Onitsha

The origins of Onitsha begins in the 16th century, when Eze Chima, a native doctor who descended from Eri,{{Cite book |last=Ijeaku |first=Nnamdi |title=The Igbo and Their Niger Delta Neighbors |publisher=Xlibris Corporation |year=2009 |language=English}} was invited by Oba Esigie of Benin during the Benin-Igala war.{{sfn|Nkemnacho|2023|p=150}} Esigie had heard of a native doctor and of the tales of his diabolical powers, he ordered his men to bring Chima to his palace so he may help Benin win their war. After the war was won, Chima would found the kingdom of Ado N’Idu, after having been given land by Esigie.

However, a collapse in the relationship between Esigie and Chima would occur due to, depending on the account, of the Queen Mother, Idia, having either been beaten by Chima’s men for intruding on their farmland,{{Cite book |last=Azikiwe |first=Nnamdi |title=My odyssey: an autobiography |publisher=C. Hurst |year=1970 |location=London |pages=11 |language=English}} or having been denied tribute,{{Cite book |last=Nkemnacho |first=George |title=Olukumi Kingdom: A Peculiar Yoruba Enclave |publisher=Publishing Services Consortium |year=2023 |location=Canada |language=English}}{{Cite book |last=Ohadike |first=Don C. |title=Anioma : a social history of the Western Igbo people |publisher=Ohio University Press |year=1994 |location=US |language=English}} would demand retribution from Esigie. Esigie, would call upon Gbunwara, the leader of the Benin army, to wage war on Ado N’Idu, and Chima informed of this gathered his men, and fought a fierce war against the armies of Benin for several days, before being overwhelmed by their superior numbers, and for the survival of his people, mounting a retreat.

Eze Chima, and his retinue of warriors and extended family, would leave their kingdom of Ado N’Idu to seek a new pasture, and many of the retinue branching off to found their own settlements, such as Onicha-Olona, Onicha Ugbo, Obio etc. Eventually, once reaching the westbank of the Niger, Chima would die before they could mount across, leaving the rest of the retinue to be lead by his son, Oraeze, who lead them across the river and named their new settlement, Ọ̀nị̀chà Mmílí, or Onitsha-on-water, the kingdom of Onitsha was founded.

File: Niger bridge.jpg

Onitsha slowly grew to become an important trading port for the Royal Niger Company in the mid-1850s following the abolition of slavery and with the development of the steam engine when Europeans were able to move into the hinterland.{{Cite web |date=2014-07-25 |title=Bridges and the cost of democracy |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/bridges-cost-democracy/ }}{{Cite web |title=Onitsha Tourism (2024) Nigeria - Best Places to Visit in Onitsha, Onitsha Travel Reviews and Images |url=https://www.hellotravel.com/nigeria/onitsha |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=HelloTravel}}{{Cite news |date=2014-07-25 |title=Bridges and the cost of democracy |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/bridges-cost-democracy/ }}

Trade in palm kernels, palm oil, and other cash crops on the coast of the Bight of Biafra increased around this river port in the 19th century.

In 1857 British palm oil traders established a permanent station in the city with Christian missionaries joining them.{{cite book |title=The Gospel on the Banks of the Niger: Journals and Notices of the Native Missionaries Accompanying the Niger Expedition of 1857–1859 |first=Crowther & |last=Taylor |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2010 |orig-date=1859 |isbn=978-1-108-01184-6}}.

In 1900 Onitsha became part of a British protectorate.{{cite book |title=Southern Nigeria in Transition 1885–1906 |first=J. C. |last=Anene |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1966 |pages=212–213}} The British colonial government and Christian missionaries penetrated most of Igboland to set up their administration, schools and churches through the river port at Onitsha.

