cashews, plantains,

, and

Oil palm ''Elaeis'' () is a genus of palms containing two species, called oil palms. They are used in commercial agriculture in the production of palm oil. The African oil palm '' Elaeis guineensis'' (the species name ''guineensis'' referring to its c ...

is the most important cash crop.

Oil and gas exploration

There are over 100 oil wells and 3 installed flow stations in Abia State. There is also an associated gas plant
Abia/NNPC gas plant
As of 2012, boundary Commission said it returned 42 oil wells from neighbouring

to Abia. This would have meant Abia being fourth largest oil-producing state in the country. Oil giant,

Shell Shell may refer to: Architecture and design * Shell (structure), a thin structure ** Concrete shell, a thin shell of concrete, usually with no interior columns or exterior buttresses ** Thin-shell structure Science Biology * Seashell, a hard o ...

, holds most of the licenses for the wells in the State, and has concentrated on the estimated 50 wells that are considered high-yield. The State produced 36,000 barrels of crude oil per day; "Imoturu produces 23,000 barrels per day and Isimili flow station produces over 8,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Then four oil wells in Izaku go to Obigo flow station. About 30 oil wells from my village go to Umuri, and about eight oil wells from Umurie go to Afam", lamented Samuel Okezie Nwogu, Chairman of Abia State Oil Producing Development Area Commission (ASOPADEC).However, the State has complained of poor funding from its oil revenue federal allocation.

Environmental Issues

Solid Waste

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) deals with the collection, storing, treatment and disposal of solid waste, to ensure that it does not affect humans, living things and the environment at large. There are factors that influences the Municipal solid waste generation such as income level, local climatic condition, urbanization and economic development. MSW in Aba, Abia State is classified into; # Domestic waste (waste from households, food centers, markets, and commercial premises) # Industrial waste (excluding toxic waste that requires special handling) # Institutional waste (waste from government establishments, schools, hospitals and recreational facilities)

Aba

The MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) for a very long time now, like many other cities and urban areas in Nigeria, has in its records reached appalling dimensions. Due to the poor waste management, the attendant deaths and illnesses from diarrhoea, respiratory and lung diseases, malaria, parasitic worms, typhoid fever, cholera, etc are on the rise. This has its own d in no small measures by poor MSW management practices have implications on t.e social, political and economic development of the population

Raw Materials In Abia State

* Gold * Lead/Zinc * Limestone * Oil/gas *

Salt Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of salts; salt in the form of a natural crystalline mineral is known as rock salt or halite. Salt is present in vast quant ...

* Kaolin * Limestone

University and colleges

There are six universities in the state: the federal-owned Michael Okpara University of Agriculture at Umudike, the state-owned

Abia State University 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 ...

Uturu Uturu is a town located within latitudes 05.33°N and 06.03°N, in the northern part of Abia State, Nigeria. It is in the transition from rural to urban status, so it is witnessing many development activities. It is popularly known as a location ...

, the privately-owned

Gregory University Gregory University (GUU) is located in Uturu, Abia State in Nigeria. It is a Private University named after Pope Gregory I. The Vice-chancellor of the university is Professor Augustine A. Uwakwe. Colleges *Gregory University, Uturu (GUU) has ab ...

, Rhema University in Aba, Spiritan University in Umu Nneochi, and Clifford University in Owerrinta. Abia State College of Education (Technical) in

, Abia State College Of Health Sciences and Management Technology in Aba, Temple Gate Polytechnic in Aba and

Abia State Polytechnic Abia State Polytechnic is a state government owned Polytechnic established in 1992 and located in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. The Polytechnic is composed of different schools, such as the School of Science & Engineering and the School of Business Adm ...

are the other tertiary institutions in the State.

Transportation

The nearest airport to Abia is Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport (Owerri Airport), it is an hour drive to

and Aba. It is two hours drive to

Port Harcourt International Airport Port Harcourt International Airport is an international airport located in Omagwa, a suburb of Port Harcourt, the capital city of the Rivers State in Nigeria. The airport has two terminals for both international and domestic flights. The new ...

. Akwa Ibom Airport (

) can also serve would-be visitors. The distance between Uyo (''Akwa Ibom'') and

(Abia) is: . The

rail transport Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a p ...

is also available in the state very effective. Aba is connected to Port Harcourt by rail. Umuahia is connected to Aba and Enugu by rail. The

coastal The coast, also known as the coastline or seashore, is defined as the area where land meets the ocean, or as a line that forms the boundary between the land and the coastline. The Earth has around of coastline. Coasts are important zones in ...

parts of the State are equally accessible using boats and canoes.

