Post by Ukwuani Local Govt. Council (@UkwuaniLGC)
PROFILE OF UKWUANI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Ukwuani Local Government Area is one of the 25 local government areas in Delta State with its headquarters in Oniaruku. Ukwuani LGA is also one of the local governments in Delta North Senatorial District of the State referred to as Anioma.
Ukwuani Local Government Area was established on December 4, 1996, and it was carved out from the former Ndokwa West Local Government Area by the then Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida.
Ukwuani Local Government has nine (9) clans namely: Akoku (Umuaja, Obi-Obeti and Akoku-Uno) Amai Kingdom (Umuekum, Nge, Umuosele, Ishikaguma, and Umubu), Ebedei (Ukwuole, Adonishaka, Obi-Ogene, Obi-Iloh, Umueziogoli, and Ebedei-Uno), Eziokpor (Obi-Ogo, Umuoshi, Eziokpor-Uno), Ezionum Kingdom, Obiaruku, Umuebu Kingdom, Umukwata Kingdom (Umukwata-Uno, Obinomba, Obi-Oluku, Obi-Onyeonitsha and Owah-Abbi), and Umutu.
These clans are further segmented into ten (10) political administrative wards.
The Executive Chairman of Ukwuani Local Government Area is Hon. (Barr.) C.S. Possible Ajede, PhD, who hails from Obiaruku clan. The Council Chairman is currently serving a historic second term, as he is the first person to be re-elected as chairman in the history of the LGA.
Some people believe the re-election of Barr. Possible Ajede was a reward for his impactful first term, which was laden with legacy projects scattered across the LGA.
The ten (10) political administrative wards were further split into twenty (20) DSIEC wards, with twenty (20) councillors representing each of the wards in the legislative arm of the council.
Most Ukwuani clans practice a gerontocratic system of leadership, while their four (4) gazetted kingdoms have kings: Ezhionum Kingdom is ruled by HRM Evang. Comr. Dr. R.C. Osanwuta, JP (the Ezhie I of Ezhionum Kingdom); Amai Kingdom by HRM Eze Paul Ifeneziuche Solomon Paul (the Igwete of Amai Kingdom); Umuebu Kingdom by HRM Amb. Donald Ekeruche (the Ebu of Umuebu Kingdom); and Umukwata Kingdom by HRM Enyi Friday Abaja (the Ukwata I of Umukwata).
Ukwuani Local Government Area covers an area of approximately 1,016 square kilometers. It is bordered by Ndokwa West LGA to the east, Ika-Northeast LGA to the North, and Ethiope-East LGA to the West and Orhionwu LGA in Edo State to the South.
Ukwuani Local Government is characterized by a mix of lowland and upland terrains, with River Ethiope (Onoku), and several other streams traversing the lowlands. The climate is mostly tropical, with an average temperature of 25°C, high humidity levels around 74%, and annual rainfall totaling approximately 3,050 mm.
As of the 2006 census, Ukwuani LGA had a population of 119,034, while projections estimate the population to be around 183,100 by 2024. The majority of the population comprises the Ukwuani/Ndokwa ethnic groups.
The Ukwuani people are accommodating, hospitable, industrious, resourceful, innovative, and peaceful. Their accommodating nature has fostered the presence of Hausa/Arewa, Igbo, Yoruba, Edo, Itshekiri, Urhobo, Ijaw, Isoko, and other ethnic communities residing in all Ukwuani clans.
Ukwuani dialet is predominantly spoken by the Ukwuani people. Christianity and traditional beliefs are the main religions that's practiced by the people.
Ukwuani Local Government Area is one of the three (3) local government areas that make up the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency. There are still varied opinions among some elites in the area as to whether the Ukwuani people should continue to be identified as the Ndokwa Nation or the Ukwuani Nation, given that they speak the Ukwuani dialect and not Ndokwa dialect, among other factors. Conversely, others believe that "Ndokwa" is a coinage from Ndokwa/Ukwuani and is therefore more inclusive.
Ukwuani Local Government Area is endowed with various natural resources; the local government is a major contributor to the overall Nigeria's GDP.
The Oil and Gas deposits in Ukwuani Local Government particularly Obiaruku, Ebedei, Akoku-uno, Umutu are part of the Ndokwa oil fields. It is estimated that approximately 12,000 barrels of oil per day is produced from the area.
Ukwuani lands are naturally and generally fertile land and support the cultivation of crops such as cassava, yam, plantain, maize, rice, and vegetables.
There are five major markets that have boosted economic activities in towns like Obiaruku, Amai, Umutu, Ezionum, and Obi-Obeti, serving as commercial hubs for the communities.
Ukwuani Local Government has a very rich cultural heritage, with different festivals like Ikenge festival celebrated by Obiaruku, Umutu, Akoku clans; Enyi festival celebrated by Ebedei; Igba Festival by Umuebu, and many others.
Also, the Umuaja community hosts the historic Iroko tree believed to be the source of River Ethiope - and it is one of the tourist attractions in Delta State.
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