Esan North-East

Esan North-East is a Local Government Area located in Edo State of Nigeria. It has an estimated population of 119,346.^[1] Its headquarters are in Uromi/Uzea.

Esan North-East
LGA
Uromi Main Market
Interactive map of Esan North-East
Esan North-East
Coordinates: 6.7°N 6.333°E / 6.7; 6.333
Country	Nigeria
State	Edo State
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)

It has an area of 338 km² (131 sq mi) and a population density of 472.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,225/sq mi) (2016).^[2]

Geography

Esan North-East is bordered with Atani by Ubiaja, Ebhoiyi by Igueben, Ivue and Obeidu by Irrua, Uzea by Afemai, Amendokhian by Ugboha with towns in all its surroundings. The following villages constitute the city of Uromi, which is the headquarters of Esan North East local government area of Edo State Obeidu, Ivue, Egbele, Unuwazi, Utako, Onewa, Awo, Uzea, Eror, Idumoza, Ebhoijie, Arue, Ubierumu-Oke, Ebue, Ewoyi, Odigwele, Eguare, Oyomon, Eko-Ibadin, Efandion, Atani, Ualor-Oke, Amedokhian, Ukoni, Ewoki, and Ebun. Some of the original villages like Obeidu, Ewoyi, Ivue and Uzea have grown slowly into emerging suburban towns within the Uromi axis. ^[3]

Economic mainstays

The economic mainstay of Esan Northeast includes but not limited to the Commerce, cottage industry, agriculture, furniture making, and wood processing. Major agricultural products are Cassava, rice, yams, maize, tomatoes, okra, melon, cocoyam, and rubber. Natural resources include rubber, kaolin, and timber. The major tourist centres is the Onojie’s ancient palace.

Climate Condition

Esan North Local Government has a tropical wet and dry climates. The wind in the North East causes reduction in Rainfall which can result in little or no rain as the rainfall significantly reduce by mid-october and the period of dry season gradually sets in.^[4]

Health facilities

General hospital, clinics, and maternity homes.

Educational institutions

There are 15 secondary schools and 35 private primary schools. Among these schools are the Our Ladies of Lourd, Girls College, and Onewa Technical College.^[5]

Constituency structure

The North-East Local Government Area is divided into two constituencies. Constituency 1 comprises Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, while constituency 2 comprises Wards 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, making a total of 10 political wards represented by two representatives in the Edo State House of Assembly.^[6]

Notable people

Esan North-East has produced well-known individuals who are popular in both state and national level. These include:

• Chief Anthony Enahoro - one of Nigeria's foremost anti-colonial and pro-democracy activists^[7]
• Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu^[8]
• Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie^[9]
• High Chief, Tony Anenih (Iyasele of Esanland), leader of the ruling PDP.^[10]
• Air Vice Marshal Anthony Ebehijele Okpere^[11]
• Ehia Olu. Akhabue^[12]
• Pastor Raymond Okpere^[13]
• Professor Mike Obadan^[14]
• Professor E. Okoeguale.^[15]
• Architect Mike Onolemhenmhen (former Minister Of Works)^[16]
• Flourish Itulua-Abumere^[17]
• Dr. Joseph Itotoh (Former Minister for State, Internal Affairs)^[18]
• Mathew Okpebholo - businessman^[19]
• Dr. Robert S. Okojie (research scientist, NASA)^[20][21]

Religion

The people of Esan North-East include Christians, Muslims and African traditionalists. Before the Europeans, there existed some of the oldest examples in Africa of African traditional religion.

In 1908, Christianity came to Uromi in Esan North-East through the evangelism of a Roman Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Joseph Corbeau, a European missionary who was residing then at Ubiaja (seat of Esan-South-East Local Government Area). The people of Uromi, in support of the traditional monarch Ogbidi Okojie, accepted the new religion and after a period of catechetical instruction and evangelism, built a church on land donated by the monarch and his council of Chiefs.^[22]

See also

• Esan people
• Local Government Areas of Nigeria