Ikwuano is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in Isiala Oboro. The name 'Ikwuano' etymologically indicates that there are four different ancient kingdoms that make up the community called Ikwuano. These include Oboro, Ibere, Ariam/Usaka and Oloko. The postal code of the area is 440. It is one of the five Local Government Areas that make up the Abia Central Senatorial District. As at 2024, the executive chairman is Dr. Anthony Nwaubani. Obi Aguocha currently serves as the Federal Representative representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives. The member representing Ikwuano State Constituency at the Abia State House of Assembly is Engr. Boniface Isienyi.

History

The present Ikwuano Local Government Area was part of the Bende Division in the then Southern Province created by the British Colonial Government as part of their “Divide and Rule” system of government and administration towards the beginning of the 19th Century. This was as early as the time Calabar was the capital of Nigeria. When the Southern province was further divided, Ikwuano still remained part of the Bende Division. The present Bende town was the administrative headquarters where the District Commissioner resided. The District Commissioner, Nwa D.C., as he was known and called held courts at Bende and Oloko. At this time what was later carved out as Aba Division was part of the Bende Division, under the jurisdiction of Nwa D. C. The present Umuahia township later replaced Bende as the administrative headquarters after the extension of the Nigerian rail line from Port-Harcourt to Enugu between 1915 and 1916. Ikwuano Local Government Area was among the new local government areas that were created on 27 August 1991 when the General Ibrahim Babangida's Administration created Abia State from the old Imo State. It was carved out of the defunct Ikwuano-Umuahia of the Old Imo State.

Women's War of 1929

The Aba Women's Riot began in Oloko. The demonstration occurred when thousands of women of Igbo origin from Bende, Umuahia, Owerri and other regions in the South East made the trip to Oloko, one of the four principal communities of Ikwuano. The cause of this movement was due to the worry that a new taxation plan was being implemented that would demand women, most especially widows, to pay taxes which they were not mandated to pay earlier on.

Culture

Ikwuano is known for cultures and arts which include Ekpe, which is usually in January in the different Ikwuano communities coinciding with their respective market days, New Yam (Iri-Ji) and Afo Amaghi Onuma festivals. Their cultural dances are Eketensi Ritual dance, Oro, Ikperikpeogu (War Dance), Uko and so on. They also have Oba and Ekpe societies. Popular delicacies in Ikwuano include Ofe Achara, Ukazi Soup and Ugwu Soup. The predominant languages spoken in Ikwuano are Igbo and English languages. The four clans speak distinct Igbo dialects though mutually intelligible. Ikwuano brides are known to have some of the costliest bride prices in Igboland. Traditional marriages are held in high esteem.

Geography

It has an area of 281 km2. It lies between the latitudes 5 24lN and 5 30lN and between the longitudes of 7 32lE and 7 37lE. It borders Umuahia North and Bende to its north, Umuahia South and Isiala- Ngwa North to its west, Ini to the east and Obot-Akara to the south.

Demographics

The population of Ikwuano during the 2006 census was 137,993. As at 2015, it increased to 175,078. The area is inhabited primarily by the Igbo people.

Climate

It experiences an average weather temperature of 28 °C. The area witnesses two distinct seasons which are the rainy and dry seasons. The average humidity level is put at 62%. Ikwuano is in the humid forest zone of Nigeria. The Local Government Area has an average rainfall of 2351 mm, average minimum diurnal temperature of 22.90C and relative humidity range between 80 and 90%.

Economy & Agriculture

The vegetation of the area is predominantly lowland rainforest, which makes it suitable for growing yam, cassava, maize, cashew and ginger. This has led to the area becoming the food basket of Abia State. Farming is one of the key economic activities of the Ikwuano people. The area also hosts a number of markets where a variety of commodities are bought and sold. They include Ahia Ndoro and the Ariam Market. In fact, Ikwuano is situated in the palm belt of Eastern Nigeria. Other important economic engagements of the Ikwuano people are hunting, craftsmanship and wood carving.

Villages grouped according to clans

The four clans of Ikwuano have a total of 58 villages. They are listed as follows:

Autonomous communities

Villages in Ikwuano are constitutionally placed under 43 autonomous communities, each autonomous community is led by an Eze. These communities are:

Traditional rulers

Executive/Transitional Committee Chairmen (1991-till date)

Educational Institutions

Notable people