Onitsha
Onitsha in Nigeria
Coordinates: 6°10′N 6°47′E / 6.167°N 6.783°E
Country
Nigeria
State
Anambra State
LGA
Onitsha North, Onitsha South
Founded
1550
Government
• Obi
Igwe Nnayelugo Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe
Area[1]
• City
13.97 sq mi (36.19 km2)
• Land
13.95 sq mi (36.12 km2)
• Water
0.026 sq mi (0.067 km2)
• Urban
9.83 sq mi (25.45 km2)
• Metro
13.97 sq mi (36.19 km2)
Population (2002)[1][2]
• City
511,000
• Density
113,900/sq mi (43,978/km2)
• Metro
1,003,000(Unofficial)
• Ethnicity
Igbo 90%>, Others
• Demonym
Onye Onicha (singular)
Ndi Onicha (plural) (Igbo)
Time zone
WAT (UTC+1)
Postcode
430...[3]
Area code(s)
046
Onitsha (Igbo: Ọ̀nị̀chà Mmílí[4] or just
Ọ̀nị̀chà)[5] is a city, a commercial, educational,
and religious centre and river port on the
eastern bank of the Niger river in Anambra
State, southeastern Nigeria.
In the early 1960s, before the Nigerian Civil
War (see also Biafra), the population was
officially recorded as 76,000, and the town was
distinctive in a number of dimensions; the
great Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe (born and
raised in the contiguous town of Ogidi)
characterized it as harboring an "esoteric
region from which creativity sallies forth at will
to manifest itself," "a zone of occult
instability" (see "Onitsha Matters" [1]). Though
it experienced great suffering during and after
the civil war, by virtue of its still-strategic
geographic position Onitsha has continued to
develop, and by 2001 had an estimated
population of 511,000 with a metropolitan
population of 1,003,000.[2] The indigenous
people of Onitsha are Igbo and speak the Igbo
language.
History
Most theories on the word 'Onicha' point to the
meanings "despiser" or "arrogant"; apparently
the people of Onitsha were prone to "look
down" upon the people of the towns adjacent
to them.[6] 'Onicha' may be a contraction of
either 'Ọnịsịlị-ncha', meaning 'too headstrong
[to be disciplined]'; Ọnyịsịlị-ncha, 'too
headstrong [for everyone]'; or 'Ani-Ocha', 'the
fair or white land'. Some claim that 'Onicha' is a
contraction of Igbo and Edo words, and perhaps
from the word 'Orisha'. Therefore, as a matter
of verifiable fact, there are as well other
communities east of the Niger River kwown as
Onicha with differing appendages. The
communities are as follows: Onicha Uburu
(Ebonyi state), Onicha Uboma (Imo state),
Onicha Agu (Enugu state), Onicha Nwenkwo
(Imo state), Onicha Ngwa (Abia state), Onicha
Amagunze(Enugu state) etc.[7]
Onitsha Mmili was known as Ado N'Idu by
migrants who departed from the vicinity of the
Kingdom of Benin near the far western portion
of Igboland (near what is now Agbor), after a
violent dispute with the Oba of Benin that can
be tentatively dated to the early 1500s.[8]
Traveling eastward through what is now
Western Igboland (and various towns also called
"Onitsha", for example Onicha-Ugbo,
"farmland-Onitsha". Onitsha was founded by
one of the sons of Chima, the founder of
Issele-Uku kingdom. Chima, a prince of the
ancient Benin kingdom emigrated, settled and
founded now known as Issele-Uku in Aniocha
North Local Government Area. The eldest son
of Chima eventually emigrated across the Niger
River to establish the Onitsha community. After
their arrival on the east bank (Onicha-mmili,
"Onitsha-on-water", see above), the community
gradually became a unitary kingdom, evolving
from a loosely organized group of "royal" and
"non-royal" villages into a more centralized
entity.[9] Eze Aroli, was apparently the first
genuinely powerful Obi of Onitsha, the ruler of
the city.[10]
In 1857 British palm oil traders established a
permanent station in the city, Christian
missionaries joining them headed by the
liberated African bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther
(a Yoruba recaptive) and Reverend John Taylor
(an Igbo Recaptive).[11] In 1900 Onitsha
became part of a British protectorate.[12]{ The
British colonial government and Christian
missionaries penetrated most of Igboland to
set up their administration, schools and
churches through the river port at Onitsha.
