Afikpo
| Afikpo Ali Ehugbo Omaka-ejali Ehugbo | |
|---|---|
| City | |
  Afikpo Location in Nigeria | |
| Coordinates: 5°53′N 7°56′E / 5.883°N 7.933°E | |
| Country |
 Nigeria |
| State | Ebonyi State |
| Population (2005) | |
| • Total | 672,000 |
The geographical entity known as Ehugbo (Afikpo) is situated in the southern part of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. It is bounded to the north by the town of Akpoha in Amoha Local Government Area, to the south by Unwana and Edda in Ubeyi and Afikpo South Local Government Areas respectively, to the East by the Cross River and to the West by Amasiri in Amaoha Local Government Area. Afikpo spans an area approximately 164 square kilometers in size . It Is the second largest city in Ebonyi State of Nigeria. It is located on 6 degrees north latitude and 8 degrees east longitude. It occupies an area of about 64 square miles (164 km2.). Afikpo is a hilly area despite occupying a region low in altitude, which rises 350 feet above sea level. It is a transitional area between open grassland and tropical forest and has an average annual rainfall of seventy-seven inches (198 cm.) It is also the country home of the late Eze (DR) Akanu Ibiam, who hailed from the village of Unwana. Dr. Ibiam was one of the first Igbo medical doctors of Western training and the former Governor of Eastern region.
The population of Afikpo is estimated at 156,611 according to the Nigerian 2006 Census.
Igbo Traditional Centre
Afikpo is a centre of ancient Igbo tradition. Ceremonial (now antique) masks which have been carefully preserved by the state tourism board. Afikpo is an ancient city-state. Several archeological findings support the claim that Afikpo civilisation existed as far back as the Neolithic age.
Educational and Medicinal Establishments
Afikpo hosts the Prestigious Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Uwana and the legendary Mater Misericordia Specialist Hospital, Afikpo. The Mater Misericordia Hospital School of Nursing and Midwifery was one of the first and probably remains the finest nursing school established in Nigeria by the Irish missionaries and Dr. Akanu Ibiam.
Prominent Residents
Afikpo has produced numerous academicians, Governors, and world class businessmen. Life is a little bit less rancorous and more peaceful in Afikpo than similar cities elsewhere in Nigeria. The city however has recently been experiencing an acute shortage of residential accommodation, especially for the civil servants. That problem is thus being adequately addressed by the state Government. Afikpo is a major food basket of Nigeria.
Urban Communities
Afikpo comprises the following urban communities: Ozizza, Ohaisu, Nkpoghoro, Ugwuegu and Itim.
Afikpo city is the Headquarters of Afikpo North Local Government. It is the second most popular and second most important city in Ebonyi state.
It has many prominent sons and daughters.
From Ozizza : Chief Ajuka Ugwu, Chief Eleje, Okpani Egwu, Dr. Inya Agha, Esther Eleje, and a host of others.
From Ohaisu : Engr.Ewa Elechi,Senator Azu Agboti, Ginger Eke, Azu Ewa,Prof. Uche Azikiwe, Eze o. Eze, Otuu Oyim,Chief Ebere Okogwu, Tony Ebi, Dr. Francis Aluu, Arc. Gabriel Egwu Ude, Hon Elem Okoh etc.
From Nkpoghoro : Engr. Oko Isu, Ezeogo Ajah (Zentus), Prof. Francis Otunta, Nwachi Ibe etc.
From Ugwuegu : Prof. Buchi Chukwu who is the current Minister of Health, M.S.C Abani, Greg Azubuike, Chief Mbeyi, Mike Chukwu, Mark Abani, Charles Abani, Chris Abani, Chief Anthony Ekoh, Ezeogo M.O. Chukwu, P.U. Alu, Ezeogo John O. Ekuma, Emmanuel Chukwu Oko, Hon. Ben Isu, Sunday Isu etc,
From Itim : Chief Sunday Enwo, Idu Igariwey, Enwo Igariwey, Okpani Agu, Hori Oti Aja Oti, Captain Ibe-Enwo, Chukwu Ibe-Enwo, Arc. Nnanna Oti, Prof. Nnenna Oti . Charles Chukwu Urom, Rose Chukwu Urom, Hanibal Urom, Daddy Uromotah, Mr E. Awoke, Mrs M. Okoewah etc.
New Political Dispensation
Afikpo presently has a new political dispensation consisting of youths and well to do personalities enhancing development. The former L. G. A Chairman Mr. Obinna, had been working hand in hand with the people of afikpo (YOUTHS) towards a strategical development. He also wants to reunite the two PDP rival groups (The Agboti's and Idu's) into one PDP group, despite the political problems that the two groups had, which took a life (Ikechukwu Eze a.k.a. Skipper) during the local government election. Afikpo has also developed from grassroot level,(the development centers are good case in point), which is being used to disseminate the dividends of democracy to the poor people. "My wish is that peace and unity should be inculcated into our spines so as to fulfil our citizenship obligations to our motherland NIGERIA." Otuu Obinna (ozontus). The present L.G.A Chairman of Afikpo North is Pharm.(Hon.) Tony Ekoh Jnr.
Climate
Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as tropical wet and dry (Aw).[1]
| Climate data for Afikpo | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 32.6 (90.7) |
33.8 (92.8) |
33.8 (92.8) |
33.4 (92.1) |
32 (90) |
30.8 (87.4) |
29.3 (84.7) |
28.6 (83.5) |
29.9 (85.8) |
30.8 (87.4) |
32.1 (89.8) |
32.6 (90.7) |
31.64 (88.97) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 27.5 (81.5) |
28.5 (83.3) |
29 (84) |
28.7 (83.7) |
27.6 (81.7) |
26.7 (80.1) |
25.4 (77.7) |
25.6 (78.1) |
26 (79) |
26.6 (79.9) |
27.4 (81.3) |
27.4 (81.3) |
27.2 (80.97) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 22.5 (72.5) |
23.2 (73.8) |
24.2 (75.6) |
24 (75) |
23.3 (73.9) |
22.6 (72.7) |
22.2 (72) |
22.7 (72.9) |
22.2 (72) |
22.4 (72.3) |
22.8 (73) |
22.3 (72.1) |
22.87 (73.15) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 19 (0.75) |
34 (1.34) |
84 (3.31) |
159 (6.26) |
247 (9.72) |
261 (10.28) |
303 (11.93) |
270 (10.63) |
309 (12.17) |
269 (10.59) |
57 (2.24) |
10 (0.39) |
2,022 (79.61) |
| Source: Climate-Data.org (altitude: 62m)[1] | |||||||||||||
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Climate: Afikpo - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 2014-02-20.