umuofor autonomous community

7/22/2019 UMUOFOR AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY

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UMUOFOR AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY

About Umuofor People in Oguta L.G.A of Imo State, Nigeria

Umuofor is a small community of less than five thousand people located in the border of Ogutaand Mbaitoli localgovernment of Imo State Nigeria , West Africa . Address: Mile 2 Ukwuorji

Oguta Motel Road, Umuofor - OgutaLocal Government Area, Imo State - Nigeria. Umuofor as oftoday is one the Autonomous Communities in OgutaL.G.A of Imo State and it is made up of threevillages UMUNWEGBE, UMUDIBIE andUMUDURUAJUNWANNA. The indigenous Umuoforpeople are said to have migrated from Awomama in Oru-East L.G.A & ISU in Njiaba L.G.A of ImoState and said to have first settled at Ameabiam and finally settled in oneof their fore-fathersfarmlands at the present day Umuofor. Some of the early settlers include Duru Osimiri,Chionye,Nnadi, Ubah, Abor, Ibeanusi, Nnabugo, Ubawuchi , Nnadirinwa , Emetumah ,

Anyaibe Nzediegwu , Nwawubem ,Ndimememe , Nnawuaku , Nwabuihe , Agbakegbe ,Amaogaranya , Diogu, Osoagba , Ezeribe ,Idu,Iroka and many more . There has been anunresolved land dispute between the Umuofor and Akabor people. Inthe 60s, Chief EmmanuelUbah, Emmanuel Nwawubem and Chief C. A Ubawuchi gave their money to salvageUmuofor

land . They were assumed the owners of the land until the Umuofor people redeemed their landin the late70s.CULTUREThe Umuofor people have an annual local ceremony called THE OWUFESTIVAL that takes place once ayear, it isa male dominated and initiated ceremony. Womenare not allowed to participate. There aremasquerades calledOKOROSHA . However somereligionists oppose this culture calling it demonic, oneof the greatest opponents of this was MrJames Nwosu , the first pastor of Umuofor , (THE FATHER OF REVIVAL) . Mrs JanethUbawuchialso refused to partake and also refused to recognize the Ekenjiaba (python snakegod) . In the early days, thesesnakes used to roam around peoples' compounds and werewelcome by the people. Umuofor had two ritual bushes - NJABA and OTANGBO . It was saidthat Mr. Benneth Nwabuche on another man's instruction cleared that land.That is where theUmuofor market is situated today.RELIGIONUmuofor people are very religious. The first churchin Umuofor is the Anglican church and some of the pioneer members of this church include Mr.

Andrew Osoagba , Mark Osimiri , Clement Ubawuchi ,SilvanusEmetumah(later Alhaji GafaruEmetumah) , Boniface Amaogaranya , Benson Nnadi, Emmanuel Uba and others .James Nwosualso pioneered the Apostolic church while Mr. Oguerilem and the brother brought theCherubim&Seraphim church. Umuofor has also produced MEN OF CLOTH (CLERGIES).PastorIyke Peter Ubawuchi is thefounder and senior pastor of JOHANNESBURGINTERNATIONALCHURCH, SOUTH AFRICA and president of GRACE WORLD OUTREACH,a global ministry that affect mill ions of lives. He is also the director / coordinator of the MILLIONMAN MARCH FOR JESUS, Reverend Eugene and Eze Onwubie are canons in the

AnglicanChurch.ISLAMAlhaji Abdul Gafaru Emetumah was the pioneer of Islam in Umuofor. He

was also the traditional ruler of Akabor community.UMUOFOR PATRIARCHSCHIEF MARKOSIMIRI- Was one of the foundation members of Christ Church Umuofor and was veryinvolved in Umuofor land disputes,he was a builder by proffession and lived in Lagos, hischildren include Mr. Felix who lives in USA with his wife Dr Philomena and their childrenwho include Brian , Stephanie,Derrick andothers, Mark's other children inlude Chief Jonathan [a buisnessman in Aba NIGERIA], Barrister Shedrack(Obioma), who lives in the USA, Dr.LEVI(CARRIBEANS) Mr Felix is very involved in assisting umuofor indigenes and entirecommunity including thereconstruction of the new Anglican Church building which is said to beone of the best in the Diocese on the Lake, Nigeria.CHIEF CLEMENT UBAWUCHIUbawuchiEzeoru had four sons, Iwunamara , Clement , Anyanasuro , Sunday and Eric . Ubawuchi lived tobe over a hundred years old and passed away in 1975.


