Isi Uzo

Isi Uzo is a Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria bordering Benue State and Ebonyi State. Its headquarters are in the town of Ikem.The other towns are: Eha Amufu (where the Federal College of Education is located), Neke, Mbu, and Umualor. Isi-Uzo is a constituent of Enugu East Senatorial Zone. It has an area of 877 km² and a population of 148,415 at the 2006 census.

The postal code of the area is 412.

Economy:

The natives are mostly farmers and petty traders. There are also claims that the area sits on large deposits of crude oil and gas.

Religion:

The natives are majority Christians but there are still those who practice Traditional religion. IsiUzo towns of Ikem, Neke and Eha Amufu have a tradition of Odo worship. With the Igbo Etiti towns of Ohodo, Ukehe and Aku, they make up the Igbo-Odo subculture of Nsukka. The Odo is a masquerade, physically but represents a deity who affords the living a chance to commune with their dead in line with the Igbo traditional belief in reincarnation. Dr Ralph Ede Okwor writes in his book, Ikem Diaspora that "the Odo masquerade is usually and praisingly addressed as 'Odomangala', that is, 'Odo, Muo Ngala', 'a spirit of pride', 'a proud spirit', or 'a spirit that instils pride in the people it protects' indicating that as long as it (Odo) exists, people will always feel proud, happy, and confident of their security". The Odo appears once in two years, and has a masquerade cult into which young adults are initiated. Also, the Odo may walk the town unclad, and those uninitiated are forbidden to stay out on such nights. Such traditions have often caused misunderstanding between the Christians and the adherents of traditional religion.

Notable Persons:

Senator Isaiah Ani The Late Senator represented Anambra North, then Nsukka at the Upper House of the Second Republic. He was one of the pioneers of the struggle for the creation of Adada State. On March 2, 1983, Senator Isaiah Ani, representing Anambra North Senatorial District in the then Federal legislature vigorously requested his fellow members to consider carving out Adada State from the then Anambra State. On March 16, 1983, the National Assembly moved a motion in its Order paper, calling for the creation of Adada State.

Professor Hilary Odo Edeoga Hilary Odo Edeoga is the 4th Vice-Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and a Professor of Plant Taxonomy and Cytogenetics. He was the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Enugu State (2007 - 2009) and a Senior Research Adviser, Shell Petroleum Development Company Nig. Ltd., Port Harcourt (2006 - 2007) and a Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (2001 - 2005). He has also been the Dean of Post Graduate School (2002 - 2003) and former Head, Department of Biological Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (2000 - 2001). Prior to his appointment as Vice-Chancellor, he was the Dean, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (2009 - 2011). Prof. Edeoga was a Senior Lecturer in the former Edo (Bendel) State University, Ekpoma (now Ambrose Alli University) from 1988 - 1999. Prof. H. O. Edeoga has been cited in the 2001 edition of Marquis "Who is Who in World." He has also been cited in the "Who is Who in Nigeria" (2003 and 2010 editions). Professor Edeoga was born into the family of Chief and Mrs Edeoga Ogenyi Eze of Amede, Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo LGA, Enugu State and is happily married to Mrs Gina Ibizugbe Edeoga. The marriage is blessed with three lovely children, Izu, Nnenna and Ogonna.

Hon Kingsley Ebenyi Honorable Member representing Enugu East in the 7th National Assembly. He then became Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Kingdom of Spain and the Vatican.