Ayamelum

{{Use Nigerian English|date=January 2023}}{{Infobox settlement

| official_name = Ayamelum

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| settlement_type = LGA

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| pushpin_map = Nigeria

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| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{flag|Nigeria}}

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = Anambra State

| subdivision_type2 = Capital

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| area_total_km2 = 537.7

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| population_as_of = 2022

| population_footnotes = {{Cite web |title=Anambra State: Subdivision |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/nigeria/admin/NGA004__anambra/|access-date=2024-02-05 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}

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| population_total = 225,400

| population_density_km2 = auto

| timezone = WAT

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| coordinates = {{Wikidatacoord|Q4830907|type:event|display=inline,title}}

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Ayamelum is a local government area (LGA) in Anambra state, in the southeastern part of Nigeria with headquarters in Anaku. The towns that make up the local government are Anaku, Umueje, Omasi, Igbakwu, Umumbo, Omor, Umuerum, and Ifite Ogwari. Ayamelum’s area is situated at the border between Enugu state and Anambra state.{{Cite web |title=Ayamelum Local Government Area – Channels Television |url=https://www.channelstv.com/tag/ayamelum-local-government-area/ |access-date=2022-03-13}} The communities in the area are notable for food production.

The LGA has economic and agricultural potential that can generate funds and create employment.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-09 |title=Anambra 2021: George Moghalu Meets Stakeholders of Ayamelum Local Government Area |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/06/anambra-2021-george-moghalu-meets-stakeholders-of-ayamelum-local-government-area/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-US}} Anaku, Ifite ogwari, Umumbo and Omor in Ayamelum are noted for their rice production. Thus, the community benefits from the Lower Anambra-Imo River Basin Development authority which enhances its agricultural activities.{{Cite web |date=2018-12-26 |title=No road to Anambra's food basket |url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/no-road-to-anambras-food-basket/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=The Sun Nigeria |language=en-US}} However, Ayamelum has no access road. The only entrance to the LGA is Otuocha-Anaku-Adani federal road, which has been in a terrible state. This lack of infrastructure prevents residents from taking their food products to towns and cities.

Overview

Anambra state, which is located in Nigeria's Southeast geopolitical zone, has the Ayamelum local government area. There are several towns and villages in the area, including Umueje, Igbakwu, Anaku, Umuerum, Ifite, Ogwari, Omasi, and Umumbo, where the LGA's administrative center is located. The Igbo ethnic group is the dominant tribe in the Ayamelum LGA, and both the Igbo and English languages are widely used there. According to estimates, there are 121,855 people living in the Ayamelum LGA, and the majority of them identify as Christians. The Ofalla, Obubezi, and Olila aka festivals are only a few of the prominent and indigenous celebrations held in Ayamelum LGA.{{Cite web |title=Ayamelum Local Government Area |url=https://www.manpower.com.ng/places/lga/108/ayamelum |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=www.manpower.com.ng}}

Economy

Ayamelum LGA residents depend heavily on agriculture for their livelihoods, with a significant portion of the population engaged in both subsistence and commercial farming. In Ayamelum, crops like yams, cassava, cocoyams, and various vegetables are farmed.

Secondary schools

Numerous secondary schools are located in Ayamelum:

St. Joseph International Secondary School, Anaku (Catholic School)
Ekenedirichukwu Settlement Anaku
Universal Secondary School, Omasi
Community Secondary School, Umumbo
Community Secondary School, Igbakwu
Community Secondary School, Ifite-Ogwari
Riverside Secondary School, Umerum
Ogbe High School, Anaku
Amikwe Community Secondary School, Omor (Omor Town)
Community Secondary School, Umueje
Regina Caeli Secondary School, Omor (Catholic School)
Community Secondary School. (Omor)
St Simon Faith International Secondary School, Omor (Omor Town Anglican School)
Inland school umerum
Ataka maingrant fishermen school umerum
Brainfield Secondary School, Omor (Private Owner Omor Town
Sacred Heart of Jesus Academy, Ifite-Ogwari (Catholic School)