Languages

Below is a list of Languages of Abia State organised by there LGA:

Politics

The State Government is led by a democratically elected

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

who works closely with members of the state's

House of Assembly House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level. Historically, in British Crown colonies as the colony gained more internal responsible gove ...

. The capital city of the state is

. and there are 17 local government areas in the state. Renovated Abia State House of Assembly

At statehood in 1991, Abia was ruled by

Ibrahim Babangida Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (born 17 August, 1941) is a retired Nigerian Army general and politician. He served as military president of Nigeria from 1985 until his resignation in 1993. He rose through the ranks to serve from 1984 to 1985 as C ...

-appointed Military Administrator Frank Ajobena before

Ogbonnaya Onu Ogbonnaya Onu (born 1 December 1951) is a Nigerian politician, author and engineer. He was the first civilian governor of Abia State and was minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Nigeria from November 2015 till his resignation in 20 ...

was

elected Elected may refer to: * "Elected" (song), by Alice Cooper, 1973 * ''Elected'' (EP), by Ayreon, 2008 *The Elected, an American indie rock band See also *Election An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population ...

governor later that year under the Third Nigerian Republic. Onu governed for nearly two years before

Sani Abacha Sani Abacha (20 September 1943 – 8 June 1998) was a Nigerian military officer and politician who ruled as the military head of state of Nigeria from 1993 until his death in 1998. He seized power on 17 November 1993 in the last successful c ...

ended the Third Republic and reinstated full military rule. Under the Abacha regime, three more Military Administrators ( Chinyere Ike Nwosu, Temi Ejoor, and Moses Fasanya) were appointed before Abacha's death and the accession of

Abdulsalami Abubakar Abdulsalami Abubakar (; born 13 June 1942) is a Nigerian statesman and retired Nigerian Army general who served as the ''de facto'' President of Nigeria from 1998 to 1999. He was also Chief of Defence Staff between 1997 and 1998. He succeede ...

. Abubakar appointed one more Military Administrator, Anthony Obi, before starting the transition to democracy in 1998. In 1999, Nigeria returned to democracy, and

Orji Uzor Kalu Orji Uzor Kalu (born 21 April 1960) is a Nigerian politician and businessperson who is a Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, He also serves as the Chief Whip of the House of Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria. He served as the ...

was

governor on the platform of the People's Democratic Party. Consequently, he was sworn in on 29 May 1999. In 2003, when it was time for fresh elections, Kalu re-contested on the platform of the PDP and got a second mandate to govern (the

Constitution of Nigeria The Constitution of Nigeria is the written supreme law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Nigeria has had many constitutions. Its current form was enacted on 29 May 1999 and inaugurated the Fourth Nigerian Republic. History Nigeria's str ...

limits Governors to two terms in office). At the end of Kalu's term in 2007, Theodore Orji ( PPA) defeated Onyema Ugochukwu (PDP) in the 2007 gubernatorial election, to become Abia's next Governor. In 2011, Theodore Orji defected from the PPA to the PDP before being re-elected for another four-year term later that year. In 2015, Okezie Ikpeazu (PDP) was voted in as the ninth Governor of Abia State. Four years later, he won

re-election The incumbent is the current holder of an office or position, usually in relation to an election. In an election for president, the incumbent is the person holding or acting in the office of president before the election, whether seeking re-ele ...

in 2019, defeating Uche Ogah of the All Progressives Congress and Alex Otti of APGA to be sworn in as Governor for a second term on 29 May 2019.

Local Government Areas

Abia State is made up of seventeen (17) Local Government Areas. They are: * Aba North * Aba South *

* Bende * Ikwuano * Isiala Ngwa North * Isiala Ngwa South * Isuikwuato *

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 ...

Ohafia Ohafia is an Igbo town in the Ohafia local government area (LGA) in Abia State, Nigeria. It is an Igbo speaking region. The ancestral capital of Ohafia town is the centrally located village of Elu. Ohafia Local Government Area, is an administrati ...

* Osisioma Ngwa * Ugwunagbo *

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 ...

Umuahia North Umuahia North is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the city of Umuahia. It has an area of 245 km and a population of 220,660 at the 2006 census. The postal code of the area is 440. Localities Towns and Vi ...

