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Imo state

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Imo State
State nickname: Eastern Heartland
Location
Location of Imo State in Nigeria
Statistics
Governor
(List) 		Achike Udenwa (PDP)
Date Created February 3, 1976
Capital Owerri
Area 5,530 km²
Ranked 34th
Population
1991 Census
2005 est. 		Ranked 13th
2,485,499
4,000,000[1]
ISO 3166-2 NG-IM

Imo State is a state in southern Nigeria that was created on February 3, 1976. The area which became Imo State was previously part of East Central State, one of the twelve states initially created by the Federal Military Government in 1967. With the creation of more states in 1991, Abia State was carved out from Imo State. In 2005, the state had a population of about 4 million people. Owerri is its capital and largest city. Other major towns are Okigwe, Oguta, Nkwerre, Orlu, Mbaise, Uzoagba, Emekuku (Emekē Ukwu), Orodo, Mgbidi.

Geography, vegetation and climate

Imo State derives its name from Imo River, which takes its course from the Okigwe/Awka upland. It lies within latitudes 4°45'N and 7°15'N, and longitude 6°50'E and 7°25'E, and occupies the area between the lower Niger River and the upper and middle Imo River. The state is bounded by Anambra State to the north, Abia State (formerly part of it) to the east, and Delta and Rivers States to the west and south respectively. Imo State covers an area of about 5,100 sq km.

Imo State is underlain by the Benin Formation of coastal plain sands. This formation, which is of late Tertiary age, is rather deep, porous, infertile and highly leached. In some areas like Okigwe, impermeable layers of clay occur near the surface, while in other areas, the soil consists of lateritic material under a superficial layer of fine grained sand.

Rivers are few with vast inter fluves, characterized by dry valleys that carry surface drainage in periods of high rainfall. The phenomenal monotony of the terrain may be accounted for by the absence of any tectonic disturbances and by the homogeneity of the rock structure.

The main streams draining the state are the Imo, Otamiri, Njaba and Ulasi rivers, all of which have very few tributaries. With the exception of Imo River, which runs through the area underlain by the Imo Shales, other rivers rise within the coastal plain sands. Generally, river valleys constitute the major physical features, which are often marshy.

The undulating nature of the interfluves gives rise to numerous depressions especially in the northeast. Rainfall distribution is bimodal, with peaks in July and September and a two week break in August. The rainy season begins in March and lasts till October or early November. From March to May, there are violent storms which destroy crops and houses. Rainfall is often at its maximum at night and during the early morning hours. However, variations occur in rainfall amount from year to year. Annual rainfall varies from 1,990 to 2,200 mm.

Climate

Temperatures are similar all over the state. The hottest months are January to March, with the mean annual temperature above 20°C. The influence of the harmattan lasts for about nine weeks (i.e. from late December to late February). Imo State has an average annual relative humidity of 75%; humidity is highest during the rainy season, when it rises to about 90%. The high temperature and humidity experienced in the state favour luxuriant plant growth, which produce the Imo State's rich and beautiful vegetation of the tropical rain forest.

Vegetation and natural resources

Economic trees like the iroko, mahogany, obeche, gmelina, bamboo, rubber palm and oil palm predominate. Due to high population density, however, most of the state has been so farmed and degraded that the original vegetation has disappeared. Thus farmers are forced into marginal lands, a situation aggravated by the rising demand for fuel-wood. Deforestation has triggered off acute soil erosion especially in the Okigwe Orlu axis.

Natural resources include crude oil, lead, zinc, white clay, fine sand, limestone and natural gas in commercial quantities. The state also produces agricultural produce such as palm produce, cocoa and rubber. The main staple crops are yam, cassava, cocoyam and maize. Imo State has many rivers. The main rivers in the state are Imo, Otamiri and Njaba. The major lakes are in Oguta and Abadaba in Obowu local government area.

