History of Anambra State Nigeria

Anambra State can be said to be divided into two. The old Anambra State was created in 1976 from the East central State; its capital was Enugu while the present Anambra State was created in 27th August 1991 by the regime of General Murtala Ramat Mohammed with its capital as Awka. The name Anambra is a title gotten from “Oma Mbala”. This native runs through the areas of the Niger River. The Slogan of the State is “light of the Nation”.

Anambra State is located in the southeastern part of Nigeria. This State shares boundaries with Delta State to the west, Imo State to the South, Enugu State to the East and Kogi State to the North.

Ethnic Groups in Anambra State

Anambra State is mostly occupied by the Igbo speaking inhabitants, a percentage of 98% and 2% of Igala who reside at the North-western part.

SEE ALSO>>>History of Bauchi State<<<

Map of Anambra State

This map represents the twenty-one local Government Areas of Anambra State.

Anambra Map

Local Government Areas in Anambra State

Anambra State has twenty –one Local Government Areas, they are

  • Aguata
  • Awka North
  • Awka South
  • Anambra East
  • Anambra West
  • Anaocha
  • Ayamelum
  • Dunukofia
  • Ekwusigo
  • Idemili North
  • Idemili South
  • Ihiala
  • Nijkoka
  • Nnewi North
  • Nnewi South
  • Ogbaru
  • Onitsha North
  • Onitsha South
  • Orumba North
  • Orumba South
  • Oyi

Wards in Anambra State

Anambra State has   327 wards, they are;

