Aerial of Awka near Aroma Junction. Anaocha, Awka North Awka South, Dunukofia, Idemili North, Idemili South and Njikoka. Strategically, Awka is located midway between two major agidi in Northern Igboland, Onitsha and Enugu, which has played a significant role in its choice as an administrative center for the colonial authorities and today as a base for the Anambra State government. Awka has a certain kind of aura about it, because it was the place of the blacksmiths that created implements which made agriculture possible.
Awka is one of the oldest settlements in Igboland, established at the centre of the Nri civilisation, which produced the earliest documented bronze works in Sub-Saharan Africa, around 800 A. The people, themselves, were renowned as farmers, hunters and adept iron workers, all of whom indigenously inhabited the banks of the Ogwugwu stream, in what is now known as the Nkwelle ward of the city. In ancient times, Awka was populated by elephants, insofar that a section of the town was named Ama-enyi, with a corresponding pond, Iyi-Enyi, used for elephants to gather to drink. Awka home, with hunting medicine stored in the hollow of the tusk. Agbala oracle, specifically a deity that was said to be a daughter of the great long juju shrine of Arochukwu. Before the inception of British rule, Ọka was governed by titled men known formally as Ozo and Ndichie, who were accomplished individuals in the community. In modern times, Awka has adopted the republican system and is currently administered by the Awka South Local Government Area.
However, it still preserves its traditional systems of governance with the respected Ozo-titled men often consulted for village and community issues and a paramount cultural representative, the Eze Uzu, who is elected by all Ozo-titled men by rotation among different villages to represent the city at state functions. Awka should not be confused with Awka-Etiti which is a town in Idemili South local government area that is often mistaken for the main capital. Awka comprises seven Igbo groups sharing common blood lineage, divided into the following two sections: the Ifite section and the senior section. They collectively comprises four groups: Ayom-na-Okpala, Nkwelle, Amachalla and Ifite-Oka. The Ezinator section consists of three groups, namely Amikwo, Ezi-Oka and Agulu. Each of these groups has a number of villages, altogether spanning 33 in Awka. Today, Awka people can be found all across the globe many working as skilled professionals in a wide range of fields.
As a result, there is a large Awka diaspora located primarily in the UK and in the United States. There, they have formed social clubs like Awka Union USA and Canada, Awka Town Social Community UK and Ireland and other community associations. Over the years Awka Town has also attracted people from other states in Nigeria who are resident in the city. Awka lies below 300 metres above sea in a valley on the plains of the Mamu River. The ridges reach the highest point at Agulu just outside the Capital Territory. Awka is sited in a fertile tropical valley but most of the original Rain forest has been lost due to clearing for farming and human settlement.
A few examples of the original rain forest remains at places like the Ime Oka shrine. Wooded savannah grassland predominates primarily to the north and east of the city. South of the town on the slopes of the Awka-Orlu Uplands are some examples of soil erosion and gullying. Awka is in the tropical rainforest zone of Nigeria and experiences two distinct seasons brought about by the two predominant winds that rule the area: the southwestern monsoon winds from the Atlantic Ocean and the northeastern dry winds from across the Sahara desert. C between January and April, with the last few months of the dry season marked by intense heat. The economy of Awka city revolves primarily around government since many state and federal institutions are located there. Awka hosts the State Governor’s Lodge, State Assembly and State Ministries for Health, State Judiciary headquarters, Education, Lands, Water.
TV and radio station are located in the city centre. In recent years, several new businesses have erected new buildings that have largely changed the face of Awka city. The partly state-owned Orient Petroleum Resources Ltd has the headquarters in Awka. Major Nigerian Banks such as Access Bank, Bank PHB, Diamond Bank, Ecobank, FCMB, Fidelity Bank, First Bank, GTB, Intercontinental, Oceanic Bank, UBA, Union Bank and Zenith Bank have opened branches in the city. Prior to the Nigerian Civil War, Awka townspeople maintained the city on their own. Blocked storm drains would be cleared by residents.
The first attempt to address the urban decay was made by the Government of Peter Obi who forged a technical cooperation agreement with UN-HABITAT in 2007 to provide technical assistance in the preparation of a structure plan for Awka Capital Territory. Governor Peter Obi implemented just a few of the UN-HABITAT’s recommendations managing to tar less than 5 kilometers of urban roads, improve waste collection and upgrade schools and the teaching hospital. His government also began installing water pipes along the popular Nnamdi Azikiwe Road and Ifite Road but he left office without providing a credible citywide public water supply. His successor Governor Willie Obiano has taken on the charge of transforming the ancient town into something the state can be proud of.