Modern history
Onitsha became an important trading port for
the Royal Niger Company in the mid-1850s
following the abolition of slavery and with the
development of the steam engine when
Europeans were able to move into the
hinterland. Trade in palm kernels and palm oil
which was going on on the coast of Bight of
Biafra since 12th century was now moved
upwards and other cash crops also boomed
around this river port in the 19th century.
Immigrants from the hinterland of Igboland
were drawn to the emerging boom town as did
the British traders who settled there in
Onitsha, and coordinated the palm oil and cash
crops trade. In 1965, the Niger River Bridge
was built across the Niger River to replace the
ferry crossing.
Demography
An Onitsha street scene.
Today, Onitsha is a modern day urban society in
Anambra State. The people speak the Igbo and
English languages.
There is a Catholic cathedral and an Anglican
cathedral in Onitsha that are the headquarters
of their satellite churches in and outside
Onitsha. Other minor churches have their
headquarters such as Grace of God Mission
International, Christ Holy Church, Mountain of
Fire and Miracles and many other church
organizations and socio-cultural groups.
A federal government college is in the town.
There is an army barrack and a school of
metallurgy. It is the home of the biggest
market in Africa,[citation needed] the Onitsha
Main Market. The Onitsha people were the first
to embrace western education, producing
notable people like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Owele
of Onicha, Zik of Africa, and the first president
of the post independent Nigeria, Prof. Chike
Obi, Justice Phillip Ebosie, and Philip
Emeagwali.
In recent times the Onitsha people have been
involved in disputes over land ownership in the
surrounding area with the people of Obosi and
Nkwellezunka.[13][14][15][16]

Economy
The state of Lagos and various northern towns
are partially fed by supplies from Onitsha.
Trade soared between the east and west of
Nigeria because of Onitsha market. This made
Onitsha the strategic gateway for trade
between the former eastern and western
regions. The Nigerian-Biafran war brought
widespread devastation to the city; at its end
came the subsequent oil boom years bringing a
huge influx of immigrants into the city. The
war-damaged facilities, still under repair, could
not cope with the pace of the rural-urban
exodus into the city. Slums consequently began
to emerge from the hasty haphazard building
construction to accommodate the huge influx.
The Onitsha Brewery started production in
August 2012. In January it was announced that
upgrades to the value of $110 million would
triple the output of beer and malt drinks.[17]
Geography
The River Niger Bridge into Onitsha.
Onitsha lies at a major east-west crossing point
of the Niger River, and occupies the
northernmost point of the river regularly
navigable by large vessels. These factors have
historically made Onitsha a major center for
trade between the coastal regions and the
north, as well as between eastern and western
Nigeria. Onitsha possesses one of the very few
road bridge crossings of the mile-wide Niger
River[18][19] and plans are in place to add a
second bridge near it. Today, Onitsha is a
textbook example of the perils of urbanization
without planning or public services.
Religion and politics
The Cathedral Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity
is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese
of Onitsha. The Church Of Nigeria Anglican
Communion Anglicanchurch has All
Saints'cathedral the Headquarters of Diocese
on the Niger with Rt. Rev Owen Chiedozie
Nwokolo the Bishop On the Niger in the city.
The Anglican was the first missionary in Onitsha
in 1857. Later came the Catholics in 1884. It is
the residence of the traditional ruler of
Onitsha, the Obi of Onitsha. There is also a
teacher training college for women and a
famous leper colony. Despite being one of the
biggest commercial cities of west Africa,
Onitsha remains congested from the over-
concentration of all her huge markets within
the old city center and minimal expansion of
the colonial roads infrastructure.
