There are 5 Igbo speaking states in the south eastern region of Nigeria: Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi states respectively. They live in most or all parts of five states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, as well as minor parts of Delta, Rivers and Benue states. Of these, the Igbo were probably the most remarkable because of the size of their territory and the density of population. The state is known by the slogan “Eastern Heartland” and it is believed that no matter the dialect of Igbo language that you speak, the Imo Igbo is the central Igbo, what all Igbo people call Igbo Izugbe and it the central Igbo is native to the people of Owerre (Owerri) and Umuahia (formerly a city in Old Imo State but now the capital of Abia State). Security: FG, States have failed – CSOs. List of All Igbo Speaking States in Nigeria - Nigerian Guide Nigeria also has a lot of nations, nationalities and peoples, like the Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani, Hausa, Kanuri, Tivs, Ijaws, etc. CISA – the Council of Igbo States Americas, was chartered by the US National Igbo State Organizations comprising the Abia State Association – USA; the Anambra State Association- USA; the Anioma –USA; the Enugu-USA; Ebonyi-USA (in formation); and the Imo State … The Capital of Abia State is Umuahia, another town, apart from Owerri that is known to speak the central Igbo language. ... Anambra State. It can also be said that parts of Rivers, Delta and Benue states are also Igbo. Eminent Nigerians condemn worsening insecurity across country. People say that Igbo people are everywhere globally, and if you go to any place without seeing an Igbo person, you should relocate. Ebonyi State is the last but not the least state on this list of Igbo speaking states. The major city in Abia State is Aba, home to the nationally and internationally famous shoe manufacturing industry which keeps getting better and better with the passage of time. In Nigeria, Igbos inhabit an area referred to as Igboland, which is divided into two sections along the lower River Niger. They make up about 29 per cent of the entire population of Nigeria and they have produced more billionaires in the country than any other tribe. Notable Nigerians of Abia origin include Michael Okpara, Second Premier of the Eastern Region; Bright Chimezie, a popular Nigerian Musician; Michael Emenalo, former Nigerian footballer and former Football Technical Director at Chelsea Football Club and AS Monaco; Ben Iroha, former Nigerian footballer; Eni Njoku, Nigerian Botanist and Educator to mention but a few. Imo State has produced notable politicians in Nigeria, such as Sam Mbakwe, former Governor of Old Imo State; Evan Enwerem, former President of the Senate; Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Founder of Iwuanyanwu Nationale (Now Heartland Football Club); Emeka Ihedioha, former Deputy Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives; and Samuel Anyanwu, Former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Imo East Constituency. These people make up the minority ethnic group in their states. Former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Ike Ibe, yesterday, maintained that an Igbo presidency comes 2023 was best for Nigeria. Created in 1976, Ogun state is another one of the Yoruba states. Abia State is another Igbo Speaking State and it was carved out of Imo State in 1991. Its capital and major city is Abakaliki. The greatest differentiation within the Igboid group is between the Ekpeye and the rest. The Igbo States in Nigeria . Igboland was gradually rebuilt by its citizens and some contribution from the Nigerian government over a period of twenty years and the economy prospered again due to the rise of the petroleum industry in the adjacent Niger Delta region. Traces of the Igbo Culture and language could be found in Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa States. But which among these Igbo states is the richest? The state was carved out from Anambra State in 1991, it houses the famous University of Nigeria with campuses in Nsukka and Enugu, the State capital. Nigeria (/ n aɪ ˈ dʒ ɪər i ə / ()), officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa bordering Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west.Its southern coast is on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean.It is a federal republic comprising 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, where the capital, Abuja, is located. Notable Nigerians from the State include Akanu Ibiam, Former Governor of the Eastern Region; Anyim Pius Anyim, Former Senate President of Nigeria to mention but a few. Nigeria with a population of over 200 million people is blessed with different ethnic groups. Anambra