Okoh Town

Okoh (Ana Oko) is an Igbo speaking town in south eastern Nigeria. It is one of the 16 major towns that make up the geo-political area called Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra state. Okoh has five villages commonly referred to as EBENESE, and forty-five clans known as Umunna. The names of the villages are Ezioko, Eziabor, Okeani, Ihengwu and Ifite. It has the geographical coordinates of 6° 3' 0" North, 7° 06' 0" East. Okoh is regarded as a citadel of learning due to the early embrace of western educations and establishment of first Polytechnic in the old Anambra (present Anambra, Enugu and part of Ebonyi) State in the town. It is also widely recognized because of its erosion site which has baffled geologists for many years and records have it that it is supposedly deeper than the Grand Canyon. The importance of Okoh in the old Aguata Local Government Area (comprising Aguata, Orumba North and South) cannot be overemphasized when one notes that among the prominent sons of Aguata of colonial era inscribed on a marble wall within the Local Government secretariat, Okoh has the highest number. These include the late Chiefs John Ifeakor, Ebenezer Otaluka( Aharinta), and Jerry Nwosu. The inscription is still there to date. Chief Otaluka was reputed to be the first person to own and drive a private car in the whole of Aguata Division. He was also said to have built the "first one story house" in the Division. His one story house has glass windows. People from far and near came to see this mansion of those days. Today a road he pioneered is named after him in Okoh and is called Ezi-Ahari.

Origin

Around the early twelfth century a man named IJIKALA was known to have founded Okoh. He was a renowned farmer. In addition to farming, he was known to be a good hunter. He engaged in hunting mostly after planting season and before crops were ready for harvest. During these periods, food was usually scarce and there was always need to look for other food sources beside farm crops. His actual residence is still known within an area known as AMAIJIKALA along Ogulugu road, in Ezioko village.

Okoh is particularly famous for several reasons;

• • It produced the first executive vice president of Nigeria in the person of His Excellency Chief(Dr.) Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme; the IDEOKO.
  • Okoh is also renowned for its industrial sector. The first mechanized palm oil processing factory in Aguata District was established in Okoh in 1927 by Chief John Ifeakor, behind the present St Peter’s Catholic Church and popularly known as Akwu-Igwe. Other industries exist.
  • Okoh also hosts the first polytechnic in Anambra State, Nigeria; Federal polytechnic, Okoh.

The traditional head is called The Igwe, Eze Ijikala. The present occupant of the stool is Professor Lazarus Edward Nnanyelu Ekwueme, Nnanyelugo Ogbonnaya Nwovuegbe, Ekwueme IV, Ozioko Eze Ijikala II.who is also an actor. who has show well in many movies. Okoh Peoples Union (OPU) is a democratic body with full constituent powers charged with the responsibility of the day to day running and political administration of Okoh. Chief (Dr.) Alex Ekwueme is the IDEOKO and the grand patron for life of OPU. Okoh Peoples Forum can also be found on the facebook. Okoh was once the headquarters of the defunct Aho-Mili Local Government in the early nineties when it was caved out of Orumba North Local Government Area. Educationally, the town hosts a federal Polytechnic and a secondary school named Community Girls Secondary School Okoh. Okoh also boosts of many private schools like the Gaius Benton School which is owned by the wife of the former vice President of Nigeria, ( Doctor Alex Ekwueme). and Six primary schools. The town has also produced many clegies including two Bishops.

Politics

Okoh has been a shining light in the politics of Nigeria. The first executive vice president of Nigeria, Chief (Dr) Alex. I. Ekwueme is a proud son of Okoland. He was the vice president to Alhaji Shehu Shagari under the auspices of National Party of Nigeria(NPN) from 1st October 1979 to 31st December 1983. Dr Alex Ekwueme and Alhaji Shehu Shagari won the presidential election for a second term that was to run from 1983 to 1987, but their administration was toppled in a military coup and replaced by Major-General Muhammad Buhari. It is on record that while many politicians were jailed for corruption reasons, Dr.Alex Ekwueme was declared by Uwaifo panel to be a man that went into politics and came out poorer than when he went in.

Health

There are many health clinics and hospitals in Okoh that serve the health needs of the people, along with those of neighbouring communities. In the early 1970s and 1980s, Okoh community Hospital was a specialist hospital of a sort, which served the town and various communities both far and near. Okoh has produced many renowned medical personnels like Professor Cornelius Obumneme Ekwueme. He was appointed a professor of surgery by the University of Nigeria in 1976, and he is the first professor from the town. There are many others, as well as many nurses and medical technologists.