In February 2006, armed militants killed at
least 24 ethnic Hausa Fulani (Muslims) and
burned a few Muslim sites including two
mosques.[20][21][22] The riots were in
response to riots by Muslims in the city of
Maiduguri days earlier, where at least 18
Christians were killed, sparked by the cartoon
controversy in Denmark.

Pictures.... ..

buchi4action:
Pictures.... ..

ok sir

Pic 1 all saints cathedral anglican church
Pic 2 holy trinity catholic church

Mainmarket onitsha, crowded as usual.

HRH Obi Nnaemeka Achebe
HRH Obi Nnaemeka Achebe becomes the 21st
Obi of Onitsha.
His Majesty lgwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe was
born in Onitsha on 14 May, 1941, the first child
of Akunne Anthony Chinwuba, and
Chukwuebuka Winifred Ogbenyeanu Achebe.
He is a direct and unblemished descendant of
Ezearoli, through the lineage of Chimedie,
Oreze Obi, and Aguzani. His mother hails from
Umu Olisa in Odoje, whilst his wife Chinwe
Ngozi (nee Ononye) is from Umu Osodi, Inosi
Onira of Ogbeabu. His paternal grandmother is
from Umu Onuma of Obikporo whilst his
maternal grandmother hails from the royal
Ornozele Sineage of Umu Ezearoli. He has six
children - four daughters and two sons -
Ezennia Odiakosa, Chinedu, Eziamaka, lfunanya,
Uchenna and Chinwe.
lgwe Achebe has had a sound preparation for
life through his education. With excellent
results from his primary and secondary
schools, he gained admission in 1963 to the
prestigious and world famous Standford
University in California, USA, where he took a
Bachelor's degree in Chemistry. This was
followed with a Master's degree in Business
Administration in the equally famous Columbia
University in New York City, also in the USA. He
continued to develop his 'skills and abilities
through the opportunity of many local and
overseas in-service training programmes
during his entire career. His educational
attainment was crowned when he was
nominated in 1979 to the maiden set of the
Senior Executive Course of the exclusive
National institute for Policy and Strategic
Studies in Kuru, Jos, which is aimed at
developing high-level leadership in the public
and private sectors in Nigeria.
After a brief working experience in the USA
during the period of the civil war, lgwe Achebe
returned to Nigeria in 1972 to begin a long and
fulfilled career with the Shell Petroleum
Development Company of Nigeria. Over a
period of 30 years, he held positions in several
strategic functions, including Human Resources,
Operations, External Relations, General
Management and international Representation/
Reputation Management.
He demonstrated very early the potential to
rise to senior levels in the global Shell group of
companies and was appointed to the board of
directors of Shell Nigeria barely nine years
afterjoining the company. This was a record
achievement that has remained unequalled in
the company. His other achievements include
the management of the Eastern Division of the
company with responsibility for hundreds of
millions of dollars and the production of one-
quarter of the nation's oil output (500,000
barrels per day).
As Head of Human Resources Development, he
set up a manpower planning and development
system that gave young but competent
Nigerians the opportunity to rise fast to
commanding positions in the company. The
system is still in place and provides for up to
200 Nigerian staff of Shell Nigeria to be on
overseas posting with other Shell companies at
any given time. It is gratifying that several
Onitsha indigenes have benefited from this
scheme.
As the pioneer General Manager and Executive
Director for External Relations, lgwe Nnaemeka
Achebe set up the policy and framework for
relationships with external stakeholders,
particularly in oil producing communities of the
Niger Delta. His undoubted vision and foresight
made it possible for the company's
expenditure on community development to
grow from $12 million in 1991 to over $40
million when he left the position in 1996, and
some $60 million today.
