Umuahia

Umuahia Umuhu-na-Okaiuga Umuahia Ibeku
—  Town  —
Top left: Abia tower. Mid Left: Umuahia Clock Tower. Bottom Left: Federal High Court, Umuahia. Center: BCA Radio Tower. Top Right: Star Beer sponsored welcome Billboard. Mid Right: Umuahia Market. Bottom Right: Umuahia Police Station.
Umuahia Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 5°32′N 7°29′E
Country	Nigeria
State	Abia State
LGA	Umuahia North, Umuahia South
Population (2006)
• Total	359,230
Time zone	WAT (UTC+1)
Postcode	440...
Area code(s)	088

Umuahia (pronounced [ʊmʊaːhiaː]) is the capital of Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. Umuahia is located along the rail road that lies between Port Harcourt to Umuahia's south and Enugu city to its north. Umuahia has a population of 359,230 according to the 2006 Nigerian census. Umuahia's indigenous ethnic group are the Igbo.

Umuahia is well known as being an agricultural market center since 1916. It is also a railway collecting point for crops such as yams, cassava, corn (maize), taro, citrus fruits, and palm oil and kernels. There are several breweries in Umuahia, and there is also a palm-oil-processing plant. Nigeria's National Root Crops Research Institute, at Umudike, is adjacent to the town. Umuahia also has several colleges including Trinity College (theological) and several hospitals.

Umuahia comprises two local government areas: Umuahia North and Umuahia South. These local governments are also composed of clans such as the Umuokpara, Ibeku, Olokoro, Ubakala and Ohuhu communities. Umuahia town is traditionally owned by the Ibeku after early British administrators based the town in their lands.

History

Umuahia is a town composed of five clans who each have their own origins of how they came to settle at the place later named Umuahia. Umuahia was established by the British colonial administration of Nigeria in the early 20th century. Umuahia was declared the second capital of the short-lived nation of the Republic of Biafra on 28 September 1967 after the first capital, Enugu was captured by Nigerian troops. After Umuahia's capture on 24 December 1969, the last Biafran capital before its dissolution became Owerri.

Notable people from Umuahia

Some of its citizens were Michael Iheonukara Okpara, the former premier of Eastern Region of Nigeria. Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, the first Nigerian GOC and military Head of state. John Abraham Godson, the first black member of the Polish parliament, HRH Eze Gabriel Chianakwalam Akomas (Ogurube II), the first black man to become a manager in UACN, former deputy mayor of Port Hacourt and the first Eze of Ibeku.

Religion

Mater Dei Cathedral in Umuahia is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Umuahia.

See also

• Railway stations in Nigeria

External links

• Umuahia Progressive Association Inc. New York
• Umuahia Online