About Umuahia
Umuahia is the capital of Abia State in south-eastern Nigeria. Umuahia is located along the rail road that lies between Port Harcourt to Umuahia’s south and Enugu city to its north. Umuahia has a population of 359,230 according to the 2006 Nigerian census. Umuahia’s indigenous ethnic group is the Igbo.
Umuahia comprises two local government areas: Umuahia North and Umuahia South. These local governments are also composed of clans such as: Umuokpara, Ibeku, Olokoro, Ubakala, and Ohuhu communities.
The five clans that make up Umuahia each have their own origins of how they came to settle at the place they are individually known and addressed as today. Umuahia was established by the British colonial administration of Nigeria in the early 20th century. The town was declared the second capital of the short-lived nation of the Republic of Biafra on 28 September 1967 after the first capital Enugu was captured by Nigerian troops. After Umuahia’s capture on 24 December 1969, the last Biafran capital before its dissolution became Owerri.
Umuahia is well known as being an agricultural market center since 1916. It is also a railway collecting point for crops such as yams, cassava, corn (maize), taro, citrus fruits, and palm oil and kernels. Umuahia was quite popular and a melting pot of commerce because of Golden Guinea Breweries, Modern Ceramics, Ulonna Farm Settlement with a palm-oil-processing plant. Nigeria’s National Root Crops Research Institute, at Umudike, is adjacent to the town. Umuahia also has several colleges including Trinity College (theological) and several hospitals.
Notable people from Umuahia
Some of Umuahia’s notable citizens include: Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, the first Nigerian GOC and military Head of state, Michael Iheonukara Okpara, the former premier of Eastern Region of Nigeria, Dr. J.O.J Okezie Former Agriculture and Health Minister.