In 1965, the Niger River Bridge was built across the Niger River to replace the ferry crossing. This has helped to grow trade routes with western Nigeria and created significant economic linkages between Onitsha and Benin City and Lagos particularly.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/12/30/with-new-funding-second-niger-bridge-offers-hope-of-economic-revolution/|title=With New Funding, Second Niger Bridge Offers Hope of Economic Revolution|website=The Business Year|date=30 December 2018|access-date=2020-02-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://hometown.ng/listing-item/onitsha/|title=Onitsha {{!}} Hometown.ng™|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-22}}

The Nigerian-Biafran war brought devastation to Onitsha as the city was a major theatre of war for forces entering Biafra from the western front. The subsequent oil boom years of the 1970s and early 1980s witnessed a huge influx of immigrants into the city. The result has been hastily constructed and haphazard building which has created a huge number of slums.{{Cite web|url=https://onitshacitymarathon.com/aboutonitsha.html|title=About Onitsha|website=onitshacitymarathon.com|access-date=2020-01-22}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Once a year in October the kingdom of Onitsha holds the Ofala Festival which coincides with the traditional New Yam festival held in many parts of Igboland. The Ofala Festival in ancient times offered the people the opportunity to see the king and receive blessings from him. Nowadays, it is a way for the people of Onitsha to keep their culture alive, take stock of the communal activities and it has become a major event that draws visitors from far and wide to the city.{{Cite web |title=Obi of Onitsha Commends Glo for Supporting Ofala Festival - THISDAYLIVE |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/10/13/obi-of-onitsha-commends-glo-for-supporting-ofala-festival |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=www.thisdaylive.com |language=en}}

Onitsha lies on the eastern flank of a major east–west crossing point of the Niger River across from the city of Asaba, Delta and occupies the northernmost point of the river regularly navigable by large vessels. It is the western terminus of the central Anambra hills. These factors have historically and in modern-day made Onitsha into major trading center between the coastal regions and the north, as well as between eastern and western Nigeria. Onitsha possesses one of the very few road bridge crossings of the mile-wide Niger River{{cite news |title=The second Niger Bridge |newspaper=The Daily Sun |date=2007-02-20 |url=http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/opinion/editorial/2007/feb/20/editorial-20-02-2007-001.htm |access-date=2007-04-06}}{{cite web |title=Britannica |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/429251/Onitsha |access-date=2008-10-02}} and plans are in place to add a second bridge southwards of the existing one.

Rapid urbanization in recent years although promoting the economy, negatively affects natural vegetation and local landscape.{{Cite journal|last1=Nwaogu|first1=Chukwudi|last2=Okeke|first2=Onyedikachi J.|last3=Fadipe|first3=Olusola O.|last4=Bashiru|first4=Kehinde A.|last5=Pechanec|first5=Vilém|date=2017|title=Is Nigeria losing its natural vegetation and landscape? Assessing the land use-landcover change trajectories and effects in Onitsha using remote sensing and GIS|journal=Open Geosciences|volume=9|issue=1|pages=707–718|doi=10.1515/geo-2017-0053|bibcode=2017OGeo....9...53N|doi-access=free}} the region is also considerably erosion prone

Onitsha has two main seasons: a warm, oppressive, and overcast wet (rainy) season from March to October, and a hot and partly cloudy dry season from November to February with both largely influenced by the SW and NE trade winds of the Atlantic International Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Saharan harmattan winds are experienced during the winter months, causing haze and poor visibility with thunderstorms common in March/April as well as in late September/October. Over the duration of the year, the temperature commonly varies from 19 °C (67 °)F to 31 °C (88 °F) and is rarely below 15 °C (59 °F) or above 33 °C (92 °F).{{Cite web |title=Climate and Average Weather Year Round in Onitsha Nigeria |url=https://weatherspark.com/y/52941/Average-Weather-in-Onitsha-Nigeria-Year-Round}} The Köppen climate classification is Aw.

In the early 1960s, before the Nigerian Civil War (see also Biafra), the population was officially recorded as 76,000, and the town was distinctive in a number of dimensions; the great Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe (born and raised in the contiguous town of Ogidi) characterized it as harboring an "esoteric region from which creativity sallies forth at will to manifest itself," "a zone of occult instability" (see [http://www.amightytree.org "Onitsha Matters"]).

