Orlu, Imo

Orlu (Igbo: Ọ̀lụ́) is the second largest city, after Owerri, in Southeast Nigeria's Imo State with an estimated population of 420,000. It has a long history and has played a critical role as the headquarters for the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Humanitarian Relief Agencies during the Nigeria/Biafra civil war. The Nigerian headquarters of the British Cheshire Home is in the city.

Contents

• Map of Orlu Nigeria
• Sister cities
• References

Map of Orlu, Nigeria

It is a home for enterprise and industry which gave it the unofficial tag of the commercial capital of Imo state. Many successful Nigerian businessmen, industrialists and champions of industries hail from its Local Government Areas that make up what is widely called Orlu Senatorial Zone. They include Orsu, Isu, Njaba, Nwangele, Nkwerre, Ideato North, Ideato South, Oru East, Oru West, Ohaji Egbema and Oguta. The City centre of the local government area are within the host towns of Amaifeke, Ihioma/Ebenese, Umuna, Umuowa,Orlu-Gedegwum and Owerre-Ebeiri. When all of the LGAs in the zone are included Orlu's population is estimated to be approaching 3,000,000 inhabitants.

The permanent site for various industries, State and federal agencies like the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, the State owned Cardboard Industry in Owerri-Ebeiri, the newly built Imo State School of Nursing and Health Technology at Okporo and a host of small and medium size chemical and pharmaceutical companies, the multi purpose Imo International Market, which houses one of the three most influential pharmaceutical markets in West Africa, are based in Orlu. This is due to the high number of Orlulites in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. Consequently, the Orlu Zonal Area has the highest concentration of indigenous pharmaceutical manufacturers and marketers in the whole of African continent. The Ogbosisi Timber centre is located within the quick expanding Orlu Urban area and the City centre. The Nigeria Immigration Training School (NITS) in Umuowa and the Technological Skills Acquisition Centre (TESAC) are based in the city.

The towns in Orlu urban have different cultural masqurade heritages through which they express their communal attributes, descents and heritages like Mmuowu, Ebuebu, Oghu, Okonko, Ekeleke and Okorosha etc. The people of Orlu have made important contributions towards the educational, sports and political growth of Nigeria. The heroic Samuel Okwaraji who died playing for Nigeria hails from Umudioka Orlu hence the city's main stadium permanent site in Umuowa was named after him. The Former Governor of the state, Chief Achike Udenwa, hails from Amaifeke Orlu while the present governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha hails from Ogboko where the Eastern Palm University is located, in the outskirts of the city. The Local Government consists of over 33 Autonomous communities. They include towns like Umuna, Eziachi, Obor, Umuzike, Umutanze, Obinugwu, Umudioka -where we have the First Chairman, USA Chapter of the Nigerian ruling party, The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP USA Chapter), Prof. Ikegwuoha, Bernard-Thompson Onyemauchechukwu -[1], Owerre-Ebeiri the home over the longest traditional ruler in the history of Nigeria late Eze Ben Uzomah who was on the throne for over 50 years, Umuowa, Amike, Mgbee, Amaifeke, Ihioma, Okporo, Ogberuru, Obibi-Ochasi and Ihitte-Owerre, Orlu is a homeland for Igbo people of Nigeria.

The Roman Catholic diocese of Orlu (Latin Dioecesis Orluanus) was erected on November 29, 1980 and houses the Holy Trinity Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in west and central Africa. Augustine T. Ukwuoma succeeded the founding Bishop Gregory O. Ochiagha who had served as the Bishop of Orlu since its creation. Orlu is also the location of Nigeria's only parish of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (the Nne Enyemaka Shrine, entrusted to Fr. Evaristus Eshiowu FSSP, assisted by Fr Antony Sumich FSSP). It also has a diocese of the Anglican communion.