Orlu

For the towns in France, see Orlu, Ariège and Orlu, Eure-et-Loir.

Orlu Ọlu
—  LGA and city  —
Orlu Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 05°47′47″N 07°02′20″E / 5.79639°N 7.03889°E / 5.79639; 7.03889
Country	Nigeria
State	Imo State
Population
– Total	220,000
Time zone	WAT (UTC+1)

Orlu (Igbo: Ọlu)^[1] is the third largest city in Southeast Nigeria's Imo State with an estimated population of 220,000. It has a long history and has played a critical role as the headquarters for humanitarian relief agencies during the Nigerian civil war.

It is a home for enterprise and many successful Nigerian businessmen have been born in the town. The permanent site for the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, an international market and various industries are located in Umuna which is one of the towns that make up the Orlu Urban area.

Several Orlu natives have made important contributions towards the educational and political growth of Nigeria. Imo State's Former Governor, Chief Achike Udenwa, hails from the town. The town is in the Local Government of Orlu which consists of other towns like Umuna, Eziachi, Umuzike, Umutanze, Umudioka -where we have the First Chairman, USA Chapter of the Nigerian ruling party, The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP USA Chapter), Prof. Ikegwuoha, Bernard-Thompson Onyemauchechukwu -[1], Owerre-Ebeiri, Umuowa, Amike, Mgbee, Amaifeke, Ihioma, Okporo, Ogberuru, Obibi-Ochasi and Ihitte-Owerre, but Orlu town is one of the most advanced city areas of the towns in Orlu Local Government Area. It is a homeland for many Igbo people of Nigeria.

The Roman Catholic diocese of Orlu (Latin Dioecesis Orluanus) was erected on November 29, 1980. Bp. Augustine T. Ukwuoma succeeded the founding 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, entrusted to Fr. Evaristus Eshiowu FSSP, assisted by Fr Antony Sumich FSSP).

Sister cities

List of sister cities of Orlu, designated by Sister Cities International.^[2]

• Austin, Texas, USA
• Boston, Massachusetts, USA

References

1. ^ Egbokhare, Francis O.; Oyetade, S. Oluwole (2002). Harmonization and standardization of Nigerian languages. CASAS. p. 106. ISBN 9-197-9970-2. 
2. ^ Sister Cities International (2007). "Online Directory: Nigeria, Africa". Retrieved Oct. 12, 2007.

External links

• Umuna Town Development Union
• Orlu Town, USA
• Amike Development Union - Orlu, (UK & Ireland Chapter)
• Mgbee Autonomous Community - Orlu LGA
• Towns in Orlu Local Government Area
• MSN Map

Coordinates: 05°47′47″N 07°02′20″E / 5.79639°N 7.03889°E / 5.79639; 7.03889