Ogwa
{{Short description|Town in Edo State, Nigeria}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=January 2023}}
Ogwa is a town in Esan West Local Government Area in Edo State, Nigeria.{{Cite web|title=OGWA.|url=https://www.esanland.org/p/591-598-ogwa-pop.html|access-date=2021-07-09|archive-date=2021-07-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185115/https://www.esanland.org/p/591-598-ogwa-pop.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=WATER SCHEME IN OGWA COMMUNITY|url=https://csdpnigeria.org/edo/What-We-Do/Project-Details/water-scheme-in-ogwa-community|access-date=2021-06-28|website=Edo State CSDA|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-06-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628085722/https://csdpnigeria.org/edo/What-We-Do/Project-Details/water-scheme-in-ogwa-community|url-status=live}} It is among the constituent communities of Esanland.{{Cite web | url=https://www.esanland.org/p/591-598-ogwa-pop.html?m=1 | title=OGWA | access-date=2021-07-12 | archive-date=2021-07-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712201935/https://www.esanland.org/p/591-598-ogwa-pop.html?m=1 | url-status=live }} The people of Ogwa speak the Esan language. The language of the Esan people shares the same name as the name of the land itself. Esan and Ishan are interchangeably used to refer to the same place, language and people. Ishan is the anglicized variant for Esan.{{Cite web |last=Orukpe |first=Abel |date=2016-11-03 |title=The Linguistic Characteristic Of Esan Language: Towards Its Empowerment and Development. |url=https://abelnewsng.com/2016/11/03/the-linguistic-characteristic-of-esan-language-towards-its-empowerment-and-development/ |access-date=2022-08-15 |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331072240/https://abelnewsng.com/2016/11/03/the-linguistic-characteristic-of-esan-language-towards-its-empowerment-and-development/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite journal |last=Ejele |first=Philomena E. |date=October 29, 2016 |title=The Linguistic Characteristic of Esan language: Towards its Empowerment and Development |url=https://abelnewsng.com/2016/11/03/the-linguistic-characteristic-of-esan-language-towards-its-empowerment-and-development/ |journal=12th Esan Economic Empowerment Workshop at Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa, Edo State, Nigeria |access-date=August 15, 2022 |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331072240/https://abelnewsng.com/2016/11/03/the-linguistic-characteristic-of-esan-language-towards-its-empowerment-and-development/ |url-status=live }} The Ogwa people in Edo State identify themselves as Esan or Ishan people.{{Cite web |title=ESAN PEOPLE |url=https://www.esanland.org/p/esanpeople-esan-people-or-ishanpeople.html |access-date=2022-08-15 |archive-date=2022-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214121758/https://www.esanland.org/p/esanpeople-esan-people-or-ishanpeople.html |url-status=live }} Ogwa has four clans: Eguare, Ukpogu, Izogen and Eha. These clans are headed by most elderly men in each of them.{{Cite web |last=elevationmap.net |title=Eguare, Ogwa, Esan West, Nigeria on the Elevation Map. Topographic Map of Eguare, Ogwa, Esan West, Nigeria. |url=https://elevationmap.net/ |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=elevationmap.net |language=en |archive-date=2021-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510090849/https://elevationmap.net/ |url-status=live }}
The name Ogwa is used to identify more than one place in Nigeria. To avoid confusion, it is better to identify it with their region. Hence, Ogwa, Esan.
Demographics
Ogwa has a population of roughly 100,000 people.{{Cite web|title=Population Model of Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria|url=https://catalog.ihsn.org/citations/48388|access-date=2021-07-10|website=catalog.ihsn.org|archive-date=2021-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710110936/https://catalog.ihsn.org/citations/48388|url-status=live}} It is surrounded by other Esan towns, namely Ujiogba, Amahor, Ugun, Ewossa, Ebelle, Okalo, Ugbegun and Igueben.
