Esan North-East
# Esan North-East

Esan North-East is a Local Government Area located in Edo State of Nigeria. It has an estimated population of 119,346. Its headquarters are in Uromi/Uzea.

It has an area of 338 $km^2$ (131 sq mi) and a population density of 472.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,225/sq mi) (2016).

## Towns and villages

Uromi, Egbele, Unuwazi, Utako, Onewa, Awo, Uzea, Eror, Idumoza, Arue, Ubierumu-Oke, Ebue, Ewoyi, Odigwele, Eguare, Oyomon, Eko-Ibadin, Efandion, Atani, Ualor-Oke, Amedokhian, Ukoni, Ewoki, and Ebun.

## Economic mainstays

Commerce, cottage industry, agriculture, furniture making, and wood processing.

## Tourist centers and attractions

Onojie palaces.

## Natural resources

Rubber, kaolin, and timber.

## Major agricultural products

Cassava, rice, yams, maize, tomatoes, okra, melon, cocoyam, and rubber.

## Health facilities

General hospital, clinics, and maternity homes.

## Educational facilities

There are 15 secondary schools and 35 private primary schools. Among these schools are the Our Ladies of Lourd, Girls College, and Onewa Technical College.

## Geography

Esan North-East is bordered with Atani by Ubiaja, Ebhoiyi by Igueben, Ivue and Obeidu by Irrua, Uzea by Afemai, Amendokhian by Ugboha with towns in all its surroundings.

## Government

The North-East Local Government Area is divided into two constituencies. Constituency 1 comprises Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, while constituency 2 comprises Wards 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, making a total of 10 political wards represented by two representatives in the Edo State House of Assembly.

## Notable people

Esan North-East has produced well-known individuals who are popular in both state and national level. These include:

* Chief Anthony Enahoro - one of Nigeria's foremost anti-colonial and pro-democracy activists
* Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu
* Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie
* High Chief, Tony Anenih (Iyasele of Esanland), leader of the ruling PDP.
* Air Vice Marshal Anthony Ebehijele Okpere
* Ehia Olu. Akhabue
* Pastor Raymond Okpere
* Professor Mike Obadan
* Professor E. Okoeguale.
* Architect Mike Onolemhenmhen (former Minister Of Works)
* Flourish Itulua-Abumere
* Dr. Joseph Itotoh (Former Minister for State, Internal Affairs)
* Matthew Okpebholo - businessman
* Dr. Robert S. Okojie (research scientist, NASA)

## Religion

The people of Esan North-East include Christians, Migrated Muslims and African traditionalists. Before the Europeans, there existed some of the oldest examples in Africa of African traditional religion.

In 1908, Christianity came to Uromi in Esan North-East through the evangelism of a Roman Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Joseph Corbeau, a European missionary who was residing then at Ubiaja (seat of Esan-South-East Local Government Area). The people of Uromi, in support of the traditional monarch Ogbidi Okojie, accepted the new religion and after a period of catechetical instruction and evangelism, built a church on land donated by the monarch and his council of Chiefs.

