Umuleri

Umuleri also known and pronounced as Umueri is a town in Anambra State of Southeastern Nigeria. The people of town belong to an Igbo ethnic group and has an estimated population of 155,000.[1] It's located within the Anambra Valley, bordered by Anambra River (Omabala River) and Anam communities in the north, Nteje to the south, Aguleri and Nando in the east and Nsugbe in the western flank.

History

The origin of Umuleri is surrounded in myths and legend as its in other ancient Igbo communities. However, there are generally acceptable oral story of origin which was passed from generation to generation which emphasis the area as the first area of human settlement east of the Niger. Therefore, the origin of Umueri, which literally means "Children of Eri", can be traced back to ancient Eri Kingdom, which dates back to the 9th Century. The Nri Town in Anambra State is also descendants of Eri. They migrated to the present place from Omabala River Valley.[2]

According to tradition, Eri was a great warrior, hunter and polygamist. He has a lot of children and wives. The most famous of the wives was Iguedo from presumably the lineage of Ogiso (Bini) who was amongst the crowd of migrants at that time. She was also mother to the founders of Ogbunike, Awkuzu, Umueri and Nando and a daughter who was amongst the founders of Oboli Quarters of Onitsha (this explains the relationship between Umueri and Onitsha and other Iguedo clans). Eri due to his influence was said to have snatched (re-marry) Iguedo from Nnamenyi, another of the migrants and she bore to him Dabawor who founded modern Umueri clan. At the demise of Eri she remarried again to Iru, a hunter and herbalist who was said to be part of Eri Company.[3]

Division and administration

Traditionally, Umueri is broadly divided into 3 clans: Ikenga, Ivite, Ezi. The clans are further divided into villages and sub-villages. But with advent of colonialism and modernization, the town has consciously grown and governed just like other Igbo Communities . The three traditional clans of Umueri are written down below with their corresponding Villages:

The pre-colonial Umueri government was a republican but with influence of Bini Kingdom in that part of Igboland, it changes to Monarchical in nature in which the Eze resided in Ivite. The Prime Minister (Onowu) & Ajie in Ikenga and Ezi respectively. Modern administration since colonization relegated this system and enthroned the Igwe Dynasty which is prevalent Institution till date.

Below is the Structure of Present Umueri Administration:

  1. Igwe in-Council - The Traditional Ruler and his Cabinet[Igwe Cabinet]
  2. Council of Elders[Ndichie] - The Elders of the Community
  3. Umuotu - An Elite Age Grade that helps in implementing laws in the Community
  4. Town Union - Umueri General Assembly [UGA]
  5. Policing Age Grade - An Age grade in charge for enforcement of local laws made in the town
  6. Sanitation Age Grade- An Age Group in charge of clearing and maintenance of rural road, Village Square and of all Public Utilities

Religion

Prior to the coming of Europeans, Umueri people practiced traditional religion with the worship of various deities. However, they had since embraced Christianity about a century ago. Today, there are more than 85% Christians in the town. The major Christian faiths are the Catholic and Anglican denominations.

Some other churches, especially of the Pentecostal faith, have emerged in Umueri in the past fifty years. The town is also referred to as a pinnacle of Anglican evangelism as it has one of the oldest churches east of the Niger. Churches that are bound in the town include and not limited to the following: St Immanuel Anglican Church (founded 1904), St Gabriel Anglican Church (1912), Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church (1975), St Marks Catholic Church Nneyi etc.

Infrastructure

Most of the public basic infrastructure in the town is built by the community. The community-built infrastructures are as follow: Umueri General Hospital, Umueri Town Hall, Recreation Club House, Umueri Girls High School, Ugume Umueri, Umueri High School, Obinetiti (formerly Umueri Technical College), Community Secondary School, Umuatuolu, Umueri Development School, Nneyi, Umueri Postal Agency, Umueri Community Bank, Afiama Market, Eke Market, Eke Nneyi Market, etc.

The few infrastructure owned by government includes the following: Umueri Nomadi School at Umudiana-Umueri, Local Government Secretariat, Umueri-Umueze Anam Head Bridge (Still On Process), Boreholes Projects sunk around the Villages and proposed and ongoing projects which includes the Orient Refinery, Anambra State Cargo Airport, Orient Low Staff Residential Quarters etc.

References

  1. ↑ Nwabunwanne, Ifediora Christopher. Anambra Day Break Series.
  2. ↑ Isichei, Elizabeth. A History of Igbo People.
  3. ↑ Umueri Head of Ancient Umueri Clan notable people from Umueri include Late. Mr. Gabriel Chinedu Ononye, Ichie Ononye, and host of other noble personnel(s)