Ugwueme

Ondo State

File:Ugwueme Location Map.jpg

Location Map Ugwueme

Ugwueme is a town in Awgu local government in Enugu State, southeastern Nigeria. It is located at Latitude 6°01’02.5″N and Longitude 7°26’21.0″E, which is approximately 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of the town of Awgu, the local government headquarters. Ugwueme is bordered in the north by Nnenwenta, on the east by Awgu town, and on the south by Lokpanta. It shares its western border with Isuochi.

According to the National Population Commission (2006), Ugwueme has an estimated population of 13,000 people. The town is accessible through a network of un-sealed roads, laterite graded roads, and several footpaths through Awgu market, Nkwe, and Isuochi.

Geography

View of Ugwueme from Ihite mountain

Ugwueme is surrounded by hilly valleys with green vegetation and a temperate climate. The region experiences heavy rainfall especially during the months of June, July, and September. The natural landscape consists of elevated topography, reaching an altitude of about 400–850 m (1,300-2,790 feet), above the sea level. The highland is reported have various layers of coal and hydrocarbon deposits. An evaluation of Ugwueme Tar sand deposits indicated degraded levels of crude oil with "frequent reports of oil associated seepages at the gentle slope in Ugwueme area during and immediately after each rainy season period every year".

History

Ugwueme history is intertwined with the history of the Igbo people, who have inhabited the region for generations. According to oral history, the town was founded by a group of early settlers from the neighboring Isuochi town who fled to the mountain for safety, hence the name Ugwu-eme - "The Hill has done well". The hilly landscape provided a natural defense mechanism, safeguarding the early settlers from potential threats from warring neighbors and ensuring their security.

Culture

The town is renowned for its vibrant cultural festivities and traditions. The annual New yam festival (Egbeajala), is a major event in the town. Residents express their gratitude for a bountiful harvest by offering yams to their various deities. The festival is marked by traditional dances, masquerades, colorful attire, and communal feasts, attracting visitors from neighboring towns and villages.

Economy

View of Stone Quarry activity in Ugwueme

Ugwueme is predominantly rural and agrarian, with substantial proportion of its working population engaged in subsistence farming and rely on cash crops such as cassava, yam, cocoyam, vegetables, corn, Palm oil, African breadfruit. Bush fallowing, mixed cropping and shifting cultivation are prominent farming practices in Ugwueme. Local farmers live in communal areas and travel by foot to their farm land early in the morning and returning just before sunset. Livestock rearing, Palm wine extraction, and stone quarrying are also common economic activities.

View of Ugwueme landscape

Trading is also a dominant occupation. Two major trading markets located in Ugwueme. Ekeagu market in Agulese community takes place on Eke day. Nwahoikoro market situated at Eziobu community takes place during Afor day. Various farm products are traded in these markets on wholesale and retail basis every four days. A central market operates daily at the town center, Okpukponkpume.

Politics

The three major political parties in Ugwueme are people's Democratic party (PDP) All Progressive Alliance Congress and Labour Party (LP).

Ugwueme has two autonomous communities, namely Agulese and Eziobu Autonomous Community. Each autonomous community is governed by an elected Town union President General (P.G) and Traditional council headed by Igwe (King).

• Agulese Ugwueme General Assembly (President General: Dr. Sunday Okafor ) - made up of Amagu, Ihite and Ugwuanya clan
• Eziobu Town Union (President General: Nelson Okoroafor) - made up of Okpesi, Obulo, and Umuokpara clan

Prior to the establishment of the two autonomous communities by Enugu state government, Ugwueme was under one Traditional Council, headed by the Traditional Ruler (Igwe). HRH Igwe Solomon Okereke Oluah was the first traditional ruler who governed until his death in late 1990s. Since the creation of the autonomous communities, Agulese Ugwueme installed His Royal Highness (HRH) Igwe Godwin Oluneziobi Okereke as its first traditional ruler. Following the passing of HRH Igwe Godwin Oluneziobi Okereke in 2020, no new traditional ruler has been elected and installed either in Agulese or Eziobu autonomous community. In the absence, President General of the town unions oversee the affairs of the town.