Indeed, Onitsha has played a creative role in the transformation to urban life in Eastern Nigeria famous as the setting for Onitsha Market Literature and as one of the hubs for the financing and distribution of Nollywood films.{{Cite journal|last1=Madichie|first1=Nnamdi|last2=Nkamnebe|first2=Anayo|date=2010-11-01|title=51 Iweka Road (Onitsha, Nigeria): Could this single African address redefine business cluster development?|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227441280|journal=World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development|volume=6|issue=3|pages=229–243|doi=10.1504/WREMSD.2010.036677}}

However, infrastructure has not kept pace with urbanization and haphazard building practices without zoning regulations has left in its wake a chaotic and congested city rife with lawlessness. The World Health Organization Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution database's 2016 update indicates that Onitsha is the most polluted city in Africa.{{Cite web|url=http://datadriven.yale.edu/2016/06/06/a-new-air-pollution-database-is-good-but-imperfect/|title=A New Air Pollution Database Is Good, but Imperfect {{!}} Data-Driven Yale|website=datadriven.yale.edu|access-date=2016-11-25|archive-date=2016-11-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126064843/http://datadriven.yale.edu/2016/06/06/a-new-air-pollution-database-is-good-but-imperfect/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://undark.org/article/air-pollution-lagos/|title=Amid Staggering Pollution, Nigerians Struggle to Catch Their Breath|last=Cunningham|first=Anna|date=October 22, 2018|website=Undark|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-27}}

In recent times with the encroachment of neighboring communities, the Onitsha people have been involved in disputes over land ownership in the surrounding area with the people of Obosi and Nkwelle Ezunaka.Vincent Ujumadu (June 17, 2013). [http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/06/17-injured-bus-burnt-as-onitsha-obosi-youths-clash-over-land/ "17 injured, bus burnt as Onitsha, Obosi youths clash over land"]. Vanguard. Retrieved September 2, 2014.[http://www.ezunaka.com/node/27 Nigeria: "Nkwelle-Ezunaka Battles Onitsha Over Land"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502033103/http://www.ezunaka.com/node/27 |date=2014-05-02 }}. Nkwelle Ezunaka Union USA. Retrieved September 2, 2014. Fegge, Awada, and 3-3 are Onitsha metropolitan areas being disputed by the communities of Obosi and Nkwelle Ezunaka, respectively.File: Onitsha City View.jpg

File: Harbor Layout Onitsha.jpg

In 2012 the state government, through a joint venture, attracted SAB Miller to invest in Onitsha Brewery, which started production in August. It was the first large-scale investment in Onitsha since Premier Breweries, makers of the Premier Beer established production in Onitsha in the early part of the 1980s. In January it was announced that upgrades to the value of $110 million would triple the output of beer and malt drinks.{{cite web |url=http://businessdayonline.com/2014/01/sab-miller-investing-110-m-to-triple-onitsha-brewery-capacity/ |title=SAB Miller investing $110 m to triple Onitsha brewery capacity |access-date=28 February 2014 |archive-date=7 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307121807/http://businessdayonline.com/2014/01/sab-miller-investing-110-m-to-triple-onitsha-brewery-capacity/ |url-status=dead }}

Onitsha is not only accessible by rivers and land, but also by air. The city has an international cargo and passenger airport located at Umueri.

Onitsha is a predominantly Christian city. People from Northern and Western Nigeria also practice Islam. In February 2006, armed militants killed at least 80 ethnic Hausa Fulani (Muslims) and burned a few Muslim sites, including two mosques.{{Cite news |title=Scores killed in Nigeria riots |work=Al Jazeera |date=2006-02-23 }}{{Cite news |title=Toll rises in Nigeria sectarian riots |work=Al Jazeera |date=2006-02-24 }}{{Cite news |title=Nigerian Christians Burn Corpses |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2006-02-24 |last=Timberg |first=Craig |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/23/AR2006022300647.html |access-date=2007-04-06 |pages=A10 }} The riots were in response to riots by Muslims in the city of Maiduguri days earlier, where at least 18 Christians were killed, sparked by the cartoon controversy in Denmark.