On reaching the normal retirement age of 55
years in 1996, the company requested lgwe
Achebe to continue to provide his invaluable
experience and expertise to the organisation
by a special arrangement. He was transferred
to Shell International in London, where he
effectively acted as "ambassador at large" for
Shell Nigeria with the title of Senior Corporate
Adviser until his coronation as Obi of Onitsha.
This position brought him in close working
contact with international figures in politics,
business, the academia and civil society. He has
travelled and lectured widely, including
universities and professional organisations, and
featured on international electronic and in
print media, including CNN, BBC and Reuters.
In Nigeria, he has over the years, by personal
development and through his professional and
other connections, nurtured effective access
within the highest levels of government, the
public service, and the private sector. His
membership of the Alumni Association of the
National institute for Policy and Strategic
Studies, with such fellow members as General
lbrahim Babangida, has been invaluable in this
regard. In particular, he has acquired an
impeccable knowledge of the oil industry and
the role of petroleum In the political,
economic and social dynamics of Nigeria and
the world at large.
Among other marks of Igwe Achebe's
achievements in Shell Nigeria was the fact that
his career included three overseas working
assignments, a situation which was earned only
by competitive merit within the world-wide
Shell organisation. He was the first Nigerian to
earn thi distinction, which remains rare in the
organisation. Besides his long tenure as
director of Shell Nigeria, lgwe Achebe was a
director of seven other Shell companies during
his career, including the chairmanship of the
board of Shell Sierra Leone. During 1985 to
1987, as Area Business Co-ordinator in Shell
International Limited, he supervised the Shell
Group's businesses in Angola, Ghana, Sierra
Leone, Liberia, and Gambia as well as the
National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company
in Nigeria.
Besides Shell, lgwe Achebe has held
directorships in other organisations including
the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun,
Warri, and the Nigerian Employers'
Consultative Assodation. He belongs to a string
of social, professional and voluntary (non-
profit) organisations in Nigeria and overseas,
where he has made invaluable contributions in
various capacities, even as he also found them
as opportunities for continued learning and
self-development.
He is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of
Management, life member of the Nigerian
Economic Society, and member or the Nigerian
Institute of Personnel Management, Nigerian
institute of Public Relations and Nigerian
Environmental Society. Overseas, he belongs to
the Commonwealth Institute and the Academy
of Management (USA)
lgwe Achebe has always proved himself to be a
true Onitsha indigene at every opportunily,
notwithstanding his international career. He
visited Onitsha regularly and participated
actively in matters affecting his homeland. He
has a sound grasp of Onitsha tradition, culture,
history, politics and governance, both written
and oral. He acquired much of this by learning
from his late father and other elders, including
his maternal relatives. In addition, he is
modestly aware that there is never a limit to
knowledge and thus always shares views with
other leaders of thought in the community on
an on-going basis.
He is a member of the lfenkili Age Grade
Society, the Onitsha lrnprovernent Union
branches in Lagos and the UK, and the Umu
Ezearoli Welfare Association in Lagos, He was
initiated into the prestigious Agbalanze Onitsha
in April, 1996, with the cognomen, Nnanyelugo,
and thereafter acquired the status of Ugonabo,
when his eldest son took the Ozo title. He was a
member in good standing of the branches
ofAgbalanze Onitsha in Lagos and UK.
lgwe Achebe has always demonstrated a good
track record of fighting for, and assisting,
Onitsha indigenes whenever and wherever
possible. He facilitated the employment of a
fair number of Onitsha indigenes in Shell
Nigeria in particular, and the oil industry as
well as other sectors of the economy in
general. He has also always demonstrated
equal zeal with regard to contracts,
consultancies and admission to universities. In
general, he has provided mentoring,
professional guidance and advice to a host of
Onitsha indigenes in various walks of life. He is
a strong believer in the power of education,
personal development, hard work and the
leveraging of one's attributes as prerequisites
for success in life, both as individuals and as a
community.
lgwe Achebe has portrayed a vision for Onitsha,
which identifies the most singular challenge
today as the need to reverse the decline and
restore the foundations for development and
growth in this great and historic town. He
believes that Onitsha must be restored to its
past supremacy by keeping abreast of change
whilst upholding and preserving its identity as a
people. He also believes that Onitsha must be
part of the mainstream in Nigeria and should
maintain and strengthen its ties and links with
the world around it.