AAbacha, Abagana I, Abagana II, Abagana III, Abagana IV, Abatete, Abba I, Abba II, Achalla I, Achalla II, Achalla III, Achina I, Achina II, Adazi Ani  I, Adazi Ani II, Adazi Enu I, Adazi Enu II, Adazi Nnukwu  I, Adazi Nnukwu II, Agbudu, Agu Oka, Aguleri, Aguleri II, Agulu IV, Agulu I, Agulu II, Agulu III, Agulu Uzoigbo, Agulueze Chukwu, Ajalli I (obinikpa And Umueve), Ajalli Ii(umuabiama And Amaga), Akili – Ozizor, Akili Ogidi/Obeagwe, Akpo, Akpu, Akwa, Akwa –ihedi, Akwaeze, Akwujwu, Alor I, Alor II, Amaetiti, Amakwa II, Amamu I, Amamu II, Amansea, Amanuke, Amaokpala/Omogho, Amawbia I, Amawbia II, Amawbia III, American Quarters, Amesi, Amichi I, Amichi II, Amichi III, Amorka, Anaku, Atani I, Atani II, Awa, Awaba-ofemmili, Awgbu I, Awgbu II, Awka I, Awka II, Awka III, Awka IV, Awka V, Awka VI, Awka VII, Awka – etiti I, Awka – etiti II, Awkuzu I, Awkuzu II, Awkuzu III, Awkuzu IV, Azia, Azuigbo
B, E, FBridge Head I, Bridge Head II, Bridge Head III, Ebenator, Ebenebe I, Ebenebe II, Ebenebe III, Ekwulobia I, Ekwulobia II, Ekwlumili, Enugu/umonyia, Enugwu , Ukwu I, Enugwu Ukwu II, Enugwu Ukwu II, Enugwu Ukwu IV, Enugwu-agidi I, Enugwu-agidi II, Enugwu-out, Ezi-anam, Eziagu, Eziagulu-out, Ezinato/isiagu, Ezinifite, Ezinifite I, Ezinifite I, Ezinifite II, Ezinifite II, Ezinifite III, Eziowele, Ezira, Fegge I, Fegge IV, Fegge II, Fegge III, Fegge V, Fegge VI, Fegge VII, r.a
I, LIchi, Ichida I, Ichida II, Ideani, Ifite Ogwari I, Ifite Ogwari II, Ifite-anam, Ifitedunu I, Ifitedunu II, Igbakwu, Igbariam, Igbo-Ukwu II, Igbo-Ukwu I, Ihembosi/anaubahu, Ihite, Ihite, Ihiteoha, Ikenga, Inland Town I, Inland Town II, Inland Town III, Inland Town IV, Inland Town V, Inland Town VI, Inland Town VII, Inland Town VIII, Isseke, Isu Aniocha, Isulo, Isuofia, Iyiowa/odekpe/ohita, Lilu
M,NMabakwu I (anezike), Mba-ukwu, Mbosi, Nando I, Nando II, Nando III, Nankwa I, Nankwa II, Nawfia I, Nawfia II, Nawfjia, Nawgu I, Nawgu II, Ndi okpalaeze, Ndikelionwu, Ndiokolo/nidiokpaleke, Ndiowu, Ndiukwuenu/okpeze, Neni I, Neni II, Nibo I, Nibo II, Nibo III, Nimo I, Nimo II, Nimo III, Nimo IV, Nise I, Nise II, Nkerehi, Nkpologwu, Nkpor I, Nkpor II, Nkwelle Ezunaka I, Nkwelle Ezunaka II, Nnewi-ichi I, Nnewi-ichi II, Nnobi I, Nnobi II, Nnobi III, Nnokwa, Nri I, Nri II, Nsugbe I, Nsugbe II, Nteje I, Nteje II, Nteje III, Nteje IV, Nteje V, Nzam,
OOba, Oba II, Obeledu, Obosi, Ochuche-umuodu/ogbakuba/amiyi, Odoakpu I, Odoakpu II, Odoakpu III, Odoakpu IV, Odoakpu V, Odoakpu VI, Odoakpu VII, Ogbe Umuonicha, Ogboji, Ogbolo, Ogbunike I, Ogbunike II, Ogbunka I, Ogbunka II, Ogidi I, Ogidi II, Ogwu-ikpele, Ogwuaniocha, Ojoto, Okija I, Okija II, Okija III, Okija IV, Okija V, Oko II, Oko I, Okpoko I, Okpoko II, Okpoko III, Okpoko IV, Okpoko V, Okpoko VI, Okpuno, Olumbanasa – Ode, Olumbanasa – inoma, Omasi, Omor I, Omor II, Omor III, Oraifite I, Oraifite II, Oraifite III, Oraukwu, Oreri, Oroma Etiti – anam, Orsumoghu, Ossomala, Osumenyi I, Osumenyi II, Otolo I, Otolo II, Otolo III, Otuocha I, Otuocha II, Owerre-ezukala I, Owerre-ezukala II, Ozubulu I, Ozubulu II, Ozubulu III, Ozubulu IV, Ozubulu V,
T, U , WTrans Nkisi, Ubuluisiuzo, Ufuma I, Ufuma II, Uga I, Uga II, Ugbene, Ugbenu, Uke, Ukpo I, Ukpo II, Ukpo III, Ukpor I, Ukpor II, Ukpor III, Ukpor IV, Ukpor V, Ukpor VI, Ukwulu I, Ukwulu II, Uli I, Uli II, Uli III, Ume Rum, Umuawulu, Umuchu I, Umuchu II, Umudim I, Umudim II, Umudioka I, Umudioka II, Umueje Umueje, Umuenwelum – anam, Umueze – anam I, Umueze – anam II, Umuleri II, Umumbo, Umunankwo/mputu, Umunnachi I, Umunnachi II, Umunya I, Umunya II, Umunze I, Umunze II, Umunze III, Umueba  -anam, Umueba – anam, Umuoji, Umuomaku, Umuona, Umureli I, Unubi, Uruagu I, Uruagu II, Uruagu III, Urum, Utuh, Uzoakwa, Water side Central I, Water side Central II, Woluwo Layout,

Population of Anambra State

In the year 2006 national population and housing census , the population of Anambara State was said to be a total number of  4,177,828 people, with the number of males as 2,059844 and female, 2,117,984. The area of Amanbra State is 4,844km² (1,870sqmi)

Anambra State Federal Constituencies

Anambra has eleven Federal constituencies, they are;

  • Aguata
  • Anambra East and West
  • Awka North and South
  • Ogbaru
  • Onisha North and South
  • Orumba North and South
  • Oyi/Ayamelum
  • Idemili North and South
  • Ihiala
  • Njikoka/dunukofia/anaocha
  • Nnewi North and South/Ekwusigo

The Government of Anambra State

Anambra State Government has three arms of government:

  • The Executive Arm
  • The Legislative Arm
  • The Judicial Arm

The Executive Arm of Anambra State

This Arm is headed by the State governor assisted by the commissioners who the governor appoints to head different departments of the State. WILLIE OBIANO is the present governor of Anambra State.

