Anambra State

The name Anambra is the anglicized version of the river Ọmambala, the Igbo name of the Anambra River which flows through the state as the colonialists could not perfectly pronounce the name of the river.

Anambra's history stretches to the 9th century AD, as revealed by archaeological excavations at Igbo-Ukwu and Ezira. It has great works of art in iron, bronze, copper, and pottery works belonging to the ancient Kingdom of Nri. These have revealed a sophisticated divine Kingship administrative system, which held sway in the area of Anambra from c. 948 AD to 1911. In some towns, such as Ogidi and others, local families had hereditary rights to kingship for centuries.

Great Britain recognised some of these traditional kings and leaders in their system of indirect rule of the Protectorate of South Nigeria. Beginning in the 19th century, they appointed some noble leaders as Warrant Chiefs, authorizing them to collect taxes, among other duties.

Anambra is in the Igbo-dominated area that seceded as part of an independent Biafra in 1967, following rising tensions with Northern Nigeria. During the Nigerian/Biafran war (1967-1970), Biafran engineers constructed a relief airstrip in the town of Uli/Amorka (code named "Annabelle"). Extremely dangerous relief flights took off from Sao Tome and other sites loaded with tons of food and medicine for the distressed Biafran population. Uli/Amorka airstrip was the site where American pilots such as Alex Nicoll, and scores of others, delivered tons of relief supplies to the Biafran population.[4] Disgusted by the suffering and mounting death toll in Biafra from starvation, as well as the continuous harassment of the relief planes by the Nigerian Airforce, Carl Gustaf von Rosen resigned as a Red Cross relief pilot. He helped Biafra to form an airforce of five Minicoin planes Malmö MFI-9 stationed at the Uga airstrip. He named his tiny but effective airforce "Babies of Biafra" in honour of the babies who died from starvation inside Biafra.

Old Anambra State was created in 1976 from part of East Central State, and its capital was Enugu. In 1991 a re-organisation divided Anambra into two states, Anambra and Enugu. The capital of Anambra is Awka.

Anambra is rich in natural gas, crude oil, bauxite, and ceramic.[7] It has an almost 100 percent arable soil.

Anambra state has many other resources in terms of agro-based activities such as fisheries and farming, as well as land cultivated for pasturing and animal husbandry.

It has the lowest poverty rate in Nigeria.[8]

St Joseph Church, Awka

Since the late 1990s, there has been a migration from rural to urban areas in the state, resulting in Anambra becoming a highly urbanized state: 62% of its population lives in urban areas. In October 2015, the APGA-led state government of Willie Obiano signed a memorandum of understanding with Galway modular housing company, Affordable Building Concepts International, for 10,000 housing units to be built in the state.[12]

Given decades of neglect of infrastructure and bad governance, the shift in human migration has posed problems for the state. Infrastructure improvements, both physical and social, have lagged behind the growth in population. There are problems in environmental sanitation, erosion control, and provision of social services. Major cities have become characterized by inadequate and deteriorated road networks and walkways, unregulated building patterns, poor sanitation, uncontrolled street trading, mountains of garbage, and chaotic transport systems, creating congestion, noise pollution, and overcrowding.[13]

The government of Peter Obi, with the assistance of the UN-HABITAT, produced 20-year structural plans (2009–2028) for three major cities in the State: Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka Capital Territory, to restore urban planning and guide their growth into the future.

The plans contain policies and proposals for land use, city beautification, road infrastructure, industrial development, housing, waste disposal, water supply and health and educational facilities to turn the cities into successful urban areas that can generate employment and wealth, and provide high living standards for their residents.[14]

Anambra became the first state in Nigeria to adopt structural Plans for its cities. With effective implementation, it should systematically grow as a major economic center in Nigeria and West Africa.

