Aerial view of Owukpa in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State (PHOTOS)

Owukpa, an antiquated city occupies a strategic position on the edge of the food basket state, a force to reckon with in the agricultural terrain with a sprinkle of academics.

Beyond reasonable doubt one would concur that this community dominated by over 150,000 heads is indeed blessed. In fact, it’s an enigma in the eyes of other neighbouring towns and villages. A hinterland comprising two juxtaposed communities: Ehaje and Itabono.

Owukpa is bordered by big cities such as: Enugu, Ebonyi and Okpokwu,

The name Owukpa is derived from the word Ayi-okpa or Owo-Okpa which means descendants of the river. The name is apt because the town, founded right on Ojogwu hill, is encircled by three rivers – Awube, Adu and Okpokwu.

 

At least there are no less than ten markets in and around the town – Ukwo Igbiji, Ahor Ai Famu, Aho Ugbugbu (Ogbor), Ahor Okpudu, Ede Ejaa, Eke Onyirada, Ede Ipole Owukpa, Eke Akpa and Ede Ai Uja.  But the most popular is the Ukwo market day.

Ironically, the market is but a conglomerate of small huts, roofed with corrugated iron sheet. Yams, banana, cassava, groundnuts and livestock, especially goats, as well as palm products – Palm oil, palm kernel, palm wine – are some of the major food commodities in the market.

On a typical market day, people from 42 villages, those that make up the community and beyond, converge on the market square, which also attracts traders from neighboring towns in the state and from the south eastern parts of the country.

Prominent sons of the land include: the late Isaac Oduh (Ejekwote K’Idoma), Engr. Mathias Adoyi, Ajinwa Onoja, Dr. Edwin Obeh Idoko (Ohonyeta K’Idoma) Comrade Boniface Apeh, Chief Ebenezer Ameh Odoh, Mama Titi Enenche (Mother of Dr. Paul Enenche), Isaac Ojile, Ameh Owo.

Others include Amb Godwin Agamah, Bar Boniface Agada Apochi, Comrade Paulinus Igba, Engr Mayas Adoyi, Dr. Austine Ameh, Onoja Press, Engr Ada Chenge, Atu Ugwu (Atu-Tech), Ali Adoyi, Innocent Akor, Fab Agbo, Hourable Christopher Obute, former commissioner of Finance in Benue State and hoste of others.

However, there is a puzzle in the community that is yet to be solved: “No matter how much you know about Owukpa, you will never know what Akatekwe means.”

Here are some aerial pictures of the community as capture by Google Map.