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Igueben

Coordinates:6°36′0″N6°35′0″E/ 6.60000°N 6.58333°E/6.60000; 6.58333
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Igueben
LGAand town
Igueben is located in Nigeria
Igueben
Igueben
Location in Nigeria
Coordinates:6°36′0″N6°35′0″E/ 6.60000°N 6.58333°E/6.60000; 6.58333
CountryNigeria
StateEdo State
Area
• Total150 sq mi (380 km2)
Time zoneUTC+1(WAT)
ClimateAw
Map

Iguebenis alocal government areaofEdo State,Nigeria.Its headquarters are located in the town of Igueben,[1][2]which has an area of 380 km2(150 sq mi) and a population of 69,639 according to the 2006 census. Thepostal codeis 310.[3]

History

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Igueben was founded around 1516 in the Southern region ofNigeria.[4]At the time, the area was part of theKingdom of Benin.Between 1515 and 1516, the Kingdom ofBeninwas at war with the Attah of theIgala Kingdom.The town was, according Dr. Christopher Okojie, settled around a camp established during this war.[4]It is part ofEsanland.[citation needed]

The area today

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The kingdom is governed by a traditional ruler, called an Onogie. The present Onogie is HRM Ehizogie Eluojerior I.[5]

Their language is a unique dialect of Edo andEsan.They also usePidgin English,which is a mixture of Portuguese, English and Esan. There is a state-run college in Igueben,[6]and many people in the area speak English.

Igueben consists of several towns. These include Eguare, Oyomo, Afuda, Idumeka, Idumonka, Uhe, Egbiki, Ekekhen Idigun, Idumogbo, Idumedo, Idumotutu, Idumogo, andOloghe.[7][8]

Administration

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The Edionwele and Edions are the most senior members of the society. The Ediowele is the most senior member of that community. The Edions are the next senior in the age group. When the Edionwele dies the most senior from the Edions will succeed him.

In the old kingdom, theOba of Beninrelied on this arm of the administrative system for the smooth running of every kingdom in the empire. They were responsible to the Enogie {local king} and the Oba in Benin City. Their duties included conferring new chieftaincy titles, preparing the empires soldiers for war and more. They held the ultimate power in their own kingdoms of the Benin Empire. Today, they continue to conduct functions like overseeing Benin customs such as traditional burial rites as established by Oba Ewuare 1 and the other Warrior Kings nearly 600 hundred years ago.

Administration of Igueben today The Enogie {the Local king} and his chiefs along with The Edionwele and Edions are responsible for the administration of Igueben based on the Benin Empire structures established over 600 years ago. They issue instructions and guidance on community events and projects.[9]This administrative group is funded directly from the Benin Royal Palace devolved funds from the National Government of Nigeria.

Below this level are the district and local groups who oversee the welfare of their local areas through established meeting groups. They discuss, plan and fund local projects. They visit families to support them for example the housebound. The local groups are effectual welfare and social security systems that ensure no member of the community is left unsupported or destitute.

Various sources of revenue fund the various meeting groups including levies and contributions from traditional rites and ceremonies like burial, public events, and donations from charity organisations (both local and international), local entrepreneurs, private and government donors.

The next group are the Youth Groups aged 12 to 25. They perform duties like ensuring security of their area by keeping out foreign troublemakers. They take on projects like road maintenance. They organise and provide social fun events like community parties.[10]

Transport

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Transportation in Igueben includes private taxis, buses, the Motor bike taxi service. Many residents also use their private cars. A modern train station has recently been completed. It has been named ChiefTom IkimiTrain Station in recognition of his contributions to developments in Igueben Local Government area. It is on the line from Warri to Abuja. All train services are run by theNigerian Railway Corporation.

Construction work on the trainline began in 1987. However the work was stopped and began again 2019, when the Nigerian government awarded a contract to the China Railway Construction Corporation to extend theWarri–Itakpe Railwayto Abuja and build a new port at Warri. The work was completed in 2020 with the railway and port costing a total of $3.9 billion. The Nigerian Government provided 15% of the funds. The Chinese Railway CorporationChinese Railway Construction Corporationprovided 10%. The remaining 75% came from a Chinese bank. Since completed, The Chinese Railway Construction Corporation has received a concession to operate the port and railway for 30 years.

Facilities

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Major facilities include the Igueben General Hospital, the Igueben Grammar School, the Igueben College, the Igueben Mixed Secondary School, theCollege of Education Igueben,[6]the Union Bank of Nigeria PLC, the Uda Community Bank PLC,[11]primary schools, two major markets, and a Local Government Council Secretariat. There is around 22hectaresof rainforest in the Igueben area.[12]

Economy

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The primary occupation in Igueben is farming.[13]Local produce is cross-traded with the Northern parts of Nigeria. They sell food products peculiar to the savannah vegetation, such as tubular roots likeyam,cassava(garri),banana,andplantain.They buy produce peculiar to arid areas, such asbeans,onions,groundnuts,andpotatoes.Foreign exports include palm produce, rubber, andtimber.

Traditional rites

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The Igueben culture observes many traditionalritesoriginating from theirKingdom of Beninheritage. These include the following.

Burial of women Burial of women is an elaborate and personal affair involving the whole community of up to 5 days or more.

Burial Rites of a Chief,[14]Elders and Men. This is a more official affair as hereditary titles are passed down from one generation to the next. Lands and other property owned by the deceased are shared amongst the male children. Female children have no rights of inheritance.

Mourning period for the widow. This is known as theIzotan,a period of wearing black and abstaining from society activities and engagements. The Izotan can last from 5 days to one or two years depending on the choice of the bereaved family and the widow.

Educational institutions

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Igueben is home to different educational institutions, including theCollege of Education, Igueben,[6]Wisdom Group of School, Igueben, and Eguare Primary School, Eguare.

People

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See also

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References

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  1. ^"Edo state Local Government Head Quarters".edoworld.net.Retrieved2021-07-08.
  2. ^"List of Towns and Villages in Igueben LGA".Nigeria Zip Codes.2014-03-10.Retrieved2021-12-07.
  3. ^"Post Offices- with map of LGA".NIPOST. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-10-07.Retrieved2009-10-20.
  4. ^ab"Igueben".Retrieved2021-07-31.