State is home to the largest number of billionaires in Nigeria  as well as the most important indigenous vehicle manufacturing and assembling company, Innoson Motors situated in Nnewi, another very important City in the State. Other notable cities in the state include Afikpo, Onueke, Onicha to mention but a few. The State is one of the fastest developing states in the south-east with good road networks in the capital city. The state was created in 1976 from part of East Central State. Therefore, predominantly Igbo states are Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra and Abia. Religion in Igboland is mostly Christianity. The pro-Biafra separatists have been around and increasingly active since the 1990s. There is evidence of Late Stone Age (late Paleolithic) human presence from at least 10,000 years ago. The Igbo people are one of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria. Abia state is mainly inhabited by the Igbo ethnic group who makes up 95% of the population. In addition to the loss of their savings, many Igbo people faced discrimination from other ethnic groups and from the new non-Igbo federal government. The 1960s effort to free Igbo from Nigeria was mostly necessitated by Nigeria’s pogrom against the Igbo … The greatest differentiation within the Igboid group is between the Ekpeye and the rest. The slogan of the state is Gateway to Nigeria as it shares borders with the Republic of Benin. Only the election of a Nigerian president from Igbo extraction will mark the end of the war against Ndigbo in Nigeria. Geofrey Onyeama: Benin Republic Ready To Be Nigeria’s ‘37th State’ / Two Ways That We Igbo Is Better Than Other Tribes. Imo State is the richest state in the South-East of Nigeria and home to many native Igbo speakers. Anambra State is a seaport state due to its proximity to the River Niger and Onitsha is its most important city. Small Igbo communities are also found in parts of Cameroon and Equitorial Guinea. This led to the establishment of new factories in southern Nigeria. The Igboid languages form a cluster within the Volta-Niger phylum, most likely grouped with Yoruboid and Edoid. In their struggle, the people of Biafra earned the respect of figures such as Jean-Paul Sartre and John Lennon, who returned his British honor, MBE, partly in protest against British collusion in the Nigeria-Biafra war. It is unarguable that a united Nigeria is a more viable emporium for the Igbo than a fragmented Nigeria. Important cities in Enugu State include Enugu, Nsukka, Agbani and Awgu and prominent schools in the state apart from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka include Enugu State University of Science & Technology, Institute of Management and Technology, The Federal Cooperative College, Oji River; Enugu State College of Education Technical, Enugu to mention but a few. They found that it was a mine for tool and pottery making for a 'stone civilisation' nearby at Ibagwa. Since the early 21st century, there has been a wave of Nigerian Igbo immigration to other African countries, Europe, and the Americas. Here are some major town in Nigeria that speaks Igbo language, they include: Aba, Abiriba, Awka, Abba, Nigeria, Owerri, Orlu, Nnewi, Mbaise, Nsukka, Enugu, Onitsha, Afikpo, Okigwe, Umuahia, Asaba, Ohafia, Arochukwu,Ngwo, Mbaitoli, Ikeduru and Ihiala and so on. For instance, the town of Igbuzo was anglicized to Ibusa. Thus, you know that you will see an Igbo person in all states of Nigeria. The state is also one of the nine Niger-Delta states in the country and it is also blessed with an abundance of mineral resources. A brutal war followed before the separatist movement was crushed and the Igbo were warned not to try it again. Your email address will not be published. The Igbo people are among the most organized people in the country and on the continent at large. In July 2007 the former President of Biafra, Late General Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, renewed calls for the secession of the Biafran state as a sovereign entity. The Capital City, Enugu was the capital of the Eastern Region after Nigeria got her independence from Great Britain in 1960. This does not mean that they are the inhabiting tribe of that state. Before European colonization, the Igbo lived in autonomous local communities, but by the mid-20th century a sense of ethnic identity was strongly developed. Owerri was the last capital of Biafraland before it fell. All these states have various mineral and natural resources that account for their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is surrounded by large rivers on all sides, and the river Niger runs right through it. Another university, the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Located in Awka