Demographics

Many of the approximately 4 million inhabitants of Imo State are Igbo.[1] The official languages of the state are Igbo and English. There are many traditional festivals observed in the state, and each community has different festivals celebrated in honor of ancient deities or to mark an important event in the history of the area. There are different festivals to usher in the harvest season, the most popular being the Ahiajoku Festival, which is observed in all the farming communities. The lgbo have different types of music to suit various occasions, such as work, leisure, marriage, and funeral. The classical Igbo music of the modern era is seen in the works of the Imo State maestro, Dr. Sir Warrior. Much of the traditional music is a combination of vocal and instrumental artistry, which produces a tuneful melody. Honored traditional music and dances include Abiigbo, Ekpe, Ikoro, Okonko, Mmanwu, etc. The traditional apparel for the men is an overflowing jumper or a long-sleeved shirt worn over the George wrapper, which is tied round the waist, flowing down to the ankles. This dress is complemented with a cap and a walking stick, which serves as an instrument of support and defense. The traditional wear for the women is a blouse, worn over a wrapper. This female outfit goes with a head tie, ear rings and necklaces.

Works of art produced in the state include: carved doors, walking sticks of different designs, sculptures, flutes, wooden mortars and pestles, gongs, and the famous talking drums. Metal works and various types of fabrications are locally produced. Some artistic and cultural centers include the Mbari Cultural Center at Owerri, Eke Nguru in Aboh Mbaise, and lgwekala shrine in Umunoha. Part of the culture of the state is the lgbo traditional hospitality to visitors, which begins with the presentation of kolanuts to the visitor; this tradition signifies that the visitor is heartily welcomed. The ritual of the presentation of the kolanut is consummated with the offering of prayers and thanksgiving or petition to the supreme God and other deities for the protection of the visitor and the host. The people are predominantly Christians of different denominations, largely Catholicism, but some still practice traditional religions.

Government

Achike Udenwa is the current governor of Imo State. He is the head of the executive arm of government and is assisted by a deputy governor, commissioners and executive advisers.

The legislative arm, headed by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, is made up of elected legislators; it is the lawmaking body of the state. The judiciary is charged with the responsibility of the administration of justice and is headed by the Chief Judge of the state. Functions of the government are carried out through the various ministries and parastatals

At the community level, the autonomous communities are headed by traditional rulers called Ezes, who in turn have their own cabinet of appointed chiefs and titled men.

Local Government Areas

Imo State is made up of twenty-seven Local Government Areas:

Education

Education is of high priority in the state. In the 1996 school year, Imo State primary school enrolment was 561,214. There are currently 2,040 primary schools, 305 secondary schools, 75 private secondary schools, 4 technical colleges and 65 approved private vocational/commercial colleges in Imo State. Total enrolment for secondary school in the 2003 school year was 486,026. Enrolment in technical colleges and vocational/commercial colleges for the same year was 122,650. Total number of teachers in both primary and secondary for the same was 96,711.

There are five institutions of higher learning in the state namely: Imo State University at Owerri, Alvan Ikoku College of Education at Owerri; the Federal University of Science and Technology at Owerri; the Michael Okpara College of Agriculture at Umuagwu; and the Polytechnic at Nekede.

Health care

Imo State has an effective health care delivery system comprising hospitals and paramedical centers. These medical establishments are located in different local government areas of the of state and are categorized into five main groups: Government owned Specialist Hospitals ,General Hospitals; Voluntary Agency Hospitals (Missionary Hospitals); Community Owned Hospitals; and, Privately owned hospitals. Also, the State Health Care Delivery Scheme has adopted a grassroots approach through the establishment of rural basic healthcare centers and village primary healthcare centers in all the LGAs.

There are approximately 45 mission hospitals, 2 jointly-owned hospitals, 346 private hospitals/clinics and maternity homes. There are also three Federal/ State/Local Government Basic Health Service Clinics and a total of 37 dispensaries. The State Government has a School of Nursing located at Owerri and Schools of Midwifery at Mgbidi and Aboh Mbaise. The schools trains nurses and midwives who serve in government and private medical institutions and support the few voluntary agencies that exist in the State.

Notable Natives

Imo State constitutes a major hub of the source of numerous distinguished Nigerians and world-class academicians like:

References

  1. ^ a b Imostate.com

5°30′N 7°10′E / 5.500°N 7.167°E / 5.500; 7.167

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