Umudim

The Umudim as undersigned is Umudim Nnewi in Anambra state in Nigeria. Umudim in Ikeduru Local government of Imo state consist of Eleven villages namely; umuduruonyeoma, Dim Odu, Uhualaowerre, umuodogwa, umuoyima, Ore, and Umuonyeukwu consisting of five villages. Umudim has been under one paramount ruler EZE Eric Osuji since 1977 who passed away in 1998 ever since then the town has been going through leadership tussle to get a replacement which has affected the growth of the town till date. I am one of the Chiefs coronated as Chief UGOHA-DIM of Umudim by the late EZE Eric Uwandu who happened to be my late father's immediate junior brother. I write to correct this anomaly since the leadership tussle has set the town backwards that they are now been replaced by another town with the same name in another state of Nigeria. Thanks for your cooperation.

Chief BCE Osuji (UGOHA-DIM) of Umudim Autonomous Community.

Umudim is a village in Nnewi North, Anambra State, Nigeria. Umudim as we know is the third quarter among the four quarters of Nnewi town. Others are Otolo, Uruagu and Nnewichi. Umudim Community has ten (10) Administrative wards as follows.

(i) Ward 33 Inyaba (ii) Ward 37 Inyaba Ngo (iii) Ward 34 Umuezena and Ebeleogo (iv) Ward 35 Umunwakanwa Akamiili (v) Ward 36 Uru (vi) Ward 38 Umudimkwa (vii) Ward 39 Amai and Umughaji (viii) Ward 40 Umuezeokalum, Akabo and Umuele (ix) Ward 41 Umunnealam (x) Ward 42 Okpuno-egbu[1]

The introduction of wards not-withstanding, Nnewi has a lineage system of Administration developed over the centuries. Each quarter or descent is made up several major lineages upon which the administration is based. Umudim has six (6) of such lineages namely: (i) Ogo (ii) Uru (iii) Umudimnkwa and Umuele (iv) Umuezeokalum (v) Okpuno-egbu and Akamili (vi) Umunnealam[2]

Based on estimated population of Anambra State published by the Statistic Division of Ministry of Economic Development Enugu in 2009, Umudim, Nnewi has a population about 50,000 males and females.

From time immemorial and even before the arrival of the British Administration in Igboland, the four quarters of Nnewi town have operated a confederal political system of government. Each quarter has an “OBI” but no “OBI” has jurisdiction outside his own quarter. The foundation of the political Union rests on the principle of “’AGBANANO NNEWI”. This recognizes the equality of the traditional rulers of the four (4) communities and independence of action as far as their communities are concerned.