The amount of waste generation is attributed to the city's high population being a commercial area that draws in people from within and outside Nigeria for business purposes. They generate mostly food waste, polythene bags, paper and its related wastes and metal. Others are pieces of clothes, plastic, tins, bottles and glass materials.{{Cite journal |last=Nwachukwu M. U. |date=December 2010 |title=Solid Waste Generation and Disposal in a Nigerian City: An Empirical Analysis in Onitsha Metropolis |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319042159 |journal=Journal of Environmental Management and Safety |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=180–191 |via=ResearchGate}} In 2016, PM10 levels exceeded the WHO's standard by 30 times.{{Cite news |author=Phoebe Parke |title=World's most polluted city by air is in ... Nigeria |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/31/africa/nigeria-cities-pollution/index.html |access-date=2022-03-02 |work=CNN}}{{Cite news |date=2017-02-13 |title=Welcome to Onitsha: the city with the world's worst air |url=http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/feb/13/polluted-onitsha-nigeria-perpetual-dust-city-world-worst-air |access-date=2022-03-02 |newspaper=The Guardian |language=en}}

The city's noise levels exceeds the federal ministry of environment stipulated limits of 90 dB (A) and that of NESREA's 70 dB (A) for an 8-hour working period, varying in dry season and wet seasons.{{Cite journal |author=Chris Onyeka Ekweozor |author2=Johnbosco Emeka Umunnakwe |author3=Leo O Osuji |author4=Vincent C Weli |date=October 2021 |title=Noise Pollution in Onitsha Metropolis: Challenges and Solution |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/356643265 |journal=Open Access Research Journal of Engineering and Technology |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=32–40 |doi=10.53022/oarjet.2021.1.2.0110 |doi-access= |s2cid=244139245 |via=ResearchGate}} The city's vast surface water, shallow subsurface water, and permeable soils put it at high risk of water pollution.

Onitsha is twinned with:

• {{flagicon|USA}} Compton, California, United States (2010){{cite web |url=http://www.comptonsistercities.org/ |title=Sister Cities of Compton |publisher=comptonsistercities.org |access-date=2013-07-02 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123040049/http://www.comptonsistercities.org/ |archive-date=2016-01-23 }}
• {{flagicon|USA}} Indianapolis, Indiana, United States (2017){{cite news|last1=Mejia Lutz|first1=Elena|title=Indy partners with Nigerian city for business, cultural exchange|url=http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2017/06/26/indy-partners-nigerian-city-business-cultural-exchange/413559001/|access-date=June 26, 2017|work=The Indianapolis Star|date=June 26, 2017}}

The Onitsha people were among the first Igbo to embrace western education,{{Cite journal|last=Ubah|first=C. N|date=1980|title=Western Education in Africa : The Igbo Experience, 1900-1960|journal=Comparative Education Review|volume=24|issue=3|pages=371–388|doi=10.1086/446154|jstor=1187793|s2cid=143942714}} producing notable people like Bishop Alphonsus Chukwuma Onyeabo, Order of the British Empire, 1879–1954, and the main contributor of the English to Igbo bible,{{Cite web |title=igbohistory |url=http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00fwp/igbo/igbohistory.html |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=www.columbia.edu}} Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Owele of Onicha, Zik of Africa, and the first president of the post-independent Nigeria.

