Obowo


Obowo, also spelled Obowu, is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria, and is headquartered in Otoko. Other towns in the L.G.A. include Achara, Amanze, Umuariam, Umunachi, Umuagu, Ehume, Umungwa, Umulogho, Odenkwume, Okwuohia, Amuzi, Alike, Avutu, Umuosiochie and Umuoke. Former Imo State Governor Sam Mbakwe was born in and died in Obowo.
Obowo is located about 45 minutes from Owerri, across the Imo River and is less than 30 minutes from the Umuahia and Ahiara in opposite directions with the Amanze seven and a half junction and landmark in-between. It is surrounded by Ahiazu and Aboh Mbaise Local Government Areas to the north and Umuahia Abia State to the East.

The Local Government

The Obowo Local Government Council was formed by the defunct Ibrahim Babangida Administration during the creation of Local Governments in Nigeria in May 1989. It was formerly a part of the Local Government Etiti headquartered in Isi-Nweke. It is home to about twenty-two autonomous communities.

Economy

Formerly based around farming and fishing, the economy of Obowo now includes areas of industrial services, ranging from manufacturing to communications. Obowo people produce a large quantity of palm oil, kernel, local baskets, brooms, and rice.

Politics

The people are politically active. The first Executive Governor of Imo State, Chief Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe, was born in Nigeria. Other prominent politicians from Obowo include Christ Okewulaonu, Chike Okafor, Sylvester Anyanwu, Longinus Anyanwu, Charles Ugwu, Chika Okafor, Celestine Ngobiwu B.U Nwoko, Kennedy Ibeh, and Ike C. Ibe,

Culture and Tourism

Obowo have a very rich cultural festival, the Iwa-Akwa Festival, which embraces the general Obowo citizen. Other festivals include, Ekpo, Mbomuzo, Egbe-Nkwu. Popular tourist attractions in the area are Abadaba Lake, Iyi-Ukwu, and the Umuariam Game Reserve Centre with live monkeys.

Education

, graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts in History at the University of London. As the first university graduate from Obowo, he encourages young students, who were often content in careers as higher elementary teaches, to pursue higher degrees.