Mbaitoli
| Mbaitoli | |
|---|---|
| LGA | |
| Country |
 Nigeria |
| State | Imo State |
| Time zone | WAT (UTC+1) |
Mbaitoli is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Nwaorieubi (or Nworieubi).
It has an area of 204 km² and a population of 237,555 at the 2006 census.
The postal code of the area is 461.[1]
References
- ↑ "Post Offices- with map of LGA". NIPOST. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
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The Local Government
Historical Background
Mbaitoli Local Government Area was created out of what used to be called Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Local Government under the leadership of General Ibrahim B Babangida on May 11, 1989. It has nine (9) autonomous communities, which include : Ifakala, Mbieri, Ubomiri, Ogbaku, Umunoha, Afara , Orodo, Ikeduru and Eziama.
Location
Mbaitoli Local Government Area shares common boundaries with Oru, Njaba, Isu Local Government Areas in the North while its Southern boundary is with Owerri North and Owerri West Local Government Areas. Its Western boundaries is Oguta and Eastern side are Isiala Mbano and Ikeduru Local Government Areas.
The administrative Headquarters of Mbaitoli Local Government Area is at Nwaorieubi which is situated along Owerri-Orlu Federal Road.
Size & Population
It covers an area of approximately about 234 square kilometer. The Local Government Areas is indisputably the most populous in Imo State with a population figure of 255,000 going by the 2004 census figures.
It is made up of 31 autonomous communities with 12 INEC wards.
Lifestyle of the People
The people are predominantly farmers, peace loving and always well dressed expressing the confidence they have in themselves. They are mostly educated, industrialist and Civil Servants.
Natural & Agricultural Resources
Apart from Natural resources like big forest at Idem/Oburo Ogwa, there is also a wonderful lake called Ugwu Okwu – Oba Bridge at Umahii Mbieri and the Iyi Egbeada River at Egbeada with white sand and fish.
The inhabitants of the area are predominantly farmers who produce a variety of food and cash crops such as Yam, Cocoyams, Cassava, Maize, Vegetable and Palm produce. Rearing of animals and poultry are also common in the area.
Wards & Councilors
Councillor Ward Hon. Barr. Joy Nwosu. (Leader) Orodo Ward A Hon. Udochukwu Anusiem. Deputy Leader Ezinihitte Hon. Ugochukwu Nnah Raford. Majority Leader Ogbaku Hon. Barr. Rufus Ogojiaku Ogwa Ward I Hon. Fidelis O. Odunna. Ogwa Wards 2. Hon. Isreal Igbozurike Orodo Ward 2 Hon. Patrick Iwunze Ubomiri Hon. Chief Adolphus C. Osuji (Aririerimba) Amaike Hon. (Mrs.) Ijeoma Emeka Asoka Ifakala Hon. (Mrs.) Maureen Okoro Afara/Eziama Hon. (Mrs.) Adaeze Onwuka Umunoha/Azara Hon. Felix Egbujuo Umuagwu/Umunwoha
Development Areas' Coordinators
Two development areas were created out from Mbaitoli Local Government Areas. They are:
- Mbaitoli South Local Government Development Area with Hon. Engr. Jude Ononiwu as Coordinator located at Mbieri.
- Mbaitoli East Local Government Development Area – Hon dr. Victor Echeruo Coordinator located at Ubomiri.
Arts & Crafts
The Mbaitoli people also engage in crafts such as basket making, broom making, hair weaving etc.
Culture & Festivals
Mbaitoli is very rich in cultural activities which is found in almost all the communities.
The Owu, Okorosha, Ekeleke and Mmanwu are colourful seasonal festivals associated with planting and harvesting in most of the communities. Others include the Isi-Ji Mbaitoli (New Yam Festivals).
Owu festival is celebrated between July and August to usher in New Yam Festivals while Ekeleke takes precedence during the dry season to herald the harvest boom in December.
The Okorosha festival is during December while Mmanwu festival is observed during December period.
Education & Schools
Mbaitoli Local Government Development Area has about 91 Primary schools, 26 Secondary Schools and 21 recognized Private Vocational Schools while administrative office of Federal School of Soil Science is located at Egbeada in the Area. The educational institutions are:
- Achi Community School Mbieri
- Achi primary School Mbieri
- Ahaba Community School Orodo
- Primary School Amaike 1 Mbieri
- Amankuta Community School Mbieri
- Awo Community School Mbieri
- Central School Afara
- Central School Amaike Mbieri
- Central School Eziama-Obiato
- Central School Ifakala
- Central School Oboro Umueze Ogwa
- Central School Ogbaku
- Central School Orodo
- Central School Ubomiri
- Central School Umunoha
- Community Central School Ogwa
- Community School Abazu Ogwa
- Community Primary School Egbeada Ubomiri
- Community School Afara
- Community School Alaenyi
- Community School Amaike Mbieri
- Community School Amaukwu Orodo
- Community School Amaulu Mbieri
- Community School Azara Obiato
- Community School Ekwereazu
- Community School Ifakala
- Community School Mbieri
- Community School Obibi Ogbaku
- Community School Ogbuke Ogbaku
- Community School Ochii Ogwa
- Community School Ofekata Orodo
- Community School Ogbaku
- Community School Okwu Ogbaku
- Community School Orodo
- Community School Otura
- Community School Amauburu Uboiri
- Community School Umuegwu Mbieri
- Community School Umuduru Mbieri
- Community School Umunoha
- Community School Umuomuma
- Community School Umunyeala Mbieri
- Community School Uru-Umuanu Ogwa
- Development Primary School Oboro Ogwa
- Community School Ebom Mbieri
Tourism & Hospitality
Hotels in Mbaitoli
There are Hotels of various standards in Mbaitoli. Prominent among them are:
- The Capital Hotel – Obilube Obazu Mbieri
- Elix Hotel Egbeada
- SHADIV Hotels Ltd Ubomiri
- Kerry Hotels at Umunoha
- Kedeni Hotels Nkwo Ubomiri
- De Hotel Rose, Oasis Motel, Uchechi Hotels, Mess 77 at Egbeada.
- Cheges Guest House, Goddy Zone Motel all at Orodo.
- Renaissance Club Guest House at Orie Mbieri
- Claridge Hotels Amauburu Ubomiri
Important Places & Tourist Attractions in Mbaitoli
One of the tourist points and important place in Mbaitoli Local Government Area is the location of the famous Igwekala of Umunoha. The Igwekala is a highly revered and dread deity whose abode is a forest travered by small streams which was said to have powers to many things ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous.
Other important places and tourist locations in Mbaitoli include the mysterious palm tree at Eziama-Obato with three stems, it is believe that the stem represent the three towns in Eziama-Obato as the name implies. Each of the palm tree stem produces three different fruits.
Another important place is the Orji Mgba Ano (Iroko tree with four trees) at Alaenyi Ogwa representing the four zones in Ogwa.
There is a large forest at Idem/Oburo Ogwa, and also a large Shrine called Ihu Durueke at Alaenyi Ogwa, Ancient building at Eze Uwandu’s Compound Ogwa and at Eziuhu Obokwe Mbieri.
There is also a lake called Ugwu Okwu-Oba Bridge at Umuahii Mbieri.
Mbaitoli has attractive dance groups including Otigba Masquerade, Ekeleke Masquerade, Women Dance, Maiden Dance and Occupational Dances.