Natural spring water in Ugwueme,nkwo spring water

Notable landmarks

• Mount Horeb - prayer ground
• St. Matthew Methodist Church
• St. Theresa Catholic Parish
• Okpukume - The village center.
• DAOkem hotel and event center-okpuiyi.
• Natural springs - drinking water sources

Notable people

Chief Ambrose Agulla

FAMILY BACKGROUND/PARENTAGE

The chief Ambrose Anyaragbu Asisong Agullah was born to a Polygamous family of Late Okarahor Odagburuezi son of Akuerubaa and Late Mrs Mgbokwo Obute Aguualaa Mbe Nwokeocha Igwekanze of Umuegbudikezeala,Umuireagu Okpesi Eziama Ugwueme in Awgu Local Government Area Enugu State. Okarahor a business merchant that transverse between Ugwueme and Calabar in the then world due to his exposure gave him that name Asibong (meaning Destiny Child) but due to the fact that the name is strange and hard to pronounce correctly our people call him Asibo. He is one of the many children of Okarahor Odagburu as he was popularly called; He is last child of his mother who happens to be first wife. He got married to Mrs Monica Agullah Nee Dilibeakor on 18/12/1969 in a Holy wedlock according to Roman Catholic Sacrament of matrimony and the union was blessed with 7 surviving children.

EDUCATION

Late Anyaragbu started his Standard education at St Theresa Catholic Mission School popularly called old mission Ugwueme due to lack of capacity of the school to have up to standard 5 his parent transfered him to St Michael Mission School Awgu to complete his education, he suffered set back when he had injury while playing football for the school team, He could not continue his education following the demise of his father. As trained Red Cross health personnel, he developed himself by attending seminars and workshop. He was licensed to operate as a patent and proprietary medicine dealer in 1972.

OCCUPATION

After his primary education he joined his elder brother Okparajiobu Nwokeocha in his trade at Oliparaga in present Ondo state, as a young boy he served his brother who was a palm wine tapper. He was not satisfied with such trade His late mother and late brother sent him to learn motor mechanic at Ogoja in present Cross River State, while learning motor mechanic Nigeria Civil war broke out he left his cloth washed and a pot soup he just finished cooking and ran home hanging on the tail board (3board) of a lorry. Due to his concern for Humanity he volunteered to work with Nigeria Red Cross society to attain to Nigeria civil war victims, the training he received was what he used in medical practice. He started dispensing drugs with small basket “Nkata ogwum” (he still use that name till his death) and a bell to attract would be clients. Later he started operating at his Ogbodo ikegwu residence, from there he move to Ukwuegbu, that movement changed his name to Doctor Ukwuegbu, from Ukwuegbu he open a branch at Okpukpomkpume square. Anyaragbu through his medical knowledge touched lifes every Ugwuemerian and its environs; he trained many young men and women today in the same vocation. To diversify his economy he started a transport business in 1982.  Anyaragbu never take up any vocation or trade for profit maximzation but to bridge the gap between Ugwueme and rest of the world and at the same time place Ugwueme on the same page with other communities around, he puchased Toyota Coaster buses in 1982, in 2001 he migrated to using 508/608 mercedes Benz buses that connected Ugwueme and Ondo/Ekiti State every weekend to replace Umu- Awgu that was taking advantage of Ugwueme people living in that part of the country, he later saw the need and what it cost an average Ugwueme man to getting building materials in Ugwueme caused by: bad road and lack of tipper to supply sand . Suffice it to say that before 2006 to get a trip of sand in Ugwueme is like a Carmel passing through the eye of a needle. To crown his effort towards the development of Ugwueme even on sick bed he still have the interest of the town at heart, in January 2018 he saw the need for water supply in Ugwueme, He made a frantic effort to procured a water tanker to ensure easy access to Water for domestic and commercial use in the community and its environs.  Today you can see upstairs of different sizes and styles scattered all over Ugwueme courtesy of Anyaragbu’s vision of getting a tipper and water supply tanker to service Ugwueme and its environs.

SOCIAL LIFE

Asibong (Asibo) is “madu oha”every ugwueme man or woman remembers him for one kind gesture or the other. Anyaragbu will treat his patient and provide food for such a patient whether you have money or not, his motto was “health first”.. He sings on top of his motorcycle everytime he is riding down town, he has different song for everyone he meets on his way young or old. School children calls him “Eluomoooooooooo” his social life attracts different name to him some called him “Ome dariiiii (easy Going one), Dokita ukwu egbu, Ogwonyevulabo(healer of man carried on a starchier),Nwa Nwokeocha(son of Nwokeocha), Ali Ala(last Born), Ugwueme development union Aba branch gave him a title as Ozo ndu oha(life saver)” His benevolence covers every part of his life including subscribing for a post office box to connect Ugwueme to other part of the world, the popular Box 147 Awgu is like an anthem in the mouth of every Ugwuemerian that lived in the period post office was the only means to send or receive information around the world. Until 2018 that he passed on- Ambrose continue to renew the post office box that is still serving the community, Anyaragbu single handedly stopped killing of twins and those the community termed to be “Aru” (Abomination) by either been delivered through the leg instead of head at birth.