The process of urbanization is fairly contributed by population growth, immigration, migration, and infrastructure initiatives like good road, water, power, and gardens, resulting in the growth of villages into towns, town into cities and cities into metros. To have ecologically feasible development, planning requires an understanding of the growth dynamics. There is a fear that if too many people leave the villages, only the aged men and women will be left to farm. This pattern has been seen in Amesi, Akpo, and Achina towns in Aguata local government area. They have been important in the production of yam, Cocoyam, and cassava through consistent agriculture, but such activities have suffered due to the out-migration of youth to the urban centres. There has been both food scarcity in the region and over-population in urban areas.

To upgrade the State capital and improve traffic, Awka, Governor Willie Obiano signed off on construction of three fly-overs between the Amawbia and Arroma end of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, a distance of about three kilometres within the city.[15]

Ogbunike Caves, listed by UNESCO[16] as a World Heritage Site, is one of the most visited tourist sites in Anambra State. It is classified as a Sandstone cave (Lateritic sandstones of Campanian-Miocene age).[17] The Owerre Ezukala caves and waterfalls are great tourist attractions in the State.[18] Largely unexplored, the caves are said the be the largest in West Africa.[19][20]

Ornamental staff head in the form of a coiled snake, 9th-century bronze, Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra State

Igbo Ukwu Museum:[21] Igbo Ukwu is an ancient town known for its astonishing metal crafts; it continues to attract tourists to see its bronze artifacts. First noticed in 1938, the bronzes were later excavated by Thurstan Shaw (an English archaeologist). They have been dated to the 9th century, and are of high value and historic relevance.[22]

Onugbu soup is a famous dish from the state.[23][24]

Nnamdi Azikiwe University

Awka, the state capital, is also the center of Nigeria's metalwork and carving industries. Educationally, Anambra is a centre of excellence. There are the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, and a federal university with a College of Medicine situated at Nnewi. The UNIZIK Nnewi runs a modern teaching hospital, with facilities also at Umunya and Ukpo. UNIZIK also has faculty of pharmaceutical sciences at Agulu, a School of Preliminary studies at Mbaukwu, and a College of Agriculture.[25]

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, formerly known as Anambra State University, and formerly known as Anambra State University of Science and Technology (ASUTECH), has two campuses, one in Uli, and another at Igbariam; the Federal Polytechnic, Oko; Nwafor Orizu University of Education (formerly known as the Nwafor Orizu College of Education), Nsugbe. Private universities include The Tansian University, Umunya; Madonna University, Okija; St Paul's University, Awka and St Peter’s University, Achina with a campus at Onneh Town. The UA College of Science & Technology Isuofia- the only accredited private polytechnic in the state and Aguata .www.uapoly.org ,now The University of America College of Science and Technology. www.uan.edu.ng.

Literacy rate in the state is comparatively high compared to other states. Anambra State students have won laurels nationally and internationally in recent times. This is a pointer to the literacy rate of the State when compared to others.[26][27][28][29] Primary and secondary school enrollment in the state is one of the highest in the country.[30] Consequently, Anambra state has the highest number of JAMB candidates going after the limited number of spaces in Nigeria's tertiary colleges. Since 2011/2012 till date (2014), its students have had the best results in both WAEC and NECO-conducted senior secondary school examinations.[31][32]

Anambra's political history can be described as varied. Until the early 21st century, it was marked by considerable unrest. Having a long list of "firsts" in Nigerian history, it has been known by the sobriquet as "The Light of The Nation". On 29 May 1999, Chinwoke Mbadinuju was sworn in as civilian governor of Anambra state, after many years of military rule. His administration was marred by deep problems: the most notable was withholding of teachers' salaries in the school. The teachers finally conducted a ten-month strike in all the government secondary schools in the state.[33]

Before Mbadinuju's rule, secondary education had been free of charge. But his administration imposed a tuition fee of 3,000 Naira per term for all secondary schools, which led to an unprecedented massive demonstration by secondary school students from all over the state. Many people attribute Mbadinuju's failure to political godfathers; his successor also struggled. On 26 May 2003, Chris Ngige was sworn in as the new governor of the state, but he was removed in March 2006 after Peter Obi of APGA filed charges against him of electoral malpractice. The Court of Appeal in Enugu asserted that Ngige's apparent victory in the 2003 election was fraudulent and ordered him to leave the seat.[34]