* Umuahia South * Umu Nneochi

Traditional rulers

Culture and tourism

Tourist destinations include: *

, which is associated with slave trade. * Azumini Blue River waterside * The Amakama wooden cave; a hollow tree that can accommodate up to twenty people. * Caves located in the north, ranging from Umu – Neochi to Arochukwu. * Traditional festivals and dances *

National War Museum, Umuahia The Nigerian National War Museum in Umuahia showcases the military history of Nigeria with relics form the Biafra-Nigerian Civil War. It has a collection of tanks, armored vehicles, ships, and aircraft all from Nigeria or the defunct Repu ...

and Ojukwu Bunker in Umuahia * Museum of Colonial History in Aba * Akwete” cloth weaving at Ukwu East LGA *

War Dancers * AmaforIsingwu biannual Iza aha ceremony * Akpe Festival in Umuahia

Notable people

Abai Ikwechegh Justice Abai Ikwechegh (OFR) (7 September 1923 – 12 October 2020) was a Nigerian jurist. Biography Ikwechegh was born on 7 September 1923 in Igbere, in the Eastern part of Nigeria, to Chief Ogbonnaya Ikwechegh, a slave merchant and trader and O ...

– Jurist * Acho Nwakanma – Former Deputy Governor of Abia State * Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani – novelist and essayist * Adolphus Wabara – Former Senate President of Nigeria. * Akwaeke Emezi – novelist *

Alex Mascot Ikwechegh Alex Ifeanyi Mascot Ikwechegh is a Nigerian politician, businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder of GrossField Group, Alex Ikwechegh foundation and a former Local Government Chairman of Aba North, Abia State, Nigeria. Early life and ed ...

, politician, businessman and philanthropist * Alexx Ekubo, Nollywood actor and Top Model * Alex Otti – Former Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank PLC. * Alvan Ikoku, OBE educationist (1900–1971) *

Anya Oko Anya Anya Oko Anya (born 3 January, 1937) is a Nigerian professor of Biology who is distinguished for his work in Parasitology. Early life Anya Oko Anya was born on 3 January 1937 at Abiriba, Abia State of Nigeria. He attended Hope Waddell Training ...

, technocrat and academic * Ashley Nwosu – Former Nigerian Actor *

Arunma Oteh Arunma Oteh is a Nigerian economist. She was the Treasurer and a Vice President of the World Bank (2015–2018). She became the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Nigeria in January 2010. In this position she wa ...

– Former World Bank Vice President and Treasurer. * Azubuike Ihejirika – Lt. General and former Chief of Army Staff * Azubuko Udah – Former Deputy-Inspector General of the Nigerian Police Force *

Basketmouth Bright Okpocha (born 14 September 1978 in Lagos State), better known by his stage name Basketmouth, is a Nigerian comedian and actor. He has organized popular stand-up comedy concerts like ''Basketmouth Uncensored'' across the globe. Basketmouth ...

– comedian * Benjamin Kalu – politician and member of the House of Representatives * Blessing Nwagba – Female Politician * Bright Chimezie – Highlife Musician * Buchi Atuonwu – Gospel Artiste * Chelsea Eze – award-winning Nollywood actress * Chidi Imoh – Athlete * Chijioke Nwakodo – Politician * Chika Chukwumerije – Olympic Taekwondo Medalist (Beijing 2008); 3-time Olympian; first Black African Olympic Medalist in the Martial Arts. * Chika Okeke-Agulu – Art historian. * Chinedu Ikedieze – award-winning Nollywood actor, * Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji – Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly * Chinweizu Ibekwe – Renowned essayist, poet, and journalist. * Chinyere Almona – business executive * Chinyere Kalu – Nigeria's first female pilot. * Chioma Agomo – Professor of Law * Chioma Onyekwere – Nigeria's Discus Champion. * Chioma Toplis – Nollywood Actress. * Chisom Chikatara – Professional Footballer * Christy Ucheibe – Female Nigerian Professional Footballer * Chuku Wachuku – Statesman and former Director-General of Nigeria's NDE: National Directorate of Employment * Christopher Kanu – Former Nigerian Professional Footballer. * Christopher Osondu – Former Navy Captain and Military Administrator of Cross River State * Chukwuemeka Ngozichineke Wogu – Former Minister of Labour and Productivity * Clifford Ohiagu – Politician * Daniel Kanu – Nigerian-American Politician. * Dike Chukwumerije – Award-winning Novelist, Poet, Public Speaker and Spoken-word artiste. Listed on 100 most influential Africans. *

Ebitu Ukiwe Okoh Ebitu Ukiwe (born 26 October 1940) is a retired Commodore in the Nigerian Navy who served as the de facto Vice President of Nigeria under military head of state General Ibrahim Babangida from 1985 to 1986. Family Ukiwe was born on 26 Octobe ...