the State capital, is a federal government owned school and it is one of the best universities to study pharmacy in the country. In the post-war era, people of eastern Nigeria changed the names of both people and places to non-Igbo-sounding words. Notable people from Anambra State include Nnamdi Azikiwe, First President of Nigeria; Chuba Okadigbo, Former Senate President of Nigeria, Dora Akunyili, Former Director-General of NAFDAC and Former Minister of Information and Communication; Chukwuma Soludo, Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Peter Obi, Former Governor of Anambra State and Former Vice Presidential Candidate under the PDP. Igbo Speaking States in Nigeria is located in South East part of Nigeria. The popular Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo is situated in Ebonyi State. Enugu State is one of the best Igbo States with good roads and a serene atmosphere to live and work in. In the 1970s the Owerri, Okigwe, Orlu, Awgu, Udi and Awka divisions were determined to join “an Igbo heartland” from the linguistic and cultural evidence. The famous Enyimba International, a football club that has gained both local and international fame is located in Abia State, Aba precisely. As you well know, the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria are: Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba and every one of these Nigerian peoples and cultures are mostly found living in large communities which is their native abode in specific regions in the country even though they migrate to other parts of the federation and are free to live and work in any part of the country. The Igbos also are more than 25% of the population in some Nigerian States like Delta State and Rivers State. Late General Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu made this declaration and became the Head of state of the new republic. Igboland and the delta city-states Many Nigerian peoples did not develop centralized monarchical states. Igbo language in Nigeria is among the three most popular Nigerian languages out of the over 120 languages in the country. Due to discrimination, many Igbo had trouble finding employment, and during the early 1970s, the Igbo became one of the poorest ethnic groups in Nigeria. They have five states, Imo State, Enugu State, Abia State and Ebonyi State Igbos make of 100% of the indigenous population in these states. Enugu was also the capital of the short-lived Republic of Biafra, giving it a status as the “capital of Igboland.” After Enugu was captured by the Nigerian armed forces, the Biafran capital was moved to Umuahia. She has over 200 ethnic groups and more than 300 spoken languages with English being the generally accepted language. The primary Igbo states in Nigeria are Anambra, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, and Enugu States. Due to discrimination, many Igbo had trouble finding employment, and during the early 1970s, the Igbo became one of the poorest ethnic groups in Nigeria. Early settlement of Igboland is dated to 6000 BC based on pottery found in the Okigwe, Oka Igwe, and known today as Awka. The major ethnic groups are Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. Enugu State is famous for an abundance of coal and it is no surprise that it is known by its slogan, “Coal City State”. Igbo (Ibo), people living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria who speak Igbo, a language of the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo language family. The state was carved out from parts of Abia and Enugu States in 1996. Elements in the army had assassinated the Nigerian military head of state General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (29 July 1966) and peace negotiations failed between the military government that deposed Ironsi and the regional government of Eastern Nigeria at the Aburi Talks in Ghana in 1967. All Igbos spread around the 6 Geo-Political Zones of Nigeria Federation come from the region. Some people from Cross River and Akwa Ibom States also speak Igbo fluently and they understand the in and out of the language. The Igboid languages form a cluster within the Volta–Niger phylum, most likely grouped with Yoruboid and Edoid. Known to be third largest of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, the typical Igbo communities are found in the southeastern part of Nigeria. A series of ethnic clashes between Northern Muslims and the Igbo, and other ethnic groups of Eastern Nigeria Region living in Northern Nigeria took place between 1966 and 1967. Your email address will not be published. It is the turn of Ndigbo to produce the federal president of Nigeria in 2023. Back in the 1960s the Igbo (or Ibo) people of southeastern Nigeria considered establishing a