Orlu, Imo

Orlu (Igbo: Ọ̀lụ́)[1] is the second-largest city in South East, Imo State, Nigeria, with a population of 420,600.[2] It has a long history as the headquarters for the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and humanitarian relief agencies during the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War. The city houses the Nigerian headquarters of the British Cheshire Home. It is the second most developed city after Owerri in Imo state.

Orlu
Ọ̀lụ́
LGA and city
Orlu headquarters Building
Orlu headquarters Building
Orlu is located in Nigeria
Orlu
Orlu
Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 05°47′47″N 07°02′20″E
CountryNigeria
StateImo
Population
 (520,000)
 • Total520,000 (estimated)
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)

Commerce and Industries

Orlu is a home for enterprise and industry and is unofficially known as the "commercial capital" of Imo state. Many successful Nigerian businessmen and industrialists hail from the eleven local government areas that make up the Orlu Senatorial Zone. They include Orsu, Isu, Njaba, Nwangele, Nkwerre, Ideato North, Ideato South, Oru East, Oru West, Ohaji/Egbema, and Oguta. The city centre of the local government area is within the host towns of Amaifeke, Ihioma/Ebenese, Umuna, Umuowa, Umutanze, Okporo, Orlu-Gedegwum, and Owerre-Ebeiri. When all of the LGAs in the zone are included Orlu's population is estimated to be approaching 3,000,000 inhabitants.

Orlu is the permanent site for various industries including state and federal agencies like the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, the state-owned cardboard industry in Owerri-Ebeiri, the newly built Imo State School of Nursing and Health Technology at Okporo as well as many small and medium-sized chemical and pharmaceutical companies. The multipurpose Imo International Market which houses one of the three most influential pharmaceutical markets in West Africa is based in Orlu due to the high number of Orlulites in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. Consequently, the Orlu Zonal Area has the highest concentration of indigenous pharmaceutical manufacturers and marketers in the whole African continent.

The Ogbosisi Timber Centre is located within the quickly expanding Orlu Urban area and the city centre. The Nigeria Immigration Training School (NITS) in Umuowa and the Technological Skills Acquisition Centre (TESAC) are also based in the city.

Cultural festivals

Many towns in Orlu hold cultural festivals. The people of Orlu have made important contributions to the education, sports, and political growth of Nigeria.

Orlu is a homeland for the Igbo people of Nigeria.[3]

Notable people

Notable members of the ruling family include Eze Patrick I Ibeakanma Acholonu, the first Senator to represent the Orlu/Okigwe division (presently Orlu Zone and Okigwe Zone) in the old Federation of Nigeria as well as the 1st Republic;[4][5] the late Justice Ignatius Chukwudi Pats Acholonu, the first Orlu indigene to become a Supreme Court justice; Dr. Douglas Acholonu, former deputy governor of Imo state in the 3rd Republic; Dr. Mrs Catherine Acholonu, author, researcher, playwright and Senior Special Adviser to President Obasanjo in the 4th Republic; Eze Dr. Patrick II Chinedu Acholonu, Igwe XI, Duru IX of Orlu Gedegwum.

The footballer Samuel Okwaraji who died playing for Nigeria hails from Umudioka Orlu, hence the city's main stadium name, Umuowa. The former governor of the state, Chief Achike Udenwa, hails from Amaifeke Orlu while the immediate past governor, and current Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District and Chairman of House Committee on Culture & Tourism Owelle Rochas Okorocha hails from Ogboko where the Eastern Palm University is located, in the outskirts of the city. Orlu Senatorial Zone has produced the highest number of governors in Imo State.

Other notable residents include:

Autonomous communities

Orlu Local Government Area consists of over thirty-three autonomous communities. They include towns like:[11]

  • Alaoma Oweere-Ebeiri
  • Amaifeke
  • Amike
  • Eziachi
  • Ihioma
  • Ihitte-Owerre
  • Mgbee
  • Obibi-Ochasi
  • Obinugwu
  • Obor
  • Ogberuru
  • Okporo
  • Oweer-Ebeiri
  • Umuago
  • Umudioka
  • Umudioka Ancient Kingdom
  • Umudioka UKWU
  • Umudioka-Oweere
  • Umueze
  • Umuna
  • Umuowa
  • Umutanze
  • Umuzike

Missionary activities

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlu (Latin Dioecesis Orluanus) was erected on November 29 1980 and houses the Holy Trinity Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in west and central Africa. Augustine T. Ukwuoma succeeded Bishop Gregory O. Ochiagha who had served as the Bishop of Orlu since its creation. Orlu is also the location of Nigeria's only parish of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (the Nne Enyemaka Shrine. It also has a diocese of the Anglican communion. The region also has a number of orthodox and Protestant churches to boost its Christian activities.

Climatic information

The average annual temperature ranges from 66 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, rarely falling below 58 or rising over 89 degrees.[12][13]

Sister cities

Orlu is twinned with:[14]

See also

References
  1. Egbokhare, Francis O.; Oyetade, S. Oluwole (2002). Harmonization and standardization of Nigerian languages. CASAS. p. 106. ISBN 1-919799-70-2.
  2. "Imo (State, Nigeria) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  3. Aham-Okoro, S.U. (2017). Igbo Women in the Diaspora and Community Development in Southeastern Nigeria: Gender, Migration, and Development in Africa. Lexington Books. p. 7. ISBN 978-1-4985-4429-0. Retrieved 9 Apr 2023.
  4. Okemezie, Okems (1990). More Than Five Decades of Reign: Eze Patrick Ibeakamma Acholonu (Igwe X of Orlu). Goddom. ISBN 978-978-31113-0-1.
  5. Harneit-Sievers, Axel (1998). "Igbo 'Traditional Rulers': Chieftaincy and the State in Southeastern Nigeria". Africa Spectrum. 33 (1): 57–79. ISSN 0002-0397. JSTOR 40174764.
  6. "Five things you didn't know about Ada Jesus". Punch Newspapers. 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  7. "Seven things you may not know about Ada Jesus | The Nation". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  8. "Comedian Ada Jesus dies after kidney ailment and her fallout with Prophet Odumejeje". Pulse Nigeria. 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  9. "Prophet Ndabosky, Rita Edochie keep mum over Ada Jesus burial". Vanguard News. 2021-05-28. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  10. "CHUKWUDI JOSEPH OBIDIASO". ktff.org. [Cyprus Turkish Football Association]. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  11. Imo State Government. "Imo State Government Areas : Orlu LGA". Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  12. "Orlu Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (Nigeria) - Weather Spark". weatherspark.com. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  13. "Orlu, Imo, NG Climate Zone, Monthly Averages, Historical Weather Data". tcktcktck.org. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  14. "Sister and Friendship Cities Program". austintexas.gov. City of Austin. Retrieved 2020-10-25.

Further reading
  • Chuku, Gloria (2004) Igbo Women and Economic Transformation in Southeastern Nigeria, 1900-1960 (Routledge)

Orlu travel guide from Wikivoyage

05°47′47″N 07°02′20″E

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