Afikpo

Afikpo Ali Ehugbo Omaka-ejali Ehugbo
City
Afikpo Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 5°53′N 7°56′E / 5.883°N 7.933°E / 5.883; 7.933
Country	Nigeria
State	Ebonyi State
Population (2006)
• Total	156,611

Afikpo, also known as "Ehugbo", is a town and the second largest urban area in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. It is the headquarters of the Afikpo North Local Government Area.

It is situated in the southern part of Ebonyi State and is bordered to the north by the town of Akpoha, to the south by Unwana, to the south west by Edda in Afikpo South LGA, to the east by the Cross River and to the eest by Amasiri. Afikpo spans an area approximately 164 square kilometers in size. It is located on 6 degrees north latitude and 8 degrees east longitude. It occupies an area of about 64 square miles (164 km²). Afikpo is a hilly area despite occupying a region low in altitude, which rises 350 feet above sea level. It is a transitional area between open grassland and tropical forest and has an average annual rainfall of seventy-seven inches (198 cm.)

It is also the country home of the late Eze (DR) Akanu Ibiam, who hailed from the village of Unwana. Dr. Ibiam was one of the first Igbo medical doctors of Western training and the former Governor of Eastern region.

The population of Afikpo is estimated at 156,611, according to the Nigerian 2006 Census.

Igbo traditional centre

Afikpo is a centre of ancient Igbo tradition. Ceremonial (now antique) masks have been carefully preserved by the state tourism board. Afikpo is an ancient city-state. Several archaeological findings support the claim that Afikpo civilisation existed as far back as the Neolithic age.

There is a rite of passage for every male child from Afikpo. This entails initiation into the Ogo cult. It is shrouded in secrecy and mystery, as women are not let into the workings of the cult. This confers adulthood to the male child.

Educational and medicinal establishments

Mater Misericordia Specialist Hospital, Afikpo. The Mater Misericordia Hospital School of Nursing and Midwifery was one of the first and probably remains the finest nursing school established in Nigeria by the Irish missionaries and Dr. Akanu Ibiam.

New political dispensation

Afikpo presently has a new political dispensation consisting of youths and well to do personalities enhancing development. The former L. G. A Chairman, Mr. Obinna, had been working hand in hand with the people of Afikpo (YOUTHS) towards a strategical development. He also wants to reunite the two PDP rival groups (the Agbotis and Idus) into one PDP group, despite the political problems that the two groups had, which took a life (Ikechukwu Eze a.k.a. Skipper) a native of Amaogwugwu Ugwuegu Elu at WTC during the local government election September 17, 2007. This young promising child was murdered in cold blood for joining force with Mr. Otuu (Ozontus) to supporting one Mr. Anthony Ekoh forcChairmanship position in Afikpo North. Hence to date, justice has not been done in this case as no one has been punished for the crime, notwithstanding the confession made by the one of the hired killers when found out in the place he was hiding. His confession got the youth annoyed and they went on a rampage and set the house of the name suspected sponsor ablaze.^[1]

Climate

Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as tropical wet and dry (Aw).^[2]

References

Coordinates: 5°53′N 7°56′E / 5.883°N 7.933°E / 5.883; 7.933