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Orlu Ọ̀lụ́ (Igbo) | |
|---|---|
LGA and city | |
 Orlu headquarters Building | |
  Orlu Location in Nigeria | |
| Coordinates:05°47′47″N07°02′20″E / 5.79639°N 7.03889°E /5.79639; 7.03889 | |
| Country | Nigeria |
| State | Imo |
| Government | |
| • Local Government Chairman | Chris Mbarie[1] |
| Population (420,000) | |
• Total | 420,000 (estimated) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
| National language | Igbo |
 | |
Orlu (Igbo:Ọ̀lụ́)[2] is the second-largestcity inImo State South East (Nigeria)|South East]],Nigeria, with a population of 420,600.[3] It has a long history as the headquarters for theOrganisation of African Unity (OAU) andhumanitarian relief agencies during theNigeria-Biafra Civil War. The city houses the Nigerian headquarters of the BritishCheshire Home. It is the second most developed city afterOwerri inImo state.
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Orlu is a home forenterprise and industry and is unofficially known as the "commercial capital" of Imo state. Many successful Nigerian businessmen and industrialists hail from the twelve local government areas that make up the OrluSenatorial Zone. They include Orlu,Orsu, Isu,Njaba,Nwangele,Nkwerre,Ideato North,Ideato South,Oru East,Oru West,Ohaji/Egbema, andOguta. The city centre of the local government area is within the host towns of Amaifeke, Ihioma/Ebenese, Umuna,Umuowa,Umutanze,Okporo,Orlu-Gedegwum,Amike andOwerre-Ebeiri. When all of the LGAs in the zone are included Orlu's population is estimated to be approaching 3,000,000 inhabitants.
Orlu is the permanent site for various industries including state and federal agencies like theImo State University Teaching Hospital, the state-owned cardboard industry in Owerri-Ebeiri, the newly built Imo State School of Nursing and Health Technology at Okporo as well as many small and medium-sized chemical and pharmaceutical companies. The multipurpose Imo International Market which houses one of the three most influential pharmaceutical markets inWest Africa is based in Orlu due to the high number of Orlulites in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. Consequently, the Orlu Zonal Area has the highest concentration of indigenouspharmaceutical manufacturers and marketers in the whole African continent.
The Ogbosisi Timber Centre is located within the quickly expanding Orlu Urban area and the city centre. The Nigeria Immigration Training School (NITS) in Umuowa and the Technological Skills Acquisition Centre (TESAC) are also based in the city.
Many towns in Orlu hold cultural festivals.[citation needed] The people of Orlu have made important contributions to the education, sports, and political growth ofNigeria.
Orlu is a homeland for theIgbo people of Nigeria.[4]
Notable members of the ruling family include Eze Patrick I IbeakanmaAcholonu, the first Senator to represent the Orlu/Okigwe division (presently Orlu Zone andOkigwe Zone) in the oldFederation of Nigeria as well as the1st Republic;[5][6] the lateJustice Ignatius Chukwudi Pats Acholonu, the first Orlu indigene to become a Supreme Court justice; Dr. Douglas Acholonu, former deputy governor of Imo state in the 3rd Republic;Dr. Mrs Catherine Acholonu, author, researcher, playwright and Senior Special Adviser to President Obasanjo in the 4th Republic;Eze Dr. Patrick II ChineduAcholonu, Igwe XI, Duru IX of OrluGedegwum.
The footballerSamuel Okwaraji who died playing for Nigeria hails from Umudioka Orlu, hence the city's main stadium name, Umuowa. The former governor of the state, ChiefAchike Udenwa, hails from Amaifeke Orlu while the immediate past governor, and current Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District and Chairman of House Committee on Culture & TourismOwelle Rochas Okorocha hails from Ogboko where theEastern Palm University is located, in the outskirts of the city. Orlu Senatorial Zone has produced the highest number of governors in Imo State.
Other notable residents include:
Orlu Local Government Area consists of over thirty-three autonomous communities. They include towns like:[12]
TheRoman Catholic Diocese of Orlu (LatinDioecesis Orluanus) was erected on November 29, 1980, and houses the Holy Trinity Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in west and central Africa.Augustine T. Ukwuoma succeeded BishopGregory O. Ochiagha who had served as theBishop of Orlu since its creation. Orlu is also the location of Nigeria's only parish of thePriestly Fraternity of St. Peter (theNne Enyemaka Shrine). It also has a diocese of the Anglican communion.The region also has a number of orthodox and Protestant churches to boost its Christian activities.
In addition, there exist an Anglican Diocese of Orlu with its headquarters at Nkwerre created by the Anglican church of Nigeria in 1984 with the Rt.Revd S. Ebo as the first bishop, today, The Anglican diocese of Orlu has over 23 Archdeaconries, more than 55 parishes and over 150 priests, making it the second largest diocese in imo state after the Anglican diocese of Owerri with over 50,000 parishioners
The average annual temperature ranges from 66 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, rarely falling below 58 or rising over 89 degrees.[13][14]
Orlu is an emeritussister city with:[15]
Austin, United States
Orlu travel guide from Wikivoyage
05°47′47″N07°02′20″E / 5.79639°N 7.03889°E /5.79639; 7.03889
State capital:Owerri | ||
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