– former Military Vice President; Former Governor of Niger and Lagos States. *

Ejike Asiegbu Ejike Asiegbu is a Nigerian film actor and film director who once served as President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria. He was also previously appointed as personal assistant to former Biafran leader Odumegwu Ojukwu during the 1994 National Const ...

- Nollywood Veteran actor * Ejikeme Ikwunze – Sports Journalist * Emma Ugolee – Media Personality and Author * Emmanuel Acho – Former American Football Player; Analyst at Fox Sports 1 * Emeka Ananaba – Former Deputy Governor of Abia State *

Eni Njoku Eni Njoku (6 November 1917 – 22 December 1974) was a Nigerian botanist and educator. He was vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos (1962–1965) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1966–1970). He served in the Nigerian House of Represent ...

– pioneer Vice Chancellor,

University of Lagos The University of Lagos, popularly known as UNILAG, is a public research university located in Lagos, Nigeria and was founded in 1962. UNILAG is one of the first generation universities in Nigeria and is ranked among the top universities in th ...

and first black Vice Chancellor,

University of Nigeria The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Eastern part of Nigeria. Founded by Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1955 and formally opened on 7 October 1960, the University of Nigeria has th ...

Nsukka. * Enyinnaya Abaribe – Senator and former Deputy Governor * Eucharia Oluchi Nwaichi – Environmental biochemist, Soil Scientist, and Toxicologist * Ezinne Kalu, Female Basketballer * Eziuche Ubani – Female Politician * Felix Nmecha – Professional Football Player *

Fortunatus Nwachukwu Fortunatus Nwachukwu (born 10 May 1960) is a Nigerian prelate of the Catholic Church who represents the Holy See at several international organizations in Geneva. He has worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since 1994. He has been a ...

– Catholic Prelate * Francis Ezeh – Professional Football Player * Godswill Obioma – Former National Examination Council Registrar * Ifu Ennada – Actress, Fashion Designer, and Former Big Brother Naija Housemate. * Iheanacho Obioma – Politician * IK Ogbonna, Nollywood Actor and Top Model *

Ike Ibeabuchi Ikemefula Charles "Ike" Ibeabuchi (born February 2, 1973) is a Nigerian former professional boxer who competed from 1994 to 1999 in the heavyweight division. He defeated the previously undefeated highly ranked contender David Tua in 1997 and anot ...

, Professional Boxer. *

Ike Nwachukwu Ike Omar Sanda Nwachukwu mni (born 1 September 1940) is a retired Army officer and Nigerian politician who served twice as Foreign Minister of Nigeria and as a Senator in the National Assembly delegation from Abia State. Education and train ...

, military officer, former state governor, diplomat, former senator and former chairman of the governing board of

Nigerian Institute of International Affairs The Nigerian Institute of International Affairs was established in 1961, to provide a platform of ideas on what direction Nigeria should follow on international policies, having regards to relationship with the outside world. The institute is headed ...

. * Ikechi Uko- Renowned travel consultant * Ikechukwu Uche – Former Nigerian Professional Footballer * Ikeogu Oke – Author, Journalist, and Award-winning Poet *

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 ...

– Anglican Bishop * Ivy Uche Okoronkwo – First Female Deputy Inspector General of Police * J. Martins, Afro-pop artiste *

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, ...

– First Minister of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria, First indigenous Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria and first Nigerian Permanent representative to the UN. * Joe Irukwu – Nigeria's First Professor of Insurance. * Joel Kachi Benson, documentary film maker. * John Godson – Polish lawmaker and philanthropist. *

Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi (3 March 1924 – 29 July 1966) was the first military head of state of Nigeria. He seized power during the ensuing chaos after the 15 January 1966 military coup, which decapitated the country's leaders ...

– Nigeria's Military Officer and former Head of State. * Josaiah Ndubuisi Wachuku – Former Eze of Ngwa land. *

Joyce Kalu Joyce Kalu (born 25 September 1970) is a Nigerian actress, film producer and director in the Nigerian Film Industry. Biography Joyce Kalu was born on 25 September 1970 in Ohafia, Abia State, South Eastern Nigeria. The last daughter in a fami ...