Ogwa is the second largest community after Ekpoma and ward 1 politically in the Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.{{Cite web|title=Edo (State, Nigeria) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/php/nigeria-admin.php?adm1id=NGA012|access-date=2021-07-10|website=www.citypopulation.de|archive-date=2021-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710111149/https://www.citypopulation.de/php/nigeria-admin.php?adm1id=NGA012|url-status=live}}
Ogwa is an agrarian society.{{cite web |last1=Ola |first1=Kehinde Oluwole |title=HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SOCIAL ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE HOUSEHOLDS |url=http://oer.sau.edu.ng/Uploads/Conferences/human-trafficking-and-social-economic-impact-on-the-households.pdf |website=Samuel Adegboyega University |access-date=11 July 2021 |archive-date=11 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711181727/http://oer.sau.edu.ng/Uploads/Conferences/human-trafficking-and-social-economic-impact-on-the-households.pdf |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|last=Imuetinyan|first=Funmilayo|date=2020-07-15|title=Obaseki's Agric Reforms Assist Farmers in Seven Clusters, Distribute 370,000 Fingerlings|url=https://fmic.gov.ng/obasekis-agric-reforms-assist-farmers-in-seven-clusters-distribute-370000-fingerlings/|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Federal Ministry of Information and Culture|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710110152/https://fmic.gov.ng/obasekis-agric-reforms-assist-farmers-in-seven-clusters-distribute-370000-fingerlings/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Obaseki's agric reforms: Edo farmers get seedlings, fertilizers, for 320ha maize, rice cultivation ahead of planting season – edostatemmog|url=http://mda.edostate.gov.ng/mmog/2019/06/19/obasekis-agric-reforms-edo-farmers-get-seedlings-fertilizers-for-320ha-maize-rice-cultivation-ahead-of-planting-season/|access-date=2021-07-10|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710110301/http://mda.edostate.gov.ng/mmog/2019/06/19/obasekis-agric-reforms-edo-farmers-get-seedlings-fertilizers-for-320ha-maize-rice-cultivation-ahead-of-planting-season/|url-status=live}} However, events of the last part of the 20th century and the developments of 21st century so far have seen Ogwa drifting towards an academic town.https://www.educartis.com.ng/centers/samuel-adegboyega-university. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504111955/https://www.educartis.com.ng/centers/samuel-adegboyega-university |date=2021-05-04 }} Ogwa Grammar School, Edo State and Samuel Adegboyega University,{{Cite web |url=http://www.sau.edu.ng/ |title=Samuel Adegboyega University website |access-date=25 June 2014 |archive-date=16 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516193735/http://sau.edu.ng/ |url-status=live }} Edo State are both located in Ogwa, Esan. The university was established in 2011 by The Apostolic Church, LAWNA Territory.{{Cite web|title=Samuel Adegboyega University {{!}} Educartis|url=https://www.educartis.com.ng/centers/samuel-adegboyega-university|access-date=2021-05-04|website=www.educartis.com.ng|language=en|archive-date=2021-05-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504111955/https://www.educartis.com.ng/centers/samuel-adegboyega-university|url-status=dead}} The university has helped in the overall development of the Ogwa community.
The University has the Centre for Research and Development of Esanland (CERDEL) which is conducting several research activities about Esan traditions and culture. The Centre is headed by B.O Inegbeboh, a Professor of Oral Literature. Recently, the university gave out scholarship to some indigene in the community to enable them to pursue their educational career.{{Cite web|title=CHEERS AS SAMUEL ADEGBOYEGA UNIVERSITY GIVES SCHOLARSHIP TO 20 INDIGENT STUDENTS IN OGWA COMMUNITY TO REGISTER WAEC – SAU News|url=https://news.sau.edu.ng/cheers-as-samuel-adegboyega-university-gives-scholarship-to-20-indigent-students-in-ogwa-community-to-register-waec/|access-date=2021-07-10|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710112742/https://news.sau.edu.ng/cheers-as-samuel-adegboyega-university-gives-scholarship-to-20-indigent-students-in-ogwa-community-to-register-waec/|url-status=live}} It also has Eguare and Ukpogo primary schools and some private primary and secondary schools.
The people of Ogwa are mostly Christians. The majority of the people are Catholics. However, The Apostolic Church and other church denominations also have a large membership in Ogwa.{{Cite web|last=ogwacommunity|title=Ogwa Town At A Glance – Past And Present {{!}} The People of Ogwa|url=https://www.ogwacommunity.org/ogwa-town-at-a-glance-past-and-present/|access-date=2021-07-10|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710112040/https://www.ogwacommunity.org/ogwa-town-at-a-glance-past-and-present/|url-status=live}}
The Onogie of Ogwa is His Royal Highness (HRH) Zaiki Victor A. Ehizogie II.{{Cite web|date=2016-08-24|title=Edo needs a technocrat like Obaseki now— Ogwa Monarch|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/edo-needs-technocrat-like-obaseki-now-ogwa-monarch/|access-date=2021-07-08|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-07-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190052/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/edo-needs-technocrat-like-obaseki-now-ogwa-monarch/|url-status=live}} He governs with a Council of Chiefs which, unusually for the area, includes some women.{{cite web |title=Market Development Program for the Niger Delta (MADE). IIEdo State Investment Portfolio(ESIP) Inception Study Report MAIN BODY – Vol. I |url=https://pindfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ESIP-Inception-Study-Report-Vol-I.pdf |publisher=The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta |access-date=11 July 2021 |date=2018 |archive-date=11 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711181734/https://pindfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ESIP-Inception-Study-Report-Vol-I.pdf |url-status=live }}
Ogwa has a significant problem with young women who are exploited through sex trafficking, and state interventions have been unsuccessful in addressing this crime.{{cite web |last1=Iwuoha |first1=Nkechi |title=Prevention of Sex Trafficking and Perspectives From Parents in Ogwa Community Edo State Nigeria Ogwa Community Edo State |url=https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=10190&context=dissertations |publisher=Walden University |access-date=11 July 2021 |date=2020 |archive-date=11 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711181726/https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=10190&context=dissertations |url-status=live }} The problem is affected by the poverty of the area and the lack of opportunities for young people locally.
Health
The Ogwa community enjoys a blend of traditional and orthodox medicine, with the presence of three Government owned health centres and Irrua Community hospitals, and is also closely linked with Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, where a lot of people visit to receive health care. Traditional bone setters, traditional birth attendants and herbal healers are also fairly distributed around the community setting. Services offered at these centres include: health education, immunization, family planning counselling, treatment of minor ailments and first aid, referrals, and ante-natal.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}