Umuleri

Umueri, also known and pronounced as Umuleri, is a town in Anambra State of southeastern Nigeria. The settlement is populated primarily Igbo, and has an estimated population of 1,500,000.^[1] The forebears are widely acknowledged as the first settler in Omambala valley.

Umueri Okebo[citation needed]
Nickname:  Umueri Ovuakwu (Okebo City)
Umueri Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 6°20′N 6°50′E
Country	Nigeria
State	Anambra
LGA	Anambra East
Population  (2015)
• Total	660,821
• Ethnicity	Igbo
• Religion	Christianity 39% Odinani 56% No Religion 5%
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)

The construction of the advanced Anambra International Cargo Airport in 2021 brought further commerce into the area, and strengthened the town's economy.^[2]

Geography

Umueri is located within the Anambra Valley, and bordered by the Anambra River and the Anam communities in the north, Nteje to the south, Aguleri and Nando in the east and Nsugbe to the west.

Division and administration

Traditionally, three clans are inhabiting the region: the Ezi Umueri, the Ikenga Umueri, and the Ivite Umueri.

The pre-colonial Umueri government was a republic that eventually became a monarchy.

Below is the structure of the present Umueri administration:

1. Igwe in-Council - the traditional ruler and his Cabinet
2. Council of Elders - the elders of the community
3. Umuotu - A group that helps in implementing laws in the community
4. Town Union - Umuleri General Assembly

Religion

Prior to the coming of Europeans, Umueri people practiced traditional religions, worshipping various deities. However, Christianity became the dominant religion about a century ago. Currently, 50% of the town's population are Christian, primarily Catholic and Anglican.

There are several churches, the oldest of which, the St Immanuel Anglican Church, was founded in 1904.^[3]