History, Origin, Culture and Traditions of Eziowelle Town in Anambra state

 
Eziowelle is a town in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. The name "Eziowelle" translates to "a good place" in English. It is an agricultural community located about 23 kilometers east of Onitsha. Cardinal Francis Arinze of the Vatican is a native of Eziowelle. The town is part of the Idemili North Local Government Area. Historically, Eziowelle, along with Nimo Owelle, Abagana, and Abba, were once considered sibling towns, all within the Njikoka Local Government Area except for Eziowelle. Eziowelle is regarded as the eldest, followed by Nimo, Abagana, and Abba being the youngest. Their common ancestor, Owelle, influenced the names of Eziowelle and Nimo Owelle, which carry the father's name more prominently than the others. The town shares borders with Abatete, Abacha, Nimo Owelle, Abagana, Ogidi, and Umunachi. Eziowelle consists of five main villages: Umuikwele, Umunnama, Ezinimo, Okpaliko, and Ubulu.

According to Peter Emelumgini's book A Compendium Knowledge of Eziowelle, the first settlers in Eziowelle were the Uruojukwu and Uruogbuefi from Umuikwelle, before other groups, such as the Umuikwelle Etiti from Ifite-Ikwele, joined them. The original settlers in Umunnama were the Uruezenebo, with later migrations from Umunoha in Port Harcourt. In Ezinimo, several subgroups such as the Umu-oba, Umuoradigwo, and others settled before other communities arrived from Isi-Uzo Nsukka due to tribal conflicts. Okpaliko and Ubulu villages are believed to have migrated from Nteje during the 18th and 19th centuries. The town is ruled by a traditional leader called the "Igwe," as in other neighboring Igbo-speaking communities. The Igwe of Eziowelle is also known as the "Owelle of Eziowelle," after the great ancestor of the town. The current Owelle of Eziowelle is Igwe Mike Okonkwo Etusi. The first Owelle of Eziowelle, Igwe Christian C. Anene, passed the title to Owelle 2 after his death in 1990. The current Onowu of Eziowelle is Obi J. Akukwe.

Schools:
Eziowelle originally had four primary schools, two of which were owned by the Roman Catholic Church and the other two by the Anglican Church. After the Nigerian Civil War, these schools were taken over by the government but were recently returned to the churches. The most prominent of these schools is Uzubi Central School Eziowelle. Before the return, the two churches built additional primary schools on their premises. In recent years, several private nurseries and primary schools have been established. Eziowelle is home to three secondary schools. The oldest is the Community Secondary School Eziowelle, formerly known as Owe Girls. The Queen of the Rosary Secondary School Eziowelle, founded by the Catholic Church, has over a thousand students and is currently the most popular secondary school in Idemili North Local Government Area. The Standard International Secondary School, Eziowelle, owned by the Anglican Church, is also highly regarded for its excellent WAEC results.

Land Dispute:
Eziowelle and Ogidi have been engaged in a longstanding boundary dispute in the Idemili North Local Government Area. The Anambra State Boundary Committee has intervened to resolve the dispute, which affects the villages of Ezinimo and Uruoji.

Other Facilities:
Eziowelle features a modern civic center with various recreational and sporting facilities, including a standard football pitch where State and Local Government matches are held. This center, known as the Eziowelle Civic Centre, hosts numerous major events, including the Idemili Day celebrations. The town also has a Magistrates Court. Eziowelle celebrates two main festivals annually: the Eziowelle Cultural Day and the Elimede Festival. These festivals feature various masquerades for public entertainment. The Eziowelle Solemn Assembly takes place on December 31st every year, serving as a day of thanksgiving to God for the past year and seeking His blessings for the year ahead.