– Nollywood Actress * Kalu Uche – Former Nigerian Professional Footballer *

Kalu Idika Kalu Kalu Idika Kalu (born October 14, 1939) is a Nigerian politician. He served as Finance Minister of Nigeria, Minister of National planning and Transportation Minister. He served twice as the minister of finance. He was a presidential aspirant in th ...

– former Finance Minister and politician * Kalu Ikeagwu – Movie Actor and Writer. * Kalu Ndukwe Kalu – Political scientist and Distinguished Research Professor of Political Science and National Security Policy at Auburn University * Kelechi Emeteole – Former Nigerian Professional Footballer *

Kenneth Omeruo Kenneth Josiah Omeruo (born 17 October 1993) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a defender and the captain for Segunda División club Leganés and the Nigeria national team. Omeruo signed for Chelsea from Standard Liège in Jan ...

– Nigerian Professional Footballer *

Larry Gaaga Larry Ndianefo, professionally known as Larry Gaaga, is a Nigerian songwriter, recording artist, music producer, and record label executive. He gained fame with the success of ‘Gaaga Shuffle’, a song he performed alongside Innocent ‘2Baba� ...

– Renowned Songwriter and Music Producer * Linda Ejiofor – Nollywood Actress *

Lukas Nmecha Lukas Okechukwu Nmecha (born 14 December 1998) is a German professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Forward (association football), forward for Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg and the Germany national football team, Germany nat ...

– Professional Football Player * Macebuh Chinonyerem – Former member of the Abia State House of Assembly *

Mao Ohuabunwa Mao Arukwe Ohuabunwa (born 24 May 1957) is a Nigerian politician, businessman and a former Senator who represented Abia North Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly having served in the 4th and 5th National Assembly as Member represe ...

, industrialist and politician * Mary Ikoku – Development Consultant * Mary Lazarus – Nollywood Actress * Martins Azubuike – Former Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly. * Michael Okpara – premier of Nigeria's Eastern Region from 1959 to 1966 * Mike Ezuruonye – Award-winning Nollywood actor. * Mr Raw – Igbo rap music pioneer * Nathan Kanu – Anglican Bishop * Ndubuisi Kanu – Former Governor of Lagos State and old Imo State. * Njoku Nnamdi – Former Member of the Abia State House of Assembly *

Nkechi Blessing Sunday Nkechi Blessing Sunday (born 14 February 1989) is an America-based Nigerian actor, film producer, film director, and screenwriter, born and raised in Surulere, Lagos State. She produced her first movie, ''Omoge Lekki'' in 2015, starring herself ...

– Nollywood actress * Nkechi Justina Nwaogu – Two Time Senator Abia Central Senatorial District and Immediate Past Pro Chancellor University of Calabar. * Nkiru Sylvanus – Awarding winning Nollywood actress * Nnamdi Kanu – founder of the

Indigenous People of Biafra The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is a nationalist separatist group in Nigeria that aims to restore the Republic of Biafra, a country which seceded from Nigeria prior to the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) and later rejoined Nigeria after i ...

(IPOB), a separatist group. * Nnamdi Udoh – Aeronautical Engineer *

Ndubuisi Ekekwe Ndubuisi Ekekwe (born July 1975) is a Nigerian business person. He is the founder of First Atlantic Semiconductors & Microelectronics – West Africa's leading embedded systems company. His working experience includes Analog Devices Corp where ...

– Notable Inventor *

Nnenna Elendu Ukeje Nnenna Ijeoma Elendu Ukeje is a Nigerian politician who was the representative for Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State, Nigeria. Having had a successful career in the private sector, Nnenna was elected to the House of Representatives in 2007, ...

– Female Politician * Nwabueze Nwokolo – British Lawyer * Nwakanwa Chimaobi – Former member of the Abia State House of Assembly * Nwankwo Kanu – Two time African Footballer of the year and

Arsenal FC Arsenal Football Club, commonly referred to as Arsenal, is a professional football club based in Islington, London, England. Arsenal plays in the Premier League, the top flight of English football. The club has won 13 league titles (incl ...

legend. * OC Ukeje – Lagos-based Multiple Award Winning Nollywood actor * Ogbugo Kalu – Renowned Army Officer. * Oji Umozurike, professor of law *

Ojo Maduekwe Chief Ojo Maduekwe (May 6, 1945 – June 29, 2016) was a Nigerian politician of Igbo origin, from Ohafia, Abia State. Early life and education He was educated at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and graduate with a law degree in 1972. Po ...

