Umudike is a semi-urban settlement in Oboro,

Ikwuano Ikwuano is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in Isiala Oboro. The name 'Ikwuano' etymologically indicates that there are four different ancient kingdoms that make up the community called Ikwuano. These include ...

Local Government Area A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a federated state, state, province, division (politica ...

Abia State Abia is a state in the Southeastern region of Nigeria. The state's capital is Umuahia and its most populous city is Aba. Abia is bordered the west by Imo, east by Cross River, south by Rivers, northwest by Anambra and northeast by Enug ...

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, ...

. It is about 11 kilometers southeast of

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 Ni ...

, the state's capital city. It is home to the

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture The Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, originally the Federal University of Agriculture, is a federal university in Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria was established as a specialized University by a Federal Government of Nigeria Decree No 4 ...

and the National Root Crops Research Institute. Umudike is composed of two autonomous communities which are Umudike and Umudike Ukwu. The town is surrounded by other neighbouring communities in which it shares its common beliefs and socio-cultural ethics with. They include; Umuariaga, Amaoba, Amawom, Nnono, Ndoro and Ahuwa. These towns accommodate about 40% of students from the Michael Okpara University.

History

The word 'Umudike' translates to 'descendants of Dike' from Igbo. The progenitor of Umudike, Dike was a descendant of Mazi Awom who begot nine children namely: Mazi Ija (Mgbaja), Mmiri (Agbommiri), Obia (Umuobia), Chukwu (Mbachukwu), Kamanu (Mbakamanu), Aga (Agah), Ishiara (Mbaisara), Ukomu (Umuokom) and Dike (Umudike). Mazi Dike begot three children namely; Okwuta (Umukwuru and Ezi Uku), Umuofo (Umuoke and Umudiogu) and Umuelele (Agbomgbe and Ezi Uku). Umudike is a compound from Amawom. It was posted to its present location to guide against enemies.Mazi J. K. Okey, the President of Appeal Court Mbiopong (Chief) and Nwakudu Awazie (Councillor) for Amawom, Mazi Okoronkwo Ogwudu for Umudike, on the 5th of May, 1953

Culture

The town is known for its popular '

Ekpe Ekpe, also known as Mgbe/Egbo ( Ekoi language: ''leopard''; derived from the Efik term for the same), is a West African secret society in Nigeria and Cameroon flourishing chiefly among the Ejagham. It is also found among a number of other ethni ...

' festival which is held every January. This festival attracts a number of tourists from neighbouring states and even countries.

References

{{Reflist Populated places in Abia State Towns in Abia State

History

Culture

See also

References