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Chief Clement is the second son of Ubawuchi . He worked for over 32 years as an administrativemanager in NEPA , during which time he used his influence to employ some people in NEPAincluding Mr. Eddy Anyaibe andEmmanuel Nwosu . He is a philanthropist even during hispension days, people still came to him for financialassistance where he gladly obliged them.Chief Ubawuchi at this time of writing2010 is about 85 years old andstill counting. He built the

first upstairs in Umuofor (in the 70s) . His children are Mr. Goddy , Dr. Emeka, Mr.Uzoamaka , PsIyke& Engr chudi and two girls.CHIEF BENSON NNADIChief Benson Nnadi was a well knownfigure in Umuofor land and beyond. He was known for all his selfless effortsand contributions inUmuofor community where he retired as a Principal Supervisor of Schools. NicknamedChief Ochumaogide, Chief Nnadi was credit with establishment of so many projects in Umuoforincluding Town schoolUmuofor, Christ Church Umuofor among others. He served his father landfor years as Community SecretaryGeneral as well as Community Speaker/GovernmentRepresentative. He was a very kind man who shoulderedresponsibilities caring for peoplesproblems but hated by Umuofor Neighboring towns for his love for Umuofor.Chief Nnadi wasmarried to Cecelia , and survived by Benedict , Benjamin , Bethel, Bertram , Bernard and others.Though lived as an average man , hee lived a happy man and died at the age of 84years in2006 after a brief illness.EZE (ALHAJI ABDUL GAFARU EMETUMAH)Is the second sonof Emetumah . He was the first Igbo Muslim evangelist and pioneered Islam in Umuofor. Hewasalso the Eze (traditional ruler ) of Akabor autonomous community . He was an influential manin his own right. Helived to be over seventy years and passed away in 2007. Eze Emutumahmarried three wives and was survived byAlhaji Fatai , Sani , Bashiru , Amin, Chigiozke andothers .ANDREW OSOAGBAMr. Andrew Osoagba was one of the pioneers of the Anglicanchurch in Umuofor and was the pastors' warden untilhis death . He loved working in the church.Married to Rosanna and survived by Mr. Nathaniel, Gabriel and UcheOsoagba (who is a knightin the Anglican Church)ALHAJI SANNI [ ANTHONY] ANYAIBEAlhaji Sanni formerly known as

Anthony was one of the pioneers of the Umuofor Anglican church. He retired as amanager at the

plateau Construction Company. He also used his position to employ some of Umuofor citizens.Heloved hunting. He married three wives and was survived by Mr. Amos , Elias , Davidand others . He lived to beover 70 years and passed away in 2006.MR EMMANUELNWAWUBEMHe was the first successful business man in Umuofor plying his trade in KanoState Nigeria . He had houses in Kano, Enugu and Port Harcourt . He was married to Susannaand survived by Samuel and others. He passed away in1970.MR BONIFACE

AMAOGARANYAHe was one of the pioneers of the Anglican church in Umuofor and avery vocal person and Umuofor representativeduring the early days of the land dispute . He wasmarried to Angelina and survived by Kingsley , Achinike andothers . Passed away in 1969.EMMANUEL UKACHUKWUis the first son of Mr. Ukachukuru who lived in the Cameroon andworked probably as a butcher there . He hadanother son Joe who was a business man in

Cameroon until his untimely death .VINCENT AKPUCHUKWUwas the first barber in Umuofor ,he lived to be almost 75 years and passed away in 2008 , survived by his sonChilem whosemother died shortly after he was born .BONIFACE , EBENEZAR and DAVIDSON were sons of

AMAOGARANYA - Boniface passed away during the war , Davidson who was ateacher in ISUassed awa in the late 70s , he was married to the late Matilda and survived b their son


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Kennedywho lives in LAGOS . Boniface was also survived by Kingsley who lives in the UnitedStates , Achinike andAbednego who lives in Nigeria . Adeline and Stella (Sinte) are their sisters ,their mother's name is Angelina ,married from Ogbaku .

EMMANUELAnd BENJAMIN are the sons of NWAWUBEM . Both of them died in their mid-ages.Emmanuel a successful businessman who owned properties in different parts in Nigeria wassurvived by Samuel who lives in Portharcount .He also had daughters , Christiana , Grace ,Florence , Ngozi and Ndidi . Ngozi lives with her family inMANCHESTER , ENGLAND . Oluchipassed away . There is also the twins Okechukuru and Kelechi (who aresoccer players inMALAYSIA ) . NONSO and NENE who live in Portharcourt.Clement Nlewedimis the first sonof Mr. Nlewedim (known during his primary school as Gramarian ) , healso had other

brothersincluding Nelson .Adizuo , Alhaji Sanni (Anthony ) , Alhaji Adamu (Samuel ) and Edward(their half brother ) areall sons of ANYAIBE . Adizuo is probably the oldest man still living inUmuofor at this time of writting . His firstsonShedrack Anyaibe lives with his family in Italy .Shedrack Anyaibe is probably the first man in Umuofor totravel overseas (around the early 70s ) .His younger brother Josiah is a builder and resides in Umuofor .ALHAJI SANNI was survivedby Mr Amos , Elias (R.O ) Anyaibe . Amos is a builder . Elias lives somewhere inthe NorthernNigeria . ALHAJI ADAMU (SAMUEL ) is the younger brother of Sanni , his first Mr Son - Saliu,ISA (Innocent ) and the first surviving twins in Umuofor . Hansan and Husseni . Hassan livesin