• Olisa Agbakoba, lawyer and human rights activist.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CEouAQAAIAAJ&q=Olisa+Agbakoba+Onitsha+-wikipedia|title=The News|date=2008|publisher=Independent Communications Network Limited|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2018-04-22|title=My father scuttled my ambition to become a soldier — Olisa Agbakoba|url=https://punchng.com/my-father-scuttled-my-ambition-to-become-a-soldier-olisa-agbakoba/|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Punch Newspapers|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2014-03-17|title=Behold the 2014 class of Nigeria national conference {{!}} Premium Times Nigeria|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/156894-behold-2014-class-nigeria-national-conference.html|access-date=2021-06-29|language=en-GB}}
• Ukpabi Asika, Nigerian academic and civil servant.{{Cite web |last=Ed Keazor |date=2016-06-29 |title=Celebrating Ajie Anthony Ukpabi Asika CFR @80 |url=https://www.slideshare.net/EdKeazor/ajie-ukpabi-asika-cfr-80th-birthday-tribute-book}}
• Flora Azikiwe, first wife of Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first President of Nigeria.{{Cite web |last=InlandTown |date=2021-01-27 |title=Wednesday Woman Personality: Flora Azikiwe. |url=https://www.inlandtown.com/wednesday-woman-personality-flora-azikiwe/ |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=Welcome To InlandTown Online {{!}} Get hot information on Onitsha |language=en-US}}
• Onyedika Chuke, Art dealer, Curator, and Artist{{Cite web |title=Onyedika Chuke: The Forever Museum Archive_Circa 6000BCE |url=https://lmcc.net/lmcc-arts-center-at-governors-island/onyedika-chuke/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=LMCC |date=12 March 2021 |language=en-US}}
• Ben Enwonwu, painter and sculptor{{Cite book|last=Ogbechie|first=Sylvester Okwunodu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hT6W3d6fpbAC&q=Ben+Enwonwu+Onitsha+-wikipedia|title=Ben Enwonwu: The Making of an African Modernist|date=2008|publisher=University Rochester Press|isbn=978-1-58046-235-8|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eKRxAAAAMAAJ&q=Ben+Enwonwu+Onitsha+-wikipedia|title=Transafrican Journal of History|date=1986|publisher=East African Publishing House|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=2020-10-08|title=Once unknown Nigerian 'masterpiece' by Ben Enwonwu up for sale|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54463851|access-date=2021-06-29}}{{Cite web|last=Kimeria|first=Ciku|title=How a Texas family discovered they owned a forgotten Ben Enwonwu portrait valued at $200,000|url=https://qz.com/africa/1676266/nigerian-artist-ben-enwonwus-discovered-portrait-worth-200000/|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Quartz|date=27 July 2019 |language=en}}
• Obum Gwacham, American football player
• Emmanuel Ifeajuna, a former army major and high jumper - first Black African to win gold at a major international sports competition{{Cite web|date=2014-07-12|title=Emmanuel Ifeajuna: from Commonwealth Games gold to the firing squad|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jul/13/commonwealth-games-emmanuel-ifeajuna-nigeria|access-date=2021-06-29|website=the Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2018-06-09|title=Emmanuel Ifeajuna: A Natural Spring|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/06/emmanuel-ifeajuna-natural-spring/|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US}}
• Alex Iwobi, professional footballer, Everton forward.{{Cite web|date=2015-02-24|title=Arsenal youngster keen to play for Nigeria, father insists|url=https://www.pulse.ng/sports/football/alex-iwobi-arsenal-youngster-keen-to-play-for-nigeria-father-insists/zj39tfx|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Pulse Nigeria|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2019-07-06|title=Super Eagles tame Lions of Cameroon 3-2 in AFCON 2019|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/07/breaking-afcon-2019-super-eagles-tame-lions-of-cameroon-3-2/|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US}}
• Louis Mbanefo, lawyer and justice{{Cite web|date=2017-01-05|title=There was once a bench|url=https://guardian.ng/opinion/there-was-once-a-bench/|access-date=2021-06-29|website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629091744/https://guardian.ng/opinion/there-was-once-a-bench/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|date=2020-03-07|title=Lawyers from childhood's fantasy planet|url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/lawyers-from-childhoods-fantasy-planet/|access-date=2021-06-29|website=The Sun Nigeria|language=en-US}}
