Anioma Region

The Anioma Region (/æˈniːɒmɑː/ ah-NEE-o-ma, US: /əˈniːɒmɑː/ uh-NEE-o-mah; Ndi Ániọ̀mà or Ndè Ániọ̀mà ) of present day Delta State, Nigeria encompass and are native to the nine northern Local Government Areas of Delta State. Politically, the Anioma occupy the Delta North Senatorial District.

Today, the population of the Anioma region is estimated today to be at approximately 1.8 million. The largest settlement in Anioma and urban area is the Delta State Capital Territory, which incorporates the city of Asaba along the Niger River, with Okpanam, Igbuzor and surrounding communities. The Anioma region natively speak the Igboid languages, a Niger-Congo language, as well as several minority languages related to the cultures they lie contingent to.

Etymology The term Anioma is an acronym etymologically derived from the major ethnic groups that comprise the Delta North region flanking the western basin of the Niger in south central Nigeria: the Aniocha (A), Ndokwa (N), Ika (I) and the Oshimili peoples(O). The coinage was made in 1951 by Chief Dennis Osadebay, founding father of the Anioma state movement and has since remained the preferred indigenous name by which the people collectively refer to themselves.

Language The Anioma people are predominantly Igbo languages speakers including Enuani in the northeast (spoken in Ibusa, Ogwashi-Uku, Isheagu, Asaba, parts of Igbodo, Illah, Issele, Idumuje, Onicha etc.), Ika in the northwest (of Agbor, Umunede, Owa, Igbanke, Boji-Boji etc.), Ukwuani mostly spoken by the peoples of Ndokwa in the south. Such as, Kwale, Aboh, Ase, Ogume, Obiaruku, Okpai, Abbi, Amai etc.

Minorities of historically non-Igbo speakers exist with a Igala minority in the northernmost extremities of the Anioma homeland at Ebu on the border with Edo and Umuebu in Ukwuani, as well as the Olukumi who speak a language related to Yoruba of southwestern Nigeria and are acculturated to the predominant Igbo culture of Aniocha.

The Ekumeku Movement (1883-1914) See also Ekumeku Movement:

The Ekumeku War is unique in Anioma region history for two reasons. First, the movement's duration involved military campaigns spanning thirty-one years against the British. Secondly, it exemplifies an effort amongst the Anioma people to unify previously fragmented states in resistance to the British colonial army.

Notable people Joseph "Hannibal" Achuzie, military personnel and civil war veteran Leo Irabor Former Chief of Defense of Nigeria Military. Peter Nwaoboshi Former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Ifeanyi Okowa Former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and former Governor of Delta State, Nigeria 2015 - 2023 Nduka Obaigbena Owner Arise TV and Radio Hanks Anuku, Veteran Nollywood actor Phillip Asiodu, former Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria Maryam Babangida, wife of Former Nigerian Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida Prof Joseph Chike Edozien, the Asagba of Asaba Sam Obi Former Member Delta State House of Assembly, Former Acting Governor of Delta State, Nigeria Baba Fryo Nigerian Musician Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, the United Bank for Africa, Transcorp and founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation Air-Marshal Paul Dike, former Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria NASA Buchi Emecheta, Nigerian-born British novelist Faze, Nigerian Musician Wilfred Ndidi, Footballer Elizabeth Isichei, prominent historian Alex Iwobi, football player Godwin Emefiele Former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeira Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, former Super Eagles captain and Malian National Football Team Coach Demas Nwoko, prominent Sculptor of Nigeria Ned Nwoko, present senator Nduka Odizor, former Lawn tennis player Timothy Ogene, writer Joy Ogwu, former managing director of Nigeria Institute of International Affairs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the current Director-general of the World Trade Organization Austine "Jay-Jay" Okocha, former Captain of Super Eagles of Nigeria Sunday Oliseh, former Captain of super Eagles of Nigeria Lisa Omorodion, Nollywood Actress, producer and entrepreneur Dennis Osadebe, politician, poet, journalist and former premier of the now defunct Mid-Western Region of Nigeria, which now comprises Edo and Delta State. Zulu Sofola, the first published female Nigerian playwright and dramatist and first female Professor of Theater Arts in Africa. Nduka Ugbade, Nigeria's former football player and the first African to lift the world cup Patrick Utomi, Presidential Candidate and Founder of Lagos Business School Raph Uwechue, was a Nigerian minister, diplomat and publisher. He is a former president-general of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, an Igbo socio-cultural organization in Nigeria

Anioma Region

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