Mgbidi

Mgbidi is the headquarters of Oru West, a Local Government Area of Imo State located in the southeastern region of Nigeria. It is located within Latitude 5.37 N and Longitude 6.57 E. It was the headquarters of the then Oru Local Government Area before its division into two Local Government Areas: Oru West and Oru East in 1996 under the Presidency of General Sani Abacha.

Mgbidi is one of the oldest towns in Imo State. It is bounded on the north by Ibi-Asoegbe and Aji towns, on the east by Amiri and Otulu towns, on the west by Ozara town, and on the south by Oguta town. Mgbidi is located at the northern extremes of Imo State, which is why it is bounded by Amorka in Anambra State.

Mgbidi is made of eleven communities, which are merged to form the six Autonomous Communities found in Mgbidi. The eleven communities are; Imeoha, Eziali, Umuekwe, Okwudor, Umuorji, Umuokpara, Umuehi, Umuabiahu, Uzinaumu, Ihitte and Ugbele.

Mgbidi is known by its culture called Ikwesi. This is being performed by the young girls, when they are about to become an adolescent. Every girl is bound to do this traditional right, before they can be mothers. During the advent of Christianity, this caused a serious problem, because it was believed by the Christians to be feltish. Nowadays, there is a Christian type of Ikwesi.

The apex organ of social-economic and cultural development of Mgbidi is Mgbidi Peoples Forum (http://www.mgbidipeoplesforum.org) formed by eminent sons of Mgbidi in 2009.