Afikpo North is a Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the town of Ehugbo, Afikpo. Important townships include Ehugbo (with Itim Ukwu, Ohaisu, Nkpoghoro, Ugwuegu/Amaizu, Ozizza autonomous communities characteristic of towns too) Unwana and Amasiri. Other notable areas are Ibii and Akpoha.
Afikpo North
Afikpo | |
|---|---|
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| Coordinates: 5°52′N 7°57′E / 5.867°N 7.950°E | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| State | Ebonyi State |
| Headquarters | Afikpo (Ehugbo) |
| Major city |
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| Government | |
| • Type | Local Government Area |
| • Chairman | Obiageri Oko Enyim[1] |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 881,611 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
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It has an area of 240 km2 and a population of 881,611 at the 2021. Its postal code is 490.[2] The major language is a more localised form of the Igbo language known as the 'Ehugbo Language'. It has a rich Igbo traditional heritage and culture and has festivals like the 'New Yam Festival' that hold at the end of the month of August every year, which marks the beginning of a new traditional year.
Igbo traditional centre
editAfikpo is a centre of ancient Igbo tradition. Ceremonial (now antique) masks have been carefully preserved by the state tourism board. Afikpo is an ancient city-state. Several archaeological findings support the claim that Afikpo civilisation existed as far back as the Neolithic age.
There is a rite of passage for every male child from Afikpo. This entails initiation into the Ogo cult. It is shrouded in secrecy and mystery, as women are not let into the workings of the cult. This confers adulthood to the male child.
Higher institutions in Afikpo North
edit- Mater Misericordia Hospital School of Nursing and Midwifery
- Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana
Notable people
edit- Chris Abani, Nigerian-American author
- Uche Azikiwe, premier first Lady of Nigeria, wife of Nnamdi Azikiwe
- Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health from 2010 until 2014
- Priscilla Ekwere Eleje, first woman to have her signature on the naira note
- Akanu Ibiam, first governor of Eastern Nigeria, predecessor of Chukwuemeka Ojukwu
References
edit- ^ "Ebonyi council boss, ex-chairman fight over father's corpse". 7 April 2021.
- ^ "Post Offices- with map of LGA". NIPOST. Archived from the original on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
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