He has a clear understanding of the role of the
Obi, namely, to defend the territorial integrity
of Onitsha, provide selfless, honest, peaceful
and impartial leadership to his subjects,
represent and project the image of Onitsha
amongst its neighbours far and near, preserve
the culture and traditions, encourage
enterprise and productivity, and be a pure and
total embodiment of what it takes to be an
Onitsha indigene.
Today, Onitsha faces the challenges of
reconciliation and peace, preservation and
enhancement of its culture and tradition,
community development and self-help, re-
focussing the youths towards functional
education and gainful economic activity, and
generally harnessing it's resources and energy
at home and in diaspora for the good of
Onitsha.
Addressing these issues and challenges calls for
a leader who possesses a unique combination
of attributes. First and foremost, he must be
god-fearing and morally upright. He must have
the strength and courage to lead by example
and the humility to seek and ensure the
support of his subjects in all his undertakings as
monarch. Furthermore, he must have the
magnanimity and wisdom to heal all quarrels
and divisions within and amongst Onitsha
people, experience, tact and diplomacy to build
bridges and relate to Onitsha neighbours in
Anambra State, Nigeria and the world at large,
and pride to stand up for Onitsha at all times.
All these attributes Onitsha has found in lgwe
Nnaemeka Achebe. He is ever gentle in
demeanour, easy of address, but firm, resolute
and fair. He does not shirk responsibility for his
own actions and those of his delegated
subordinates. He had excellent managenal
skills as well as local, national and international
exposure and connections. He Is a man of
principles and is open, transparent and
diplomatic. He is well experienced in peace
building, issues and conflict management and
community development. Above all, he is well
versed in and committed to upholding the
ancient customs and traditions of the proud
people of Onitsha.
My Dreams for Onitsha— Igwe Achebe
"I have chosen as my theme, Peace and
Reconciliation Based on Truth and Transparency
as a Foundation for Sustainable Development”.
It is my belief that Onitsha is at crossroads,
faced with the dual challenge of being a
relevant part of a rapidly changing and more
competitive world and that of preserving and
promoting those qualities, norms and practices
(our culture and traditions) that have earned us
respect and distinction as a people.
There is no doubt that Onitsha has been in
decline since the civil war. The myriads of
factors that have caused this decline are, to
some extent, outside our direct control.
However, it is fair to say that we, the indigenes,
have also been responsible for many of our
setbacks.The most singular challenge facing us
today, therefore, is to reverse the decline and
restore the foundations for development and
growth in our great and historic town. In other
words, we must restore Onitsha to its past
supremacy by keeping abreast of change, whilst
upholding and preserving our very identity as a
people. We owe it to ourselves to maintain and
strengthen our ties and links with the world
around us. We must be part of the mainstream
in Nigeria as the country marches forward in
the quest for democracy and
development.There is need to refocus our
children towards quality education and gainful
enterprise, and away from crime.
Considering its strategic commercial
importance in Nigeria, Onitsha should be well
served with good roads, water supply,
electricity, telephones, and a clean
environment, to say the least. Though as Obi I
do not exercise executive political
responsibility; I should, like other senior
monarchs in the country, be able to exert
adequate influence towards the
accomplishment of these necessities.All these
are daunting tasks and cannot happen in one
day. But we must make a new beginning. I will
be in no better position than to engender the
sense of determination among our people to
change direction. The monarchy should be a
critical factor in the transformation of onitsha.

Obi of onitsha pics