– Former Nigerian Politician. * Okechukwu Enelamah – former Minister for Trade and Investment (2015–2019) * Okezie Ikpeazu – Abia State Governor * Olu Oguibe – Professor of art at the University of Connecticut and senior fellow at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC * Oluchi Onweagba – International model and first winner of M-Net Face of Africa *

Onwuka Kalu Onwuka Kalu (24 May 1954 in Abiriba, Abia State, Nigeria – 23 February 2015 in Edgware, London, England) was a Nigerian businessman who founded Onwuka Hi-Tek a manufacturing concern in Aba which was later quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange ...

– Business Mogul and co-founder of Fidelity Union Merchant Bank * Onyema Ogbuagu – Medical Researcher * Onyema Ugochukwu – First Executive Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) *

– chairman, SLOK Group; Former State Governor and one time Founder of Progressive People's Alliance (PPA); Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria * Pascal Atuma – Canadian-Nigerian actor, screenwriter, film producer, director and CEO/Chairman TABIC Record Label. born in Ikwuano Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. * Pascal Ojigwe – Nigerian former professional footballer and Abia State Commissioner of Sports. * Paul Agbai Ogwuma – former Governor of Nigeria's Central Bank * Randy Onuoha, Professional Footballer. * Rosemary Inyama – Female Politician *

Ruggedman Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, known professionally as Ruggedman, is a Nigerian rapper from Ohafia, Abia State. Career A graduate of political science from Lagos State University, Ọ̀jọ́, Ruggedman started exploring music in 1999. He produ ...

, Afro-Rap artiste. * 2Shotz, AfroRap Artiste * Sam Acho – ESPN Sports Analyst and Veteran American Football Player. *

Sam Ohuabunwa use both this parameter and , birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) --> , death_place = , death_cause = , body_discovered = , resting_place = , resting_place_coordinates ...

– Founder of Neimeth Pharmaceutical and Former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria * Samuel Achilefu – Notable Inventor * Samuel Chukwueze – Nigeria National Team football player * Samuel Kalu – Nigerian Professional Footballer. * Sunday Mba – Nigerian Professional Footballer * Theodore Orji – former State Governor and a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. *

Uche Jombo Uche Jombo Rodriguez (born December 28, 1979), is a Nigerian actress, screenwriter and film producer. Early life Uche Jombo was born on December 28, 1979, in Abiriba, Abia State, Nigeria. She is a graduate of Mathematics and Statistics fro ...

, award-winning Nollywood actress. * Uche Chukwumerije – 3-time Senator of Fed Rep of Nigeria; Former Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture; Former Biafran Minister of Information; Publisher Afriscope Magazine. * Uche Elendu – Nollywood actress * Uche Okechukwu – former Nigerian Team footballer * Uchechukwu N. Maduako – Former Member of the Abia State House of Assembly *

Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah (born 22 December 1969) is the current Nigerian Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development. An oil magnate, entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist, Ogah is the President of Master Energy Group, a conglomerate with ...

– Businessman and Politician * Uchenna Ikonne – Academic and Public Administrator * Uchenna Kanu – Female Nigerian Professional Footballer * Ude Oko Chukwu – Deputy Governor of Abia State *

Uko Nkole Uko Ndukwe Nkole (born 20/10/1975 in Ozu Abam Arochukwu, Abia State) is a Nigerian politician and member of the Nigerian National Assembly. Nkole was the representative from Arochukwu/Ohafia in the Federal House of Representative in the 8th and ...

– Politician * Uma Ukpai – evangelist. * Umeh Kalu – Former Commissioner of Justice for Abia State. * Uzo Asonye – Partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell * Uzodinma Iweala – US-based medical doctor and author of the book '' Beasts of No Nation''. * Uzoma Emenike- Nigeria's Ambassador to the United States of America. * Victoria Inyama – Nollywood Actress. * Vincent Eze Ogbulafor – Former National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party * Waconzy – Musician * Yagazie Emezi – Award-winning photojournalist *

Yvonne Okoro Chinyere Yvonne Okoro is a Ghanaian Nigerian actress. Born to a Nigerian dad and Ghanaian mother, Yvonne Okoro is of mixed lineage and calls herself an African. Yvonne Okoro is from Koforidua in the Eastern Parts of Ghana. She received Ghana Mo ...

– Ghanaian-Nigerian actress

References

External links

*
ABIA State of Nigeria – A ProfileAbia State Background InformationAbia Union USA
{{Portal bar, Nigeria Abia State, States of Nigeria States in Igboland States and territories established in 1991 1991 establishments in Nigeria