<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nPeople and Culture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Owerri is mostly inhabited mainly by the Igbo people, with the Igbo language serving as a lingua franca, with its state has an estimated population of 1,401,873 <\/strong>as recorded by the 2016 <\/strong>population census.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFurthermore, one of the significant ancient cultural festivals in Owerri is the \u201cOru-Owerri festival.<\/strong>\u201d It is a carnival celebrated annually by the Igbo people (ndi-igbo)<\/strong> of five traditional Owerri villages<\/strong> in Owerri municipality. It is said to be in memory of the founding of Owere (Owerri)<\/strong> in the 14th century<\/strong> by Ekwem Oha Arugo.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nHowever, history has it that the major aim of the cultural festival is to ensure the celebration of life, love and oneness amongst the people of the Owere nchi ise community.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nEconomy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Owerri, as the capital city, serves as the main trading hub for yams, cassava (manioc), corn, and palm products for a modified rainforest region that also produces rubber for export. It is renowned for its centres for handicrafts. There hasn’t been much industrial growth yet, although one firm makes galvanized sheet iron.<\/p>\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nFood<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Ofe owerri<\/strong> is a staple cuisine that is unique to the Owerri people (ofe<\/strong> means soup, while Owerri is the capital of Imo state<\/strong>). Beautiful ladies are sometimes compared to Ofe Owerri<\/strong> in various Igbo cultures, and it is sometimes referred to as the “king of soup<\/strong>.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nFurthermore, snails, ponmo (cow skin), goat meat, dried fish, oporo (smoked prawns), ground dried crayfish, wraps of ogili (fermented soya beans), cocoyam, palm oil, sliced ugu leaves (pumpkin leaves), sliced oha leaves, sliced uziza leaves, stock cubes, achi powder, and salt are among the ingredients for the soup.<\/p>\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nReligion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n In Owerri, Christianity predominates over other religions. The two religions with the largest followings are Catholicism and Anglicanism, and Owerri is the location of Assumpta Cathedral<\/strong>, the administrative centre for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri<\/strong> (Latin: Archidioecesis Overriensis)<\/strong>, as well as the Seat of Wisdom Seminary. 2,996 square kilometres<\/strong> make up the archdiocese.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHowever, of the 1.7 million<\/strong> residents in the region, 670,986 <\/strong>are Catholics. The first and largest Anglican church in Owerri, All Saints Cathedral, Egbu<\/strong>, is also the location of the first Igbo-translated Bible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nModern-Day Owerri<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Imo State University, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Federal University of Technology Owerri<\/strong>, and a number of secondary schools are located in the town. Additionally, a general hospital serves the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn the sports sector, the Heartland F.C.<\/strong>, a significant Nigerian football team, is located in Owerri. The Naze Millionaires<\/strong>, once known as Iwuanyawu Nationale, still go by that moniker. People like Emmanuel Emenike and Kelechi Iheanacho<\/strong>, who played for prestigious English clubs like Manchester City F.C<\/strong>. and Leicester City F.C<\/strong>., are popular Super Eagle<\/strong> players from Owerri.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSome of the tourist centres in Owerri include Freedom Square, Statues in Heroes Square, Freedom Park, Akachi Monument, Assumpta Cathedral, and Otamiri River in Egbu<\/strong>, among others.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":8041,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","yoast_head":"\nHistory of Owerri | Culture | Economy | Politics | Naijabiography<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n\t \n