Communal clashes in Ayamelum LGA

Long-standing land disputes in Ayamelum have resulted in violence among the Omor and Anaku communities, resulting in residents fleeing from their homes. Buildings were burnt, property and vehicles were destroyed, and many people were injured by machetes.{{Cite web |date=2021-05-17 |title=Apprehension in Anambra community over land dispute, alleged influx of herdsmen |url=https://guardian.ng/news/apprehension-in-anambra-community-over-land-dispute-alleged-influx-of-herdsmen/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}} The crisis in the two communities is known to center on the ownership of border farmland.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-14 |title=Police avert reprisal in Anambra communities as traditional ruler calls for abolition of deity |url=https://punchng.com/police-avert-reprisal-in-anambra-communities-as-traditional-ruler-calls-for-abolition-of-deity/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-01-14 |title=Tension as farmer is murdered in Anambra community |url=https://dailytrust.com/tension-as-farmer-is-murdered-in-anambra-community |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Daily Trust |language=en}} These boundary disputes have been going on for 100 years.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-12 |title=IPCR deploys social media to curb communal crisis in Anambra |url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/ipcr-deploys-social-media-to-curb-communal-crisis-in-anambra/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Tribune Online |language=en-GB}} Many people have been killed in these clashes over the years.{{Cite web |date=2021-05-16 |title=Police confirm 3 dead in Anambra inter-communal clash |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/05/police-confirm-3-dead-in-anambra-inter-communal-clash/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-US}} The government has set up the Ayamelum Boundary Adjustment and Peace Committee to restore peace and encourage co-existence among those in dispute in the community.{{Cite web |title=Omor – Anaku Communal Crisis: Panel Visits Disputed Areas |url=https://www.absradiotv.com/2021/07/30/omor-anaku-communal-crisis-panel-visits-disputed-areas/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Heartbeat Of The East |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-03-11 |title=Group seeks resolution to 100-year Anambra boundary crisis |url=https://punchng.com/group-seeks-resolution-to-100-year-anambra-boundary-crisis/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}

In other clashes, Omor and Umumbo communities in Ayamelum have been engulfed in conflict over land disputes. In these events, about 50 people have gone missing while about 300 persons have been injured. Also Omor, umumbo and Igbakwu are in the same local government {{Cite web |last=Eleke |first=David-Chyddy |date=May 8, 2020 |title=50 Persons Missing, 300 Injured in Anambra Communal Clash |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/05/08/50-persons-missing-300-injured-in-anambra-communal-clash/ |newspaper=This Day |access-date=March 13, 2022}}

Climate

The climate of Ayamelum is tropical humid with wet and dry seasons and annual rainfall between 1300-3000mm. These areas are characterized by high temperatures, rainfall, and humidity.{{Cite web |last=Admin |title=Socio-Economic Determinants Of Adoption Of Improved Rice Technology By Farmers In Ayamelum Local Government Area Of Anambra State, Nigeria |url=https://www.ijstr.org/final-print/jan2014/Socio-economic-Determinants-Of-Adoption-Of-Improved-Rice-Technology-By-Farmers-In-Ayamelum-Local-Government-Area-Of-Anambra-State-Nigeria.pdf}}

Nnamdi Azikiwe University campus in Ayamelum

The Faculty of Agriculture of Nnamdi Azikiwe University is located in Ifite-Ogwari, one of the communities in Ayamelum LGA.{{Cite web |title=Campuses |url=https://unizik.edu.ng/campuses/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Nnamdi Azikiwe University |language=en-US}} Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka acquired the land, about 120 hectares, for the department.{{cite journal |last1=Chiegboka |first1=A. B. C. |last2=Nwadialor |first2=K. L. |title=The imperative of social engagement for Unizik, Awka: a socioreligious discourse |journal=Journal of Religion and Human Relations |date=2015 |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=8–16 |doi=10.4314/jrhr.v7i1 |doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 |url=https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jrhr/article/download/119640/109100}} Federal polytechnic oko is also found in Anambra state.

References

[http://anambra.gov.ng/cities.htm LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS IN ANAMBRA STATE]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} dated July 21, 2007; accessed October 4, 2007

Category:Local Government Areas in Anambra State

Category:Local Government Areas in Igboland