Obi was ousted by a faction of the Anambra State House of Assembly on 2 November 2006 and replaced by Virginia Etiaba, his deputy.[35] On 9 February 2007, Mrs. Etiaba handed power back to Obi after the Court of Appeal had nullified Obi's removal.[36]

On 14 April 2007, Andy Uba of PDP was "elected" as the new governor of the state and, on 29 May, was sworn in. Reported to be massively rigged, the election was widely criticised. On 14 June 2007 the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruled that Peter Obi's tenure had not ended; therefore there was no vacancy in the governorship. It removed Andy Uba from office and replaced him with his predecessor Obi.[37]

On 6 February 2010, Peter Obi was re-elected governor for a second term of four years, after a hot contest with Chris Ngige, a former governor of the state; Prof. Charles Soludo, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; and Andy Uba, who was a strong voice in the state's politics. Other contenders included Mrs Uche Ekwunife, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, and many others. Twenty-five contestants ran for the office. Obi was affirmed as the winner of the election, having more than 30% votes above the immediate runner-up. Chief Willie Obiano was sworn in on 17 March 2014 after winning 16 November 2013 election. Governor Willie Obiano of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was sworn in for a second term in office on 17 March 2018 after the victory at 18 November 2017 elections.[38][39]

Chinua Achebe

Chuba Okadigbo

• Nnamdi Azikiwe Owelle of Onitsha – the first President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
• Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, from Oko town, a politician, Architect and the first executive Vice-President of Nigeria, serving 1979 – 1983.
• Nwafor Orizu – hails from Nnewi, Nnewi South, the first Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• Ukpabi Asika - a political scientist and administrator from Onitsha. He was the East Central State administrator during and after the Nigerian Civil War
• Dim Emeka Ojukwu – a native of Nnewi, the leader of the secessionist Biafra Republic[40][41]
• Chukwuemeka Ike - A writer that authored many books including Toads for supper, Bottled Leopard, Expo 77.[42] He hails from Ndikelionwu in Anambra State and was the traditional ruler Ikelionwu XI. He was 1st registrar of the West African Examination Council - WAEC
• Krystal Okeke – Ms. Illinois USA Universal 2016 and founder of America Multicultural Kids Fashion Show and Miss America Nation beauty pageant.
• Hon Ifeanyi Chudy Momah - Lawyer and Legislator. Honorable Member representing Ihiala in the Federal House of Representatives
• Arinze Madueke – Doctor, businessman and philanthropist.
• Dr. Senator Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo (17 December 1941 – 25 September 2003) – a native of Ogbunike, was President of the Senate of Nigeria.
• Tessy Okoli – Provost of Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze
• Professor Chinua Achebe – a native of Ogidi and best known for the classic, Things Fall Apart was the first African writer whose books are standard curricula in schools and universities across the world.
• Fabian Udekwu (1928 -2006) - A notable Professor of Surgery and trailblazer of open heart surgery in Africa.
• Chinyere Stella Okunna - First Nigerian female Professor in Mass Communication.
• Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi (born in Aguleri, Anambra State, 1903 – died Leicester, England, 1964). Ordained a Roman Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Onitsha, Nigeria and was later a Cistercian monk at Mount Saint Bernard Monastery in England. Pope John Paul II beatified him in 1998.
• Emeka Offor – Chairman of Chrome Group.
• Emeka Nwokedi – Conductor and music director.
• Bonaventure Enemali – Commissioner for Youth Empowerment and Creative Economy
• Cletus Ibeto – A foremost industrialist and businessman from Nnewi.
• Alex Nwankwo – Blogger and media personality.
• Ken Erics - Multi-award-winning Nollywood Actor, Producer - C.E.O KEN ERICS Productions, writer and occasional musician.
• Emeka Anyaoku – the first black Secretary-General of the Commonwealth and recipient of South Africa's Order of the Companions of Oliver Reginald Tambo for his role in initiating talks between the apartheid state and the African National Congress (ANC).
• Professor Uche Okeke – a native of Nimo and one of the foremost Nigerian fine artists, founder of the Uli movement.
• Lieutenant-General Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor, appointed as Military Advisor on UN Peacekeeping Operations. Previously served as Commander of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Artillery Brigade in Liberia in 1996 and 1997
• Professor Humphrey Nwobu Nwosu. A Professor of Political Science. Former NEC Chairman. Conducted the freest, fairest and most credible election so far in Nigeria.
• Chi Onwurah, a British Labour Party politician, who was elected at the 2010 general election as the Member of Parliament for Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central, becoming the first female British MP of African origin.
• Godwin Maduka, doctor, businessman, philanthropist and the founder of Las Vegas Pain Institute and Medical Center.
• Chuka Umunna, a British Labour Party Member of Parliament for Streatham constituency.
• Professor Kenneth Dike – a pre-eminent scholar of African History and native of Awka, was the first indigenous Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan and founder of the National Archives.
• Professor Ben Enwonwu – a native of Onitsha was the first Nigerian sculptor of international repute with artwork gracing the United Nations headquarters.[43]
• Pius Okigbo, CON[44] – a world-renowned economist, was the first economic advisor to the Federal government of Nigeria (1960–1962), first Nigerian Ambassador to the European Community and renowned for bringing to light over $12 billion missing in oil windfall receipts from the Central Bank of Nigeria during the first Gulf War.
• Professor Samuel Okoye – was black Africa's first PhD in Radio Astronomy who along with Antony Hewish of the University of Cambridge discovered the radio source of Crab Nebula neutron star.
• Chief Jerome Udoji – from Ozubulu,[45] a social reformer was the first African to be made a 'D.O' (District Officer) by the Colonial Administration.

