Umuguma
Umuguma Town is Owerri West Local Government Area's headquarters. It is in Imo State, Nigeria. It evolved out of the old Owerri Local Government Area in 1996. Umuguma—a descendant of Arugo—is one of the 774 communities in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Local Government administrative
History
The ancestral homeland of Umuguma was located on the banks of the Nwaorie river, where Holy Ghost College (Arugo High School) Owerri is now located. Oratta's offspring include Ekwema and Arugo. Ekwema begat Owerre and Arugo begat Umuguma. Since Umuguma endured suffering due to the actions of Owerre, many boundaries were redrawn in the latter's favor and thus most of the area is now known as "New Owerri." This term was created by recent settlers and non-indigenous individuals. Others however, take a different stance, believing the Owerri Municipal Local Government relied on the moniker to usurp some Owerri West or Umuguma land for their use.
Geography
Umuguma stretches from the Northern part at the roundabout on Sam Mbakwe Avenue by Dream-Land Hotel, through the Coca Cola Factory off Irete Road on the East, to the Federal Secretariat Complex on Port Harcourt Road to the West and through Port Harcourt expressway including all the Housing Estates - World Bank, Federal and Imo State Housing estates. It borders Owerre at the north, Nnekede at the west, Irete and Okuku on the east and Avu at the south. Umugumascontributed the largest landmass to the Owerri Capital Project in Imo State.
Leaders
The traditional leadership of Umuguma community includes an Eze and President General of the Town Union. Umuguma has five traditional villages: Umuome, Umunwanyi, Umunkwo, Umuagu and Ogbuosisi. The traditional leadership (Eze) has evolved through several ruling houses.
The Oparanozie ruling house in Umuome produced Eze Herbert Oparanozie (Nnayereugo of Avu/Umuguma Autonomous community) who passed away in 1987. Thereafter the position remained vacant for several years. In 2000, Eze Nnamdi Ugorji from Ogbuosisi was crowned and is presently the Eze Umuguma.
The General Assembly of Umuguma is the Town Union deliberates on the social, political and economic well-being of the community and assists the Eze in maintaining peace and public order within the community.
The affairs of the Town Union are presided over by the President-General, who oversees other Umuguma Town Union branch presidents, and is the custodian of the Town Union at home. The President-General is elected at a general assembly - the present elected President-General is Engineer Uzoma Kenneth Osuagwu (elected 2014).
Prominent locations
- Federal Secretariat, by Port Harcourt Road
- Specialist Hospital Umuguma, Owerri
- World Bank Housing Estates, Areas L, M, N
- Federal Housing Estate, Umuguma
- Imo Housing Estate, Umuguma
- Dream Land Hotels, along Sam Mbakwe Avenue
- Ideal Suites Hotels
- The entire area referred to as New Owerri.
Notables
Prominent citizens of Umuguma include:
- Chief Ignatius Umezurike - Chairman, old Owerri Local Government Area (1987–1990)
- Sir Levi Oguike - Member, Federal House of Representatives (1999–2003); Imo State Commissioner for Lands (2009–2011)
- Sir Engineer Eddie Onuoha - Retired British Trained Engineer and Philanthropist
- Commodore Ogechi E Osuagwu - Retired Very Senior Naval Officer and Philanthropist
- Sir Mike Eke - Retired Bursar, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
- Engineer Gibson Ozoemena - Retired Director, Agip Oil Nigeria
- Dr. Bishop Ikwuagwu - Medical Director, National Hospital Abuja
- Dr. Barrister Eze Simpson Osuagwu - Harvard University Scholar and Legal Practitioner
- Architect Newton Okoroafor - Director, Federal Ministry of Works
- Chief Chika Osuji - Executive Officer, Nigerian LNG Bonny
- Ukachukwu Okorie - Editor-in-Chief, AfricaWorld News Dublin 12.