Egbu is a village in southeastern Nigeria. Also, it is located near the city of Owerri and links other towns and villages via the Owerri-Umuahia road. It lies on the Otamiri River.
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Map of Egbu, Nigeria
It has five villages namely Umuofor, Mpama, Umuayalu, Ofeuzo and Ishiuzo. Egbu is bordered by Owerri, Awaka, Uratta and Naze on four geographical points and is about ten minutes drive from the Imo State capital city Owerri. Egbu as a united people has one leader known as EZE Ochoroma who happens to be the only traditional ruler in the community. The EZE comes from a particular family known as the EGBUKOLE family. It is a known and accepted fact that the leadership of the EZE is not contestable. It is a cultural heritage of the people of EGBU unlike other igbo towns and communities not to recognise or award chieftaincy titles to indigenes and non indigenes.
Egbu is known as an elite town which has produced notable academicians, politicians and professionals in various fields,among whom are Prof. A.G Anwukah, Dr. Mrs Kema Chikwe, Mrs.Chinyere Asika, Prof. Jonathan Mbonu, Prof. Augustine Okwu, Dr. Pascal Dozie, Prof James Egere and Prof Chiedo Akueshi among others. The community has primary schools and secondary schools that have also impacted greatly on the people. The popular ones are Community central school Egbu, Community comprehensive secondary school Egbu, Egbu girls secondary school and Archdeacon Dennis Foundation International Boys Secondary School.
The people are dominantly of the Anglican Faith who worship in the popular Cathedral Church of All Saints and few others of the catholic Christian faith. The popular market day of the Egbu people is Afor market day which usually sold in the central Afor Egbu Market.
Brief History
Historical information accounts that Egbu is the son of Ome. Egbu had 3 sons namely Okweke, Ubaeze and Ishiuzo. Okweke the first son of Egbu had 2 sons Ayalu and Amatu(ofeuzo). Ayalu had 6 sons(that make up the kindred) while Ofeuzo had 4 sons(that make up the kindred). Ubaeze the 2nd son of Egbu gave birth to Mpama and Umuofor which had 3 sons(that make up the kindred) respectively. Ishiuzo also had 4 sons(that make up the kindred). The sons of Egbu gave birth to sons whose successors make up the 20 kindreds that make up the five villages.