Uzere formerly known as "Uzei" is located in 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 head ...

Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State 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 has become one of the largest petroleum oil producing communities in

. Oil exploration started in Uzere in 1957. Uzere has two oil fields(Uzere West and Uzere East) with a total of 43 oil wells producing about . Uzere has nine communities: Uhei, Ezede, Uweye, Afikioko (London Base), Uhroko (Paris), Ekregbesi, Abale, Iwre-Ezede, and Iboro.

Government

Monarchy:

Ovie Ovie is a given name, nickname and surname. It may refer to: Nickname * Alexander Ovechkin (born 1985), Russian ice hockey player * Ovie Alston (1905–1989), American jazz trumpeter, vocalist, and bandleader * Ovie Ejaria (born 1997), English f ...

(king) who doubles as the chief priest of the Eni deity.

Climate

Uzere lies within the tropical rainforest belt with luxuriant vegetation. It experiences tropical wet and dry climate, with relatively constant temperatures throughout the course of the years.

Natural resources

Uzere is one of the largest oil producing communities in Nigeria. The Kingdom is also known for the production of groundnut,

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 ...

and fish. There is a saying in Isoko that, "if you love fish, then marry an Uzere man."

Industries

Though, Uzere is known for

oil exploration Hydrocarbon exploration (or oil and gas exploration) is the search by petroleum geologists and geophysicists for deposits of hydrocarbons, particularly petroleum and natural gas, in the Earth using petroleum geology. Exploration methods Vis ...

, it has recently developed into an industrial town with a cassava processing factory in Uwhroko community by the Local Government Authority.

Education

There are numerous public and private schools in Uzere. They include: Uzere Grammar School, St. Paul's Schools, Elite Academy, Uzere Primary School, Ogrih Primary School, and Eni Primary School.

Tourism

Uzere was a known tourist destination in Isoko, until December 4, 1903 when the Eni Lake "Court" was abolished by Colonial District officer Copland Crawford, calling it "trial by ordeal". The famous Eni Lake was a court for the trial of people accused of witchcraft.

Festivals

Eni festival is the most celebrated festival in the history of Uzere Kingdom. According to Utohware Udumubrai in his book, ''Uzere People and Culture in the

Niger Delta The Niger Delta is the delta of the Niger River sitting directly on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean in Nigeria. It is located within nine coastal southern Nigerian states, which include: all six states from the South South geopolitic ...

'', Eni festival "attracts people from all walks of life especially places where the people usually flock to Uzere to detect witchcraft...It is accompanied with much fanfare, music, cooking and eating of delicious native food. It also includes exchange of gifts". Other festivals are the annual Uzere Students' Reunion and Pageant, and the New Year's Eve Party usually hosted by Arube Dance Band of Uzere at the old market square in Uheri community.

Health

Uzere has a cottage hospital built and equipped by the Shell Petroleum Development Company and health centers.

References

{{Isoko South Populated places in Isoko South