Ughelli is a town in Delta State, Nigeria, and one of the 24 kingdoms that make up the Urhobo Nation. It also serves as the headquarters of Ughelli North local government area of Delta State. The city is indigenous to the Urhobo ethnic nationals, but there is a mixture of several other tribes from the country and abroad. It is an industrial and agricultural spot of Delta State.
Ughelli is in a central location in Delta State and a major town for the Urhobo Tribe, also one of the oldest kingdom in Delta State tracing back to the 14th and 15th century. The city of Ughelli is ruled by a hereditary ruler, known as Ovie. The king, Oharisi III, lives in the Ovie Palace, situated at Otovwodo-Ughelli.
History Ughelli oral tradition has it that the great ancestor and founding father of Ughelli ("Ughene"), is the second son of Oghwoghwa (a Prince from idu iodomigodo). As history has it, Oghwoghwa in search of his own kingdom first settlement was at Tarakiri and later left for Oviri Ogor (current site of Ogor Techinal College). Ughene later left Oviri Ogor and founded Ovwodoawanre (Old Settlement), before the present settlement headquarters at Otovwodo (traditional headquarters).
Ughelli has several schools, a general hospital, and a local government secretariat. The city is a link between Delta North and Delta South. The city has crude oil and gas reserves hence the presence of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
Ughelli town is the administrative headquarters of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Organization
Ughelli is organized as a local government area (LGA), with an elected Chairman and Councilors representing various wards. The local government administration is structured into departments responsible for functions such as finance, health, education, agriculture, and public works, each managed by departmental heads. In addition to governmental leadership, traditional institutions, including rulers and chiefs, play a role in governance. Committees may also be established to address specific local issues. Ughelli's governance structure operates under the Nigerian constitution and local government laws, following the country's multi-tiered system of federal, state, and local administration.
Location Ughelli's latitude and longitude coordinates are: 5.500187, 5.993834. It is a town in Southern Nigeria and the oldest kingdom of the 24 kingdoms of the Urhobo people. Ughelli is located in close proximity to the floodplains of the West Niger Delta river, and is surrounded by neighbouring communities and villages. Among these are Agbara-Otor, Agbaro, Ufuoma, Otokutu, Ogor.
List of rulers of Ughelli Kingdom
Ruler Start End Ughene 1440 1460 Inere 1461 1524 Evweresoso 1525 1567 Agwaide 1568 1594 Arhavwode 1595 1647 Adague 1648 1706 Useh 1707 1757 Akporoba 1758 1806 Esejuvevwo 1807 1855 Oghoghovwe I 1856 1884 Idjesa 1885 1916 Oharisi I 1917 1943 Oharisi II 1944 1980 Oghoghovwe II 1981 1991 Oharisi III 1992 Present
Sports Ughelli is gradually becoming a home of Sports after the foundation of Ughelli Rovers Football Club who compete in the Nigeria Nationwide League, the 3rd tier of Nigerian domestic football and play their home games at the Ughelli Township Stadium
Notable people Efe Abogidi, basketball player 2 Milly Star, actor and musician Carter Efe, online streamer and comedian Efe Ajagba, boxer Gamaliel Onosode, technocrat, administrator and a former presidential candidate of the All Nigeria People's Party of Nigeria Ben Okri, poet and novelist Destalker (comedian), comedian and businessman Akpor Pius Ewherido, politician Festus Keyamo, lawyer, columnist, politician, and human rights activist Ese Brume, athlete Ella Onojuvwevwo, athlete Divine Oduduru, athlete Tega Odele, athlete Blessing Kaku, footballer Peter Omoduemuke, footballer Solomon Oboh, footballer Stephen Oru, politician
References