separate Igbo state called Biafra. Williamson (2002) argues that based on this pattern, proto-Igboid migration would have moved down the Niger from a more northern area in the savannah and first settled close to the delta, with a secondary center of Igbo proper more to the north, in the Awka area. These events led to a regional council of the peoples of Eastern Nigeria deciding that the region should secede and proclaim the Republic of Biafra on May 30, 1967. The State owned university, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University was renamed from Anambra State University to what it is presently known as in honour of the late war veteran and important politician in Nigerian history, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. •Ohanaeze youths urge Okorocha to back the project. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It is believed that the Igbo race began in the town of Nri (with Igbo-Ukwu as its capital) and Aguleri, who are part of the Umueri clan in Anambra State. Some notable people from Enugu State include the following: Chiwetel Ejiofor, an international film actor; Zain Asher, CNN Newscaster and sister to Chiwetel; Ken Nnamani, Former President of the Nigerian Senate; Ike Ekweremadu, Former Deputy President of the Senate; Flavour N’abalia, Nigerian Musician, to mention but a few. The Six Geopolitical Zones in Nigeria and the States that make them up, Bukunmi Oluwashina Biography: Age, Movies, Career, Sydney Egere (AKA Sydney Talker): Biography And Career, The Nigeria Customs Service: Ranks and Salary Structure, 10 oldest private Universities in Nigeria, These are The Six Richest Hausa Men in Nigeria. Igboland is where you will find the majority of people who speak the Igbo language, which is one of the most popular spoken languages in Nigeria. The entire vastness of all Igboland is also known as the Land of the Rising Sun as it is believed that the Sun rises first in the East and sets in the West. Back to the Igbos. Required fields are marked *. Traces of the Igbo Culture and language could be found in Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa States. Several million Eastern Nigerians died from the pogroms against them, such as the 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom where between 10,000 and 30,000 Igbo people were killed. The State has within it 163 oil wells at 12 different locations making it a host top petroleum companies such as Chevron Corporation, Addax Petroleum, Agip and Royal Dutch Shell. Nigeria has three major tribes – Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba – and it is common to see people want to know the richest state of each of these tribes. The State got its name from the River Anambra, one of the longest rivers in Nigeria and it is also an oil producing state. UNN is one of the five most reputed universities in Nigeria. The state has a very large concentration of native Igbo speakers living within it and it is a very important state in all of Igboland. Williamson (2002) argues that based on this pattern, proto-Igboid migration would have moved down the Niger from a more northern area in the savannah and first settled close to the delta, with a secondary center of Igbo proper more to the north, in the Awka area. In this post, we will enlighten you on the Igbo speaking states in Nigeria also known as the South-Eastern States, and provide a comprehensive list to that effect. Many Igbo people eventually took government positions although many were engaged in private business. Anambra State is along with Imo State, the oldest Igbo state in Nigeria and it is arguably the most popular of all South-Eastern states. In all, there are five purely Igbo speaking states in Nigeria and these five make up what is known as Igboland. According to the Igbo history, Igboland stretches across Southeastern Nigeria. They can be mostly found in the South-East geopolitical zone of the country and due to this, every land in that part of the country where the Igbos originate and are settled in is known as Igboland. Beliefs and Religious Thought of Igbo People The Biafran War left Igboland devastated. The capital city of Oyo state, Ibadan is also home to the first skyscaper in Africa, the Cocoa House. Anthropologists at the University of Beninhav… Pottery dated at around 2500 BC showing similarities with later Igbo work was found at Nsukka in the 1970s, along with pottery and tools at nearby Ibagwa; the traditions of the Umueri clan have as their source the Anambra valley. Imo State is one of the richest states in Nigeria and an oil producing state. Enter your email address to subscribe to this website and receive notifications of new posts by email. Apart from the five original south-eastern states, there are also native Igbo