Ukpor

Ukpor is the headquarters of Nnewi South Local Government Area in Anambra State, South-East Nigeria. Ukpor has a collection of villages, with each coming from different quarters.[1] A foremost native of this community is Chief Mbazulike Amechi, former Minister of Aviation, in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Ukpor is noted for its highly hilly topography, with one of the most notable of the hills, traditionally known as "ugwu ekwensu",which implies "the devil's own hill",presently known as Ugwuonyezuberem.In modern times however,continuous grading of the road that hosts this hill has been reducing the height of this specific (historic) high land. Ukpor people were predominantly farmers in the past. Subsequently, the town's leading lights became mainly traders and sundry types of business men and women. In contemporary times however,Ukpor has become the ancestral home of very many successful women and men of all walks of life. Hence, Nigeria's highly influential personality and former Minister of Education/former Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, hails from this community.[2]

The town's apex body, Ukpor Improvement Union (U.I.U) remains the super-structural political, social and cultural organization in the community. Among the all-time most influential leaders of this union must be counted Chief Gabriel Akachukwu Okeke (1929-1991). Fondly called Gab Okeke by his contemporaries, he was Secretary-General of this great union from 1961-1987 ( a period of twenty-six years). The current President General of U.I.U is Chief Emmanuel Nwachukwu. [3]

Culture

Asara

Asara is the greatest cultural festival celebrated by Ukpor community at a periodic intervals of ten, fifteen or even twenty years. Historically, the origin of the cultural festival is be traced Ọgụ Agbaja (War of Agbaja) which was an intercommunal war between the people of Ukpor in the present-day Nnewi South Local Government and the people of Nnewi in the present-day Nnewi North Local Government, and in which the Ukpor people emerged victorious, after killing Metuh, the then greatest and most dreaded warrior of Nnewi [4]

The war was caused by unwarranted and undeserved maltreatment from the then King of Nnewi who would always compel the young men and women of the neighbouring communities to take particular days that they would go and work for him, and which they were to go with their foods and water, as there were no provisions for any refreshment made by the king, who never rewarded, entertained nor appreciated the labourers in anyway.

Hence, the then newly emerged Ukpor king determined never to tolerate but to put a perpetual end to such an inhumane act; and consequently issued an order condemning and prohibiting that. This infuriated the king of Nnewi, that he pronounced a war against those neighbouring communities for their act which he term 'rebellious'; and they began the war with their nearest community which is the present-day Ukpor, which preparedly had already united and strategized with the nine villages that made up the Ekweteghete, being the general name of the nine villages that were subjected to the unrewarded compulsory labour.

It was in celebration of this victory which Ukpor recorded in the War of Agbaja that the then king (Eze Obiukwu) decided to kill a cow for the people and call for merriment; and other villages which shared in the victory 'hit their chests' and determined that they would also bring their own cows, all of which were then sampled and hauled round the village square, with a view to knowing which village came with the biggest cow. These cows were thereafter killed and used for merriment which was then named 'Asara', coming from the Igbo word 'Saraka' which implies merriment. [5] [6]

Notable people
  • Arinze Madueke – Doctor, businessman and philanthropist
  • [[Mbazulike Amaechi] - Writer, Politician and Educationist, 2nd Senate President of Nigeria (16, 1960 to January 15, 1966) and Acting President of Nigeria (1965–1966)

References
  1. Okonkwo, Akunwanne Leo Ejedoghaobi. Outline History of Ukpor: Origin of the Villages. S.l: s.n, 1983. OCLC 22421397 Google books
  2. Charles Onyekamuo Nigeria: "Ezekwesili, a Pride to Nigeria - Obasanjo", All Africa, 14 June 2005. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  3. Izunna Okafor "Ukpor Ready For Igba Asara", National Light 18 April 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  4. Izunna Okafor "Ukpor PG, Nwachukwu Clears Air On 2019 Ịgba Asara Ukpor" The Nigerian Voice 04 April 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  5. Izunna Okafor "Nwachukwu Speaks On Asara Ukpor", PM Express News 4 April 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  6. Okwu "Ukpor: The Origin And Essence of Asara Jubilee" The Universe News 24 April 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
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