• Nwagboka, last Omu of Onitsha.{{Citation |last=chuku |first=gloria|editor1-first=Emmanuel K |editor1-last=Akyeampong |editor2-first=Henry Louis |editor2-last=Gates |title=Nwagboka |date=2011-01-01 |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195382075.001.0001/acref-9780195382075-e-1579 |work=Dictionary of African Biography |publisher=Oxford University Press |language=en |doi=10.1093/acref/9780195382075.001.0001 |isbn=978-0-19-538207-5 |access-date=2022-03-17|url-access=subscription }}
• Alexander Nwora, basketball player and coach
• Tony Nwoye, Nigerian politician.{{Cite web |title=Tony Nwoye Archives |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/tag/tony-nwoye/ |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-US}}
• Chike Obi, mathematician{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TXwuAQAAIAAJ&q=Chike+Obi+Mathematician+Onitsha+-wikipedia|title=Newswatch|date=2008|publisher=Newswatch Communications Limited|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eq8ZAAAAYAAJ&q=Chike+Obi+Mathematician+Onitsha+-wikipedia|title=Who's who in Nigeria|date=1990|publisher=Newswatch|isbn=978-978-2704-12-2|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9EAOAQAAMAAJ&q=Chike+Obi+Mathematician+Onitsha+-wikipedia|title=Africa Who's who|date=1991|publisher=Africa Journal Limited|isbn=978-0-903274-17-3|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2018-04-21|title=Igbo, Yoruba fight over maths|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/igbo-yoruba-fight-maths/|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2017-10-07|title=Towards a Peaceful Gubernatorial Election in Anambra, By Chisom J. Omeokachie - Premium Times Opinion|url=https://opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2017/10/07/towards-a-peaceful-gubernatorial-election-in-anambra-by-chisom-j-omeokachie/|access-date=2021-06-29|language=en-US}}
• Francis Obikwelu, retired Nigerian-born Portuguese sprinter.{{Cite web |title=Francis OBIKWELU|url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/portugal/francis-obikwelu-14218403 |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=World Athletics}}
• Janet Okala, Nigerian political leader.{{Citation |last=chuku |first=gloria|editor1-first=Emmanuel K |editor1-last=Akyeampong |editor2-first=Henry Louis |editor2-last=Gates |title=Okala, Janet |date=2011-01-01 |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195382075.001.0001/acref-9780195382075-e-1613 |work=Dictionary of African Biography |publisher=Oxford University Press |language=en |doi=10.1093/acref/9780195382075.001.0001 |isbn=978-0-19-538207-5 |access-date=2022-03-17|url-access=subscription }}
• Francisca Nneka Okeke, Nigerian physicist.{{Cite web |title=UNN Staff Profile |url=http://www.unn.edu.ng/internals/staff/viewProfile/NTcw |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=www.unn.edu.ng}}
• Henry Onyekuru, footballer{{Cite web|date=2018-11-09|title=5 things to know about Super Eagles forward Henry Onyekuru|url=https://www.pulse.ng/sports/football/5-things-to-know-about-super-eagles-forward-henry-onyekuru/epfv07g|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Pulse Nigeria|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Who is Henry Onyekuru? We profile the Nigerian striker wanted by Arsenal|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/10889862/who-is-henry-onyekuru-we-profile-the-nigerian-striker-wanted-by-arsenal|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Sky Sports|language=en}}{{Cite news|title=Onyekuru reveals why he chose Everton over PSG|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47960695|access-date=2021-06-29}}
• Chike, singer, songwriter and actor

• Onitsha Market Literature – literature sold at the main market in the 1950s and 60s
• Onitsha – a novel by French author J. M. G. Le Clézio
• Ryszard Kapuscinski writes of "The Hole of Onitsha" in his book The Shadow of the Sun.

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.nigeriannation.com/The-People-and-history-of-Onitsha-m40.aspx The People and history of Onitsha]

• {{cite book |author=Richard N. Henderson |title=The King in Every Man: Evolutionary Trends in Onitsha Ibo Society and Culture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MxcBAAAACAAJ |date=June 2004 |publisher=Richard Henderson |isbn=978-0-9740440-0-2}}

{{Igbo topics}}

{{Niger River}}

{{Cities in Nigeria}}

{{World's most populous urban areas}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Populated places in Anambra State

Category:Communities on the Niger River

Category:Cities in Anambra State

Category:States and territories established in 1550

Category:Cities in Nigeria

Category:1550 establishments in Africa

Category:Towns in Igboland