The Legislative Arm of Anambra State

This is the State house of Assembly in Anambra State; it is made up of 29 members voted by the people of the 29 constituencies of the State. IKEM UZOEZIE is the present speaker of the State Assembly.

The Judicial Arm of Anambra State

This Arm of the State is headed by the chief judge of Anambra State to ensure justice in all areas.  Justice PETER UMEADI is the present chief Judge of the State.

Senatorial Zones in Anambra State

There are three main zones in Anambra State and each of them has seven local government areas.

  • Anambra North Senatorial District
  • Anambra South Senatorial Disctrict
  • Anambra central Senatorial District
ZonesLGAs
Anambra North Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Oyi, Ogbaru, Anambra East, Anambra West, Ayamelum
Anambra Central Awaka North, Awka South, Njikoka, Anaocha, Idemili North, Idemili South, Dunukofia
Anambra South Ihiala, Nmewi North, Nnewi South, Orumba South, Orumba North, Aguata, Ekwusigo

Economy of Anambra State

The inhabitants of Anambra State are mostly traders and the major market in Anambra state is Onitsha main market. There are also other markets which such as;

  • Bridge Head market
  • Ogboefere market
  • Marine market
  • Ose okwodu market
  • Electroinics market Onitsha
  • Bulding materials, Ogidi market
  • Ogbaru main market

Anambra State people also engage in Agricultural activities such as producing rice and yam in a very good quality, fishing and rearing of animals is also part of the State economy. They are also known as an oil producing State, which has greatly contributed to the economy of the State. This is as a result of the building of the ‘Orient Petroleum Refinery’ in Aguileri with an average output of three thousand barrels of crude oil each day. There are also other minerals Anambra State is blessed with, such as; kaolin, clay, Natural gas, pyrite, Lateritic clay, Iron Stone and sand Stone.

Culture of Anambra State

Anambra State is mainly an Igbo speaking State, they venture into trading, farming, fishing and craft works. This State celebrates festivals like Iwaji (new yam) which is done annually.  In summary, most towns in Anambra State have their own custom and Festivals such as  Nkwor festival held in Uga (Awka town).

Major  Cities in Anambra State

Some major commercial and industrial cities in Anambra State are;

  • Onitsha
  • Ekwulobia
  • Nnewi

Festivals held in Anambra State

  • Igu – Aro Festival (kingship)
  • Obo ofor festival in Uga
  • Nkpokiti Dance
  • Agaka Masquerde
  • Nkwor festival in Uga
  • Uku, an annual masquerade festival in Amanasa umuchu, Aguata local Government area
  • New Yam Festival
  • Ito-Ogbo-80th birthday celebration by age grades of obosi, Idemili local Government area
  • Mkpluede festival isuaniocha
  • Manwu ihiala masquerade Dance
  • Imo – Awka Festival at Awka
  • Ijele Masquerade
  • Olili obibia Eri in Enugwu Aguleri
  • Uzoiyi festival Umuoji
  • Ofala (ovala)

Tourism – Places to Visit in Anambra State

  • Uzu – Oka at Awka (uzu craftsmanship)
  • Igbo Ukwu Museum
  • Ogbunike Caves
  • Agulu Crocodile Lake along Awka road in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area
  • Isi Ubi stone Stream Umu-opu, Umatuolu Umuar
  • Ini Iguedo at Nando
  • Odinani Museum at Nri
  • Ini Eri at Aguleri
  • Agwuve trinity Tree at Enugwu Aguleri
  • Dabawu Ancestral abode of Eri at Ugume Umuari
  • Rogeny Village at Oba
  • The River Niger at Onitsha and Asaba

SEE ALSO>>>History of  Kogi State<<<

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