Orlu, Imo State, South East Zone, Nigeria

🇳🇬 Orlu is the second largest city in South East, Imo State, Nigeria. It has a long history and has played a critical role as the headquarters for the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and humanitarian relief agencies during the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War. The Nigerian headquarters of the British Cheshire Home is in the city. It is the second most developed city after Owerri in Imo state.

Orlu Local Government Area consists of over thirty-three autonomous communities. They include towns like Umuna, Eziachi, Obor, Umuzike, Umutanze, Obinugwu, Umudioka - from there the First Chairman, USA Chapter of the Nigerian ruling party, The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP USA Chapter), Prof. Ikegwuoha, Bernard-Thompson Onyemauchechukwu hail -, Owerre-Ebeiri the home over the longest traditional ruler in the history of Nigeria late Eze Ben Uzomah who was on the throne for over 50 years, Umuowa, Amike, Mgbee, Amaifeke, Ihioma, Okporo, Ogberuru, Obibi-Ochasi, Umuago, Umutanze and Ihitte-Owerre, Orlu is a homeland for Igbo people of Nigeria.

Commerce and industries Orlu is a home for enterprise and industry which gives it the unofficial tag of the commercial capital of Imo state. Many successful Nigerian businessmen, industrialists and champions of industries hail from its eleven local government areas that make up what is widely called Orlu Senatorial Zone. They include Orsu, Isu, Njaba, Nwangele, Nkwerre, Ideato North, Ideato South, Oru East, Oru West, Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta. The city centres of the local government area are within the host towns of Amaifeke, Ihioma/Ebenese, Umuna, Umuowa, Umutanze, Okporo, Orlu-Gedegwum and Owerre-Ebeiri.

The permanent site for various industries, state and federal agencies like the Imo 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 and a host of small and medium size chemical and pharmaceutical companies, the multi purpose Imo International Market, which houses one of the three most influential pharmaceutical markets in West Africa, are based in Orlu. This is due to the high number of Orlulites in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. Consequently, the Orlu Zonal Area has the highest concentration of indigenous pharmaceutical manufacturers and marketers in the whole of African continent. The Ogbosisi Timber centre is located within the quick expanding Orlu Urban area and the City centre. The Nigeria Immigration Training School (NITS) in Umuowa and the Technological Skills Acquisition Centre (TESAC) are based in the city.

Cultural festivals Many towns in Orlu hold cultural festivals. The people of Orlu have made important contributions to the education, sports, and political growth of Nigeria.

Orlu is a homeland for the Igbo people of Nigeria.

Autonomous communities Orlu Local Government Area consists of over thirty-three autonomous communities. They include towns like: • Alaoma Oweere-Ebeiri • Amaifeke • Amike • Eziachi • Ihioma • Ihitte-Owerre • Mgbee • Obibi-Ochasi • Obinugwu Autonomous Community • Obor • Ogberuru • Okporo • Oweer-Ebeiri • Umuago • Umudioka Ancient Kingdom • Umudioka UKWU • Umudioka-Oweere • Umueze • Umuna • Umuowa • Umutanze • Umuzike.

Missionary activities The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlu (Latin Dioecesis 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 Bishop Gregory O. Ochiagha who had served as the Bishop of Orlu since its creation. Orlu is also the location of Nigeria's only parish of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (the Nne 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 30 Archdeaconries, more than one hundred and fifty five 155 parishes and over 200 serving priests and over a thousand 1000 indigenous Anglican priests, making it the largest Diocese in imo state after seconded by the Anglican diocese of Owerri with over 50,000 parishioners.