You might be wondering about the history of Abia state in Nigeria, the Kings in Abia state,the history or origin of Eziama village and other numerous thoughts running through your mind. It will interest you to know that Eziama is a village in Abia State, South-Eastern part of Nigeria. It consistof three other sub-villages which include Osusu, Uratta and Ariria all in Aba North local government area. This post will provide information on the history of Eziama village in Abia state and give answers to related questions which you may want to ask.
Eziama is one of the eight sons of Ntigha. Ntigha had eight sons who found the eight original villages of Avor, Umuogele, Amapu, Eziama, Oria na Ugaa, Umuekpe, Umukalu, and Umunachi that represent the “Ama Asato” or “Ofor Asato” of Ntigha. The establishment of this village came as a result of migration experience. Orihinally, Ntigha or Ngwa and his brother Nsulu was from Umunoha in the present Mbaitoli local government area of Imo State. They left with yams in their bags in search of a new settlement, on getting to the Imo river bank, they decided to rest and eat yam. one group decided to cook their yam while the other group decided to roast their yam. The group that cooked their yam crossed over the river before the water level rose up and they got the name “Ndi Ngwa Ngwa” meaning the timely or fortunate ones while the other group that could not cross over remained there and got the name “Ndi Ohuhu”. Among the “Ngwa” group that successfully crossed the Imo River were eight brothers namely Ukwu, Nwoha, and Avosi from one mother; Ntigha and Nsulu from one mother; Ovuokwu and Ovungwu from the same mother; and Mbutu, son of Nwoha, who respectively founded Ngwaukwu, Umuoha, Nvosi, Ntigha, Nsulu, Ovuokwu, Ovungwu, and Mbutu. The “Ngwa” group continued their migration until they came to “Okpuala Ngwa” where they established their first settlement before dispersing to different directions of Ngwa land in search of new habitations. Ntigha and his younger brother Nsulu first migrated to Oriebe Umukalu Ntigha but due to severe water shortage, Nsulu moved eastwards to Eziala Nsulu while Ntigha relocated to Okpuala Ntigha, where he settled and planted a tree to commemorate the ancestral home.
The major religion practiced in Eziama village is Christianity. The traditional practice of idol worship is still in practice in some areas of the community.
Eziama village has elementary, secondary, and vocational schools with Ntigha Secondary Grammar School, Eziama Ntigha; Secondary Technical School, Amapu Ntigha; and Our Lady of Mercy/Bishop Anthony Nwedo’s Juniorate, Amapu Ntigha.
The major occupation of the people of Eziama village is farming and trading. The village has two markets Orie Ntigha in Amapu and Ahia Nkwo in Eziama. Orie Ntigha is the more popular of the two bringing in an estimated 40,000 people from all over the Southeastern region who come in to trade on mostly agricultural produce every market day in an eight-day cycle.