speakers in parts of Delta, Edo, Rivers and Benue States. The resultant war, which became known as the Nigerian Civil War or the Nigerian-Biafran War, lasted from July 6, 1967, until January 15, 1970, after which the federal government re-absorbed Biafra into Nigeria. The 19 northern states Igbo traditional leaders have thrown their weight behind the quest for the South East to produce the president of Nigeria in 2023. The Igbos also are more than 25% of the population in some Nigerian States like Delta State and Rivers State. We will be talking about the Igbo ethnic group and the states that make up the ethnicity. Being rich is one of the attributes associated with Igbo people, so it is not out of place to see people assume that they have money, and would be the richest out of all the tribes. In the post-war era, people of eastern Nigeria changed the names of both people and places to non-Igbo-sounding words. In Nigeria, the Igbos are found in the southeastern part of the country. Some other education institutions located in the state include: Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, College of Health Sciences, Ezzamgbo, Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu. The effects of the Nigerian Civil War are still felt in Igboland till this day but with resilience and determination, the Igbo Nation has been able to overcome all that to stand strong. In 1978 a team led by Thurstan Shaw, with the University of Nigeria at Nsukka, excavated a rock quarry. Imo State got its name from the Imo River, one of the major rivers in Nigeria. The most popular city in Ogun state is Abeokuta. AIB says it won’t investigate Air Force plane crash. Below is a list of all South-Eastern states in Nigeria, otherwise known as the Igbo Speaking States. Anambra State: Anambra state is in southeastern Nigeria. The school is one of the best universities to study mass communication in Nigeria. Some Igbo subgroups, such as the Ikwerre, started dissociating themselves from the larger Igbo population after the war. Contrasting the 1960s Secession Effort with 2020 Effort. Fighting had destroyed many hospitals, schools, and homes. Igbos are concentrated in the East or South-East, Yorubas to the South-West and Hausas to the North. List of All Igbo Speaking States in Nigeria, best universities to study mass communication in Nigeria, Current Prices Of Cocoa In Nigeria (2021), Nurses Salary Structure in Nigeria: What Nurses Earn, How To Get Your Tax Identification Number in Nigeria, Current Cost Of MTA Certification In Nigeria (2021), List of All Types of Vegetation in Nigeria, Cost Of Adopting A Child In Nigeria Currently, Current Prices Of Hand Mixers In Nigeria (2021), Nigeria Police Force Salary Structure Currently, Top 10 Most Popular Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria, Ethnic Groups and Tribes in Nigeria: Full List, Top 10 Best Fashion Schools in Nigeria (2021), Cost of South African Visa in Nigeria Currently, Cost Of Honda Car Spare Parts In Nigeria Currently, Xiaomi Service & Phone Repair Office Centres In Nigeria. Ogun state. The capital of Imo State is Owerri and it also doubles as the largest city in the state. Abia is one of the two Igbo oil producing states that are located in the Niger-Delta region of the country, the other one being Imo State. During the Nigerian Civil War, the town of Uli in present day Ihiala Local Government Area was a very important town in Igboland because it was in this town that the Biafra troops built their airstrip for take off or landing of aircraft mostly at nights. For instance, the town of Igbuzo was anglicized to Ibusa . One characteristic trait of every Igbo person is their never say die attitude which helps them to be very industrious; that ability to create wealth out of nothing has always been something that has been passed on from generation to generation. Anambra state is located in the Igbo-dominated area that seceded as part of the independent Republic of Biafra in 1967. The primary Igbo states in Nigeria are Anambra, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, and Enugu States. Igbo nation is not at war with Nigeria – Ohaneze Ndigbo. They are also among the most educated and their unique business sense, with all due respect to other ethnic groups and tribes in Nigeria, is second to none. CISA is the Council of Igbo States in Americas representing all the Igbo States from Nigeria in America. Just as we have done with the Yoruba speaking states in Nigeria, we will also list and explain in detail all the states in the country where the Igbos are very largely concentrated, where they call home. / $600m Steel Plant Will Be Nigeria’s Highest Non-oil FDI – Gupta (1) (2) ( Reply ) ( Go Down )

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