Chimamanda Adichie

• Amobi Okoye – Youngest American football player to play for the NFL (2004), currently is a free agent.
• Chimamanda Adichie – writer who won the Orange Prize for Fiction (2007) and a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship (2008);
• Dora Akunyili – ex-head of NAFDAC and former (17 December 2008 – 15 December 2010) Minister of Information won international awards for cleansing Nigeria of the scourge of fake drugs;
• Cardinal Francis Arinze, once considered a potential Pope
• Chief P.N. Okeke-Ojiudu – a politician and Businessman and the first minister of agriculture in the Nigerian first republic.
• Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu – a native of Nnewi who was the first Nigerian millionaire and first president of the Nigerian Stock Exchange;
• Cyprian Ekwensi – MFR, a writer of international repute
• Oscar N. Onyema - OON, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and Chairman of Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS).
• Philip Emeagwali – winner of the 1989 Gordon Bell Prize for Supercomputing;
• Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, the former Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).
• Chief Oliver De Coque, was a popular Nigerian highlife musician and guitarist.
• Professor Chike Obi – a Mathematician famous for his work on non-differential equations won the 1985 ICTP Price[46] and developed a special solution for Fermat's Last Theorem;[47]
• Osita Osadebe – a popular Nigerian Highlife musician who also holds the Nigerian record for the highest selling album
• Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo – a famous economist who spearheaded Nigerian economic reform from 1999–2008 and was ex-head of the Central Bank of Nigeria;
• Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy MBE, a London-based artist. The first black artist to paint a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II one of the UK Women of the Year in 2002 and 2003, represented the UK at the Council of Europe In 2009 she was made an MBE.
• Chinedu Okoli (Flavour), a popular singer and songwriter.
• Psquare (Peter and Paul Okoye), identical twins and Afro-R&B giants.
• Oseloka H. Obaze, (b 9 April 1955) Diplomat, politician and author.^{[citation needed]}
• Uju Uzo Ojinnaka, Founder and CEO, Traders of Africa and African Trade Invest
• Linus Williams Ifejika, Nigerian Base Business man, cryptocurrency trader, and Entrepreneur.

• Uli, Anambra
• Anam

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anambra State.

• Official website
• Anambra.ng Portal Official Information Site