ALGERIA. NNANEMERE, FELIX , EDWARD and EPHRAIM andSOLOMON are all sons of NZEDIEGWU .Nnanemere is a palm wine dealer and afarmer . He isalso an initiate of the revered NZE/OZO . His firstson is IFEANYI , followed by IKE who is saidto be pastoring a church in ITALY . Edward Nzediegwu livedin Cameroon .OKACHANMA &OKEMEZIEM AZARAMAare the sons of AZARAMA . These two had feuds that lastedtheir lifetime and even affected their children .Okachanma was survived by LAWRENCE , PHILLIP,STEPHEN , NNAA , and NDADI . While Okemezien wassurvived by SAMUEL (whodisappearedmysteriously , last seen at ONITSHA ) and Adolphus who is working atshell Izombe. Okachanma wasmarried to Nwogoma from EZIAMA while Okemeziem was married to FANIfromEJEMEKWURU . Mr Xwas a half brother of Okachanma , AZARAMA , he committed the firstsuicide in Umuofor history .Survived by GABRIEL who is a carpenter .BATHRAM and OZO(DANIEL ) are the sons of ANOO .Bathram is a civil servant through thegovernmentcompensation of the war veteran as he was injured during the NIGERIA - BIAFRA CIVILWAR (

1967 - 1970) , while OZO is the Umuofor town crier . OZO was also a member of the then popularlocal music group (BONGO ) in the late sixties and early seventies . The other group membersof Bongowere Mr Vincent Anyaibe(drummer) , Solomon Nzediegwu , Isaac Uba(Jantamanta) ,PhillipOkachanma,life( if you know any other members please send the names to..umuofor initiative..........). .PAUL (EBIOGWU) EZERIBE, SIMEON and THEOPHILUS are thesons of EZERIBE from UMUDIBIE UMUOFOR . Paul was the head of the OWUfestival before he


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gave it up , Simoen was a very religious man of the Apostolic church , while Theophilus wasaspiritual healer . Paul was survived by ABASCO ,THEOPHILUS and SIMEON also had sons oftheir own.ONYEDIKA purpotedly died after he took Ubawuchi's male goat and was eating italone and was killed bytoo much fat .Mr Nnadiegbulam was a quiet man who went about hisown business , one of his sons is a pastor JUSTUS (ALOO) andAKOLAM aresons of.....................................Their mother's name was NWARIEM.Akolam passed awayin theearly nineties .JOSEPH ORUMEZIEMwas a fish merchant and was the only man thataccompanied THE AGWU -during the OWUOMA that took placeonce in seven years . He was

survived by PETER who also passedaway and other sons .UBAWUCHI EZEORUwas probablythe oldest living man in his time , said to have lived above a hundredyears . His children includeSTEPHEN(IWUNAMARA) ,CLEMENT ANYANASORO, SUNDAY andERIC who died duringthe NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR . Eric went to the war with Cyril Thedoro ,LawrenceOkachanma ,according to Mr Lawrence , Eric was warned to stay behind by Ubwuchi when they wenttobeprayed for by him before embarking on the journey . Ubawuchi had other daughters - Adanma,Ihejiaba (who passed away in may 2009) , Nnenia . Stephen died in 1984 , probably throughtetanus . Hewas survived by Gozie ,Uzoma and Amaechi . His daughters include Adania ,Sussana , Edna , Oby .Clement ANYANASORO Ubawuchimarried Janeth Ubawuchi andtogether they had seven children .Gordy , Christopher (Emeka) . who lives inEngland,Uzoamaka(Brown) Ngozi , Mary , Peter (Iyke) wholives in RSA and Paul (Chudi) . Gordy

Ubawuchi lives in the USA and his children include Sinclair (I.K).Rudolph (Emeka) , anAmerican Marine currently at IRAQ , A.J ,and the girls - Thelma(Oby) , Yvonne ,a) and Nikki .Emeka Ubawuchi - is the first medical doctor in Umuofor , presently lives in". His life changingwords on television isecognizable faces fromThe first one is Chukwuemeka Aboh .ng brothers -Mr Life and late Nnamdi .Umuahia . MR ephen , Nnaa and Ndadi . All these have theirown children . Lawrence's firstGO was an elder in Umuwuegbe , he was survived by Ofozuonu ,Innocent, Ofozuonuother whose sisters wereOgadinma[ married to Wahab Oliver] andone ofwhich is Chidi .H . Chief Isaac Ibeanusi is the current President General of Umuofor AutonomousCommunity.


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umuofor autonomous community

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