Uzere
# Uzere

5°12′N 6°10′E﻿ / ﻿5.200°N 6.167°E﻿ / 5.200; 6.167

Uzere formerly known as "Uzei" is located in the Isoko South Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State of Nigeria. It has become one of the largest petroleum oil producing communities in Nigeria. Oil exploration started in Uzere in 1957. Uzere has two oil fields(Uzere West and Uzere East) with a total of 43 oil wells producing about 53,000 barrels per day (8,400 $m^3/d).$ Uzere has nine communities: Uhei, Ezede, Uweye, Afikioko (London Base), Uhroko (Paris), Ekregbesi, Abale, Iwre-Ezede, and Iboro.

## Government

Monarchy: Ovie (king) who doubles as the chief priest of the Eni deity.

## Climate

Uzere lies within the tropical rainforest belt with luxuriant vegetation. It experiences tropical wet and dry climate, with relatively constant temperatures throughout the course of the years.

## Natural resources

Uzere is one of the largest oil producing communities in Nigeria. The Kingdom is also known for the production of groundnut, cassava and fish. There is a saying in Isoko that, "if you love fish, then marry an Uzere man."

## Industries

Though, Uzere is known for oil exploration, it has recently developed into an industrial town with a cassava processing factory in Uwhroko community by the Local Government Authority.

## Education

There are numerous public and private schools in Uzere. They include: Uzere Grammar School, St. Paul's Schools, Elite Academy, Uzere Primary School, Ogrih Primary School, and Eni Primary School.

## Tourism

Uzere was a known tourist destination in Isoko, until December 4, 1903, when the Eni Lake "Court" was abolished by Colonial District officer Copland Crawford, calling it "trial by ordeal". The famous Eni Lake was a court for the trial of people accused of witchcraft.

   In the year the government stopped the ceremonies I and seventeen other women from Idheze were brought to Uzere. There, we had to wait till the appointed day which occurred two lunar months after our arrival. There were many other besides us who came from other places. At the appointed time the Ovie blew his horn and we set for the lake. We all went to the bank of the lake...We then took yams, touched our foreheads with and threw them into the lake as an offering to Eni. The Ovie later arrived and sat on his chair by the waterside. He prayed to Eni asking him to bless the native chalk, drown the women who were witches and save those who were not, then drew the chalk over our chests. We were told to enter the canoe, a canoe fill at that time and rowed out on the lake. When we were a long way from the shore, we were told to jump in, although I cannot swim and would drown in waist high water, yet I eaisily escaped and came safely to land, where I was greatly welcomed... of the seventeen women who came with me from Idheze, ten were drowned.

## Festivals

Eni festival is the most celebrated festival in the history of Uzere Kingdom. According to Utohware Udumubrai in his book, Uzere People and Culture in the Niger Delta, Eni festival "attracts people from all walks of life especially places where the people usually flock to Uzere to detect witchcraft...It is accompanied with much fanfare, music, cooking and eating of delicious native food. It also includes exchange of gifts". Other festivals are the annual Uzere Students' Reunion and Pageant, and the New Year's Eve Party usually hosted by Arube Dance Band of Uzere at the old market square in Uheri community.

## Health

Uzere has a cottage hospital built and equipped by the Shell Petroleum Development Company and health centers.

