I
’m not writing this because I’m from there but because what I’m going to say is becoming self-evident truth.
Ụkpọr, the headquarters of Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State was once a land locked area and the only place to be so described in the entire Old Nnewi Division. Land locked by three big streams, one cannot easily cross without a bridge which was not there then; Ụrasị, Ụbụ and Ọfara.
Coming to Ụkpọr then was a problem and going out was also a problem which gave room for mockery by other towns. The common dictum then was “na moto ga eje Ụkpọr mana ntị ga-anụ.” All that is now in the past.
Today, not only that “moto ejeena Ụkpọr” but that it has done from all fronts. The trade mark hills are being carved in different aesthetic designs and thus are becoming tourist attractions. What many people considered as disadvantage then are now an assets, So are the streams.
The epicenter of the town between five and eight kilometers from all boundaries standing on three hills – Ugwu Afọ, Ugwu Onye Zubeerem (nicknamed Ugwu Ekwensu) and Ugwu Ọ dị Enigwe Nso – is today housing the legislative, religious, cultural and commercial institutions in the town. These include the Local Government Secretariat, Ụkpọr Town Hall, St Mary Mother of the Church Catholic Parish, St John’s and St Mary’s Anglican Churches, Udo Ụkpọr and Ogwugwu Umuhu shrines and the Strategic Afọ Ụkpọr Market. With the decision of the Emma Nwachukwu led Ụkpọr Improvement Union to open Nkwọ Ọha market for commercial activities, the horizon has widened and now extended to the Awka Etiti – Isseke expressway which nearly divided the town into two.
Today, not only that “moto ejeena Ụkpọr” but that it has done from all fronts. The trade mark hills are being carved in different aesthetic designs and thus are becoming tourist attractions. What many people considered as disadvantage then are now an assets, So are the streams.
when the ongoing road projects embarked upon by Governor Willie Obianọ are successfully completed, it could be interpreted and predicted that Ụkpọr, bounded by more towns than any other town in Anambra State will become a converge for: Utuh, Ebenator, Ezinifite, Lilu, Azịa, Orsumoghu, Okija, Ihembosi, Ozubulu and Nnewi who have direct boundaries with Ụkpọr some of them in two places.
One can only imagine the investment potentials of this town when all these link roads that are being constructed with modern bridges are completed. Or when the Federal Skill acquisition center is completed and put to use. One can also imagine what it would look like when a University faculty or Department is situated in such a place or the private tertiary institution under construction becomes operational. Even now, the town houses the highest fish-eating center in the entire Old Division at the famous Eke Umudike.
Culturally, if the town succeeds in retrieving the Popular Mmọnwụ Cultural Institution from Cult groups holding it hostage now, Ụkpọr would once again become a destination point for all people. The best time to invest in Ụkpọr is now.
That St Paul’s Seminary Ụkpọr has played a major role in educating not only Ụkpọr people but also persons from diverse cultures is something one needs to be proud of.
Ka m bụ dị onye Ụkpọr. What about you?
Very Rev Fr Basil Anunobi is a catholic priest of Nnewi Diocese.
