Osisioma Ngwa

The name "Osisi" means tree, plant or wood and the name "Oma", means good, fine, beautiful in the Igbo language. Thus, Osisioma means: good tree or fine plant or beautiful wood. It is a name associated with tree and beauty which is derived from the popular ornamental flower tree called Delonix regia, a species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae, and subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It is noted for its fern-like leaves and flamboyant display of flowers. In many tropical parts of the world, it is grown as an ornamental tree and in English, it is given the name royal poinciana, flamboyant, flame of the forest, or flame tree (one of several species given this name) which is typically planted to decorate courtyards in houses in Osisioma Ngwa. A greater part of Aba city is in Osisioma Ngwa stretching up to Faulks Road.

Osisioma people generally make a living as farmers, traders, artisans and craftsmen. The typical Osisioma Ngwa men in the old days usually wear what is called "ọgọdọ". Ọgọdọ is a type of white woven cloth tied around the waistline to cover nakedness and the women use the fabric as a wrapper to cover the body from chest flowing down to the knees. Contemporarily, just like most Igbo communities, men dress down in trousers and shirts with shoes, sandals or slippers to work, shop or office just like their female counterparts but the traditional male attire preferred for occasions and big celebrations in Osisioma culture consists of a special top called 'Isiagụ' and trousers of any colour usually worn with sandals or shoes and red cap to match.

Osisioma Ngwa is a flat land without hills or mountains and has a headwater located at Okpu Umuobo that runs through the thick forest cutting across into the city of Aba River waterside in Ogbor Hill. The river is a tributary of the Imo River located in the Southern part of Nigeria. Osisioma Ngwa shares boundaries with Ukwa West and Ugwunagbo in the South, Aba South Local Government Area and Aba North Local Government Area in the East, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area in the North and Omuma Local Government Area , Rivers State in the West.[1]

Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway cuts through Osisioma Ngwa with the Aba-Owerri Road running through it from Aba Town Hall down to Olaz Oil filling station.[2]

It has other major routes such as the NNPC depot road which leads to Osisioma Ngwa local government headquarters as well as Osisioma Police Divisional Headquarters, High and Magistrates Court and Ekeakpara market down to Owerrinta the boundary between Abia State and Imo State.

Over the course of the year, Osisioma's average percentage of cloud-covered sky varies significantly by season.

In Osisioma, the clearer portion of the year lasts for 2.6 months, starting around November 24 and ending around February 12.[3]

December is the clearest month of the year in Osisioma, with 39% of the sky being clear, mostly clear, or partly overcast on average.[4]

Beginning about February 12 and lasting 9.4 months, the cloudier portion of the year ends around November 24.[5]

In Osisioma, April is the cloudiest month of the year, with 88% of the sky being cloudy or partly cloudy on average.[6]

Agriculture is the major occupation of the people of Osisioma Ngwa. They are mostly subsistence farmers and grow Cassava, Oil Palm, Rafia Palm, Vegetable, Ube (Local Pear), Plantain, Okra, Maize, melon, red pepper, yam, and cocoa yam. Some people rear animals such as goats, sheep, fowl and occasionally cattle, but largely don't grow crops or rear animals in commercial quantity.

Education in Osisioma Ngwa receives little support from the State and Federal government, thereby opening up opportunities for private schools to thrive. However, these are some of the Secondary Schools:

• Ngwa High School, Abayi
• Girls' Secondary School, Abayi
• Umuocham Girls Senior Secondary School
• Osokwa Community Secondary School
• Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Okpu-Umuobo
• City Laboratory Comprehensive Secondary School, Ariaria
• St. Leo The Great Secondary School, Oberete
• Uratta Comprehensive Secondary School, Egbede
• Royal Foundation College, Osisioma
• Mbutu Umuojima Community Secondary School, Umuojima Ogbu
• Heritage Comprehensive Secondary School, Ariaria
• Amator Technical Secondary School, Umuoyoro Ngwa
• Boys Secondary School, Abayi-Umuocham
• Community Secondary School, Umuojima Okereke
• St. Anne's Secondary School, Umuobasi Amavo

Osisioma does not have any State or Federal government institution of higher learning, college or university despite its large population and size.