Security

Okoh is well secured with a police post centrally located beside Okoh civic centre. There exists local vigilante security outfit in all the villages of Okoh and these groups work with the police to ensure effective security for the community.

Roads and Public Utilities

Okoh has good road network traversing the villages, and the major roads are tarred with asphalt. The major roads include the federal roads that run from Ekwulobia and Nanka through Okoh to Umunze. There is a PHCN (Power Holding Company of Nigeria) distribution sub station in Okoh. There is also a functional well equipped Civic center and a postal agency.

Agriculture and Mineral Resources

Okoh is well known for agriculture. Major food crops include yam, cassava, cocoyam, plantain, banana, and maize. There are several private mechanized fish and poultry farms. Okoh is also rich in minerals such as Lime stones in form of gravels at Ugwudibia in Uhuene axis of Eziabor, and in form of kaolin chalk (Nzu) at Iyi-Benji in Ezioko, and Iyi-Agu in Okeani. In fact Okoh erosion site was formally regarded as chalk valley (Mbuze Nzu) before it went out of hand. Local miner found occupation and means of livelihood mining the kaolin for commercial purposes. There is also a stream whose water has healing properties similar to the Soap Lake healing spa of USA. It is called Miri Nwucha. This means purifying water. This stream exists from time immemorial in an enclave called Iyi Ofuu in Ezioko Village

Commerce and Industry

The Eke Okoh market is one of the largest markets in Orumba and it is popular for agricultural and manufactured products. There is also a daily market popularly known as OZU DAA. Eke is the most popular of the days in traditional Igbo week of 4-days; Nkwo, Eke, Orie, and Afor. Pal Breweries, makers of Pal beer and Royal Malt drinks is located in Okoh town. Okoh Youths Transport Company (OYTC) used to be the most popular and populous truck fleet in the whole of south eastern Nigerian with hundreds of trucks. Hospitality industry is not left behind as the town has two functional 3-star hotels; the Chalk Valley and Lincoln Hotels. Banks and community banks are springing up. Small scale industries abound. These include; bakeries, oil mills, agro industries, etc.

Justice

Okoh has produced many legal practitioners both at the bar and bench who have made their marks in their chosen fields. These include an Appeal Court Judge; Justice Mrs Angela Otaluka, and many others.

Sports

Okoh has produced various sporting individuals who went on to achieve national and international honours. In athletics, Miss Dorathy became the undisputed champion in the whole of Aguata Division throughout her primary school in the 1970s. Annual football competition among different amateur football clubs are usually held during the Christmas period. Winners are awarded cups sponsored by prominent indigenes of Okoh. well we the people of okoh like to play soccer more than any other sport.there are many team in amateur football team in okoh. like .... Nze Nwosu Fc. St Andrews Fc. that came second in the last edition of the December cup. they boast with some young talented players like. chinaecherem Obiezu, etc.okoh players abroad.. like Ezegwu Gabriel Uchechukwu.A.K.A Choice. by his team mate are one of the raising stars the town will boast of in the nearest future in the game of soccer.. i wish him all the best and all okoh .

Airports close to Okoh in Nigeria

In terms of proximity, the closest airport is Akanu Ibiam international Airport Enugu, located about 70 km north-east of Okoh. Other airports in Nigeria that are not as close as Enugu Airports include Sam Mbakwe Airport Owerri, 71km east, and Port Harcourt International Airport, 120 km south. Asaba International Airport is nearing completion and it is about 60km west from Okoh

Closest Towns to Okoh in Nigeria

Within the Orumba North structure, the closest towns bordering Okoh are Ekwuluobia, 2km, Amaokpala, 3km, Ndiokolo, 3km, Ndiowu, 4km, Nanka, 5km, Aguluezechukwu, 5km and Awgbu, 7km away from the heart of Okoh.

Financial Institutions

There are many financial institutions in Okoh like FCMB, Union Bank, Intercontinental Bank etc. The indigenous financial institution in Okoland is Okoh Community Bank Limited. Its ownership is community -based (domestic).

References

• Oko Community Constitution, 1990. Oko Town, Orumba North Local Government, Anambra State, Nigeria

• Oko 2008 Ifu-Olu Festival and Conferment of Honorary Chieftaincy Titles, 2008

• Oko Town : [LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS IN ANAMBRA STATE] dated July 21, 2007; accessed January 26, 2011

• Federal Polytechnic Oko: [www.fedpolyoko.edu.ng/]

• Anambra State. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anambra

• OKO: [Erosion washing away Anambra town By MAURICE ARCHIBONG Thursday, June 04, 2009 www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/travels/2009/]