Esan Central
| Esan Central | |
|---|---|
| LGA | |
| Motto: N'Esan Gha amen! | |
| Country |
 Nigeria |
| State | Edo State |
| Time zone | WAT (UTC+1) |
Esan Central Local Government Area is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its administrative headquarters is in the city of Irrua.
It has an area of 253 km² and a population of 105,310 at the 2006 census. Esan Central LGA consists of towns and cities which include;Irrua, Ewu, Opoji & Ugbegun. Irrua include the following subdivision; Uneah, [Ibore, Ugbalo, Atuagbo, Ekilor, Okhoromi, Eko-oguan,], Afuda, Idimu-Oza, Eko-Uwaya, Ibhiolulu, Ohe, Olinlin, Agwa, Eidenu, Udowo, Ugbokhare, Ugbegun,Uwesan and others. The other cities of Esan Central LGA include;Ewu, Opoji and Ugbegun. Former Vice President of Nigeria, Rear Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, is from Irrua, Saintmoses Eromosele.. (the playwright and historian) and Professor of Gynaecology and ObstetricsFriday Okonofua are from Ewu. Sunny Okosun , Dr G.A.Aletor and Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy are from Esan Central.
The postal code of the area is 310.[1]
References
- ↑ "Post Offices- with map of LGA". NIPOST. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
| |||||||||||
Communities in Esan Central LGA
Esan central is made up various communities as follows:
IRRUA; Uneah (Ibore, Ugbalo, Atuagbo, Eko Ilor, Okhoromi, and Ekoguan), Uwessan(Ujabhole, Unogbo, Udomi, Idumoghodor, Ibhiolulu, Afuda, Ohe, Idumoza, Okekeke, Oko Uwaya, Eko-Iyobhebhe, Eko-Egbeyan and Eko Etomi),Egaule-Irrua, and Usugbenu.
EWU; Eguare-Ewu, Ehanlen-Ewu, Uzogholo-Ewu, Ukhiodo-Ewu, Idunwele-Ewu, Ihenmwen-Ewu, Ukhiodo-Ewu, Eko-Ewu, Oghodogbor-Ewu
OPOJI-Upozi; Eguale-Opoji, Ikekato, Oghagbo, Uzebu, Okhuore, Iki, Ikinago,
UGBEGUN, Ebudin.
Esan Central LGA is divided into ten geo-political Wards, especially for electoral purposes. Uwessan sub-community of Irrua is the single larrgest community in Esan Central and possibly in the entire Esanland. Uwessan is a community which is a densely populated community which is a suburb of Irrua and which bears allegiance to the king (Ojirrua) of Irrua. Uwessan is often considered as a part and parcel of Irrua. Thus, Irrua is the largest kingtom in Esan Central with six geo-political Wards (Wards 1 - 6). Ewu is the second largest kingdom in Esan Central LGA with two geo-political Wards (Wards 7 & 8). Ugbegun has one geo-political Ward (Ward 10)and Opoji has one geo-political Ward (Ward 9).
Traditional kingdoms & geo-political wards in Esan Central LGA
Esan Central Local Government is made up of four gazetted kingdoms namely:- Irrua, Ewu, Opoji and Ugbegun. These four kingdoms are divided into ten geo-political Wards for electoral purposes. Irrua kingdom has six geo-political wards. Ewu Kingdom has two Wards, Opoji kingdom has one ward and Ugbegun kingdom has one ward.
Of the six wards allocated to Irrua, Uwessan sub-community of Irrua has two wards (Wards 2 & 3), Uneah sub-community of Irrua has one ward (Ward 1), Ikekato sub-community of Irrua has one ward (Ward 4), Eguale-Irrua, the area of the Palace of the Ojirrua (king) of Irrua, has one ward (Ward 5) and Usugbenu sub-community of Irrua has one ward (Ward 6). Ewu has two wards (Wards 7 & 8). Opoji has one ward (Ward 9) and Ugbegun has one ward (Ward 10).
Notable Citizens of Esan Central LGA
Esan Central LGA has many of its residents and citizens who have excelled in various human endeavour:- Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, was an Admiral of the Nigeria Navy and he became the Vice President with President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is the founder of Belivers Loveworld aka Christ Embassy which is among the largest churches in Africa, Prof.Friday Okonofua,is a professor of obstetrics and Gynaecology and formerly Provost of the College of Medicine of the University of Benin, Prof. Patric Ikhariale is a legislator who currently represents the area at the National Assembly of Nigeria. Others include, but not limited to, Prof, Edwin Aburimen, Comm. Young Arebamen. Engr. Clifford Odia, Chief Dr. Francis.
There are hundreds of younger generation citizens of Esan Central who have excelled in various human endeavour across the world. In photography, tribute to late Pa Julius Omokhikhieme Omoighe, a great name in the visual Art history of Nigeria. He was the torch bearer of most Upozi (Opoji) people in Lagos in the 50s and 60s.Prof Richard Abhulimen Anao was Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin and an Economist of renown, Saintmoses Eromosele is the author of The Winds of Life and The Trials of an Empire who wrote his first novel at the age of 16.
Economy & Industry
Esan Central is predominantly an agrarian area. But it has a few industries, hotels, hospitals and factories. Bendel Feed & Flour Mills Ltd is located at Ewu. It is about the single largest factory in Edo State. Other factories include Ray Royal Alsphat Plant, Esezobor Farm Ujabhole, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture's Silo to store grains for emergency at Irrua, among others.
Sources of natural water:- Agua lake, Ohiel Stream Afuda, Oza Stream Idumoza, Ujabhole Stream Eko-Iriobhude, Oraje & Omobo rivers at Ewu.
Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital is the only functional government owned hospital in the local government. The hospital is owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria and it is also a teaching hospital for teaching students of Ambrose Alli University's College of Medicine, Ekpoma.