Umudike
{{Short description|Town in Abia State, Nigeria}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Umudike
| other_name =
| native_name = Umudike
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Town
| motto =
| pushpin_map = Nigeria
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Umudike in Nigeria
| pushpin_mapsize =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{NGR}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Abia State
| subdivision_type2 = L.G.A
| subdivision_name2 = Ikwuano
| subdivision_type3 = Clan
| subdivision_name3 = Oboro|
| government_footnotes =
| government_type = Monarchy
| leader_title = Eze
| leader_name = HRM Eze Benjamin Ogechimereze Oriaku (Umudike Ukwu) & HRM Joseph Onyekwere Anyaegbu (Umudike)
| established_title =
| established_date =
| established_title2 =
| established_date2 =
| established_title3 =
| established_date3 =
| area_magnitude =
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 0.135
| area_land_km2 =
| population_as_of = 2015
| population_footnotes =
| population_note =
| population_total = 2,687
| population_density_km2 = 19,960
| population_density_urban_sq_mi =
| population_blank1_title = Ethnicities
| population_blank1 = Igbo
| population_blank2_title = Religion
| population_blank2 = Christianity
| population_density_blank1_km2 =
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi =
| timezone = WAT
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST =
| utc_offset_DST =
| coordinates = {{coord|5|28|0|N|7|33|0|E|region:NG|display=inline}}
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 143
| elevation_ft =
| postal_code_type = 3-digit postal code prefix
| postal_code = 440109
| area_code = 440
| iso_code = NG.AB.IK
| website = https://ng.geoview.info/umudike,2320530
| footnotes =
| name =
}}
Umudike is a semi-urban settlement in Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government Area in Abia State, Nigeria.{{Cite journal |last=Om |first=Ukpai¬ |last2=Cm |first2=Ekedo |date=2019 |title=Insecticide susceptibility status of Culex quinquefasciatus [Diptera: Culicidae] in Umudike, Ikwuano LGA Abia State, Nigeria |url=https://www.dipterajournal.com/archives/2019/6/1/B/5-5-6 |journal=International Journal of Mosquito Research |language=en |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=114–118 |issn=2348-5906}}{{Cite web |title=Umudike in Ikwuano - Abia - CityDir.org |url=https://www.citydir.org/NG/Abia/Ikwuano/Cities/Umudike/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=www.citydir.org}} It is about 11 kilometers southeast of Umuahia, the state's capital city.{{Cite web |title=Umudike, Nigeria - Facts and information on Umudike - Nigeria.Places-in-the-world.com |url=https://nigeria.places-in-the-world.com/2320529-place-umudike.html |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=nigeria.places-in-the-world.com}} It is home to the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture and the National Root Crops Research Institute.{{Cite web |title=MOUAU VC Decries Low Admission Quota, Denies COVID-19 Outbreak – THISDAYLIVE |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/10/27/mouau-vc-decries-low-admission-quota-denies-covid-19-outbreak/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=www.thisdaylive.com}}{{Cite web |title=National Root Crops Research Institute |url=https://nrcri.gov.ng/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Rapheal |date=2022-11-07 |title=Ikwuano Summit 2023: CBO explores agrarian-rural |url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/ikwuano-summit-2023-cbo-explores-agrarian-rural-community-development/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=The Sun Nigeria |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Emeruwa |first=Chijindu |date=2021-10-05 |title=Abia: Protest rocks Michael Okpara University over 500 level female student crushed to death by trailer |url=https://dailypost.ng/2021/10/05/abia-protest-rocks-michael-okpara-university-over-500-level-female-student-crushed-to-death-by-trailer/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=Daily Post Nigeria |language=en-US}} Umudike is composed of two autonomous communities which are Umudike and Umudike Ukwu.{{Cite web |title=Abia Community Thanks Govt For Delisting Umudikeukwu Village, Restoring Peace To Ikwuano Council – Independent Newspaper Nigeria |url=https://independent.ng/abia-community-thanks-govt-delisting-umudikeukwu-village-restoring-peace-ikwuano-council/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |language=en-GB}}
The town is surrounded by other neighbouring communities in which it shares its common beliefs and socio-cultural ethics with. They include; Umuariaga, Amaoba, Amawom, Nnono, Ndoro and Ahuwa. These towns accommodate about 40% of students from the Michael Okpara University.{{Cite web |title=Umudike populated place, Abia, Nigeria |url=https://ng.geoview.info/umudike,2320529 |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=ng.geoview.info}}
History
The word 'Umudike' translates to 'descendants of Dike' from Igbo.
The progenitor of Umudike, Dike was a descendant of Mazi Awom who begot nine children namely: Mazi Ija (Mgbaja), Mmiri (Agbommiri), Obia (Umuobia), Chukwu (Mbachukwu), Kamanu (Mbakamanu), Aga (Agah), Ishiara (Mbaisara), Ukomu (Umuokom) and Dike (Umudike). Mazi Dike begot three children namely; Okwuta (Umukwuru and Ezi Uku), Umuofo (Umuoke and Umudiogu) and Umuelele (Agbomgbe and Ezi Uku).
Umudike is a compound from Amawom. It was posted to its present location to guide against enemies.Mazi J. K. Okey, the President of Appeal Court Mbiopong (Chief) and Nwakudu Awazie (Councillor) for Amawom, Mazi Okoronkwo Ogwudu for Umudike, on the 5th of May, 1953
Culture
The town is known for its popular 'Ekpe' festival which is held every January. This festival attracts a number of tourists from neighbouring states and even countries.{{Cite web |title=Ikwuano Local Government Area |url=https://www.manpower.com.ng/places/lga/42/ikwuano |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=www.manpower.com.ng}}{{Cite web |last=Drillers |first=School |date=2021-03-23 |title=Abia State Nigeria and the {17} Local Government Areas. |url=https://www.schooldrillers.com/abia-state-nigeria/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=School Drillers |language=en-us}}