• Isiala – Osokwa Health Center,
• Akanu – Ukwu Health Center,
• Okpuala Umugwor Health Center,
• Umuoyoro Ngwa Health Center,
• Owuala Primary Healthcare Center,
• Mbutu Umuojima Health Center,
• Umueze Health Center,
• Etiti-Amavo Health Center,
• Oberete Asa Health Center,
• Amankwu Osokwa Health Center,
• Eke Aro Health Center,
• Umuobasi Health Center,
• Umuagbara Health Center,
• Otuobi Health Center,
• Umuojima Okereke Health Center,
• Okpu Umuobo Health Center,
• World Bank Health Center,
• Ekenwaobasi Health Center,
• Umugaa Health Center.

These health centres have not been inspected and approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), The United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria as standard healthcare facilities to take care of the well-being of residents in Osisioma Ngwa.

Traditionally, the people of Osisioma Ngwa worship a god called “chi” and every household builds a shrine which houses the deity. However, there are other gods such as ‘agwu’ and ‘owu Miri’, but as a result of British colonialism, Christianity was introduced and most families embraced Christianity.

The major Christian denominations in Osisioma Ngwa are the Anglican Church, the Catholic Church, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and the Jehovah's Witnesses. There are also other churches as well as traditional adherents in some quarters.

Adherents of cultural tradition and worshippers of “chi”, “agwu”, “ihi Njoku” and “owu Miri” perform rites to celebrate New Yam Festivals (popularly called ‘Iwaji’ or ‘Ji Oghoo’), Masquerade Festivals (popularly called ‘Ekpe, mmanwu or ekpo’) and New Year Festivals (popularly called ‘afo oghoo’ or ‘ichu afo’) in honour of their gods and goddesses to mark these events.

Traditional rulers who are the custodian of these cultural values and traditions are in charge of announcing dates as well as organizing the venues for such celebrations and performance of traditional rites.

Osisioma is not naturally endowed as other localities, but here are the few landmarks and tourist attractions.

• Ariaria International Market also referred to as Aba International Industrial Market which is the centre of trade and commerce in the city of Aba.
• NNPC Depot is a beehive of petroleum activity attracting other businesses such as hotels, banks and restaurants, although, due to the prevalence of pipeline vandalisation and oil bunkering, the federal government has not invested much in the development of the site.
• Okpu Umuobo River is the only natural water body in Osisioma Ngwa and most of its natural potential is yet to be harnessed and developed.
• The Ihumirinta of Ekeakpara – An ancient water source.
• The Obu of Umuoyoro Ngwa – A sacred tree worshipped by adherents of “owu miri” marine spirit.
• The Ihuada ala of Umuagbara - A sacred traditional site.

Apart from Ariaria International Market, the current urbanisation of Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area and the influx of companies within the Local Government has adversely affected the popular ancient traditional markets. However, there are:

• Ekeakpara Market
• Nkwo Abayi (Osisioma Ngwa Industrial Market)
• Afoule (Abia Mega Mall)
• Ahia Nwankpa (Osisioma Ngwa Industrial Shoe Plaza)
• Nkwo Okpu Umuobo (Umuehilegbu Industrial Market)
• Ahia Ekenwaobasi (Osisioma Ngwa Model Foam Market)
• Afo Aro
• Ahia Orie Amato
• Eke Aro

Crime has been one of the major setbacks that has been detrimental to the development of Osisioma Ngwa. From armed robbery attacks to kidnapping, every community and village in Osisioma has had its share of criminal incidents. The prevalence of crime has been attributed to lack of government investment in security; there is only one police station serving the entire Osisioma Ngwa LGA.

The postal code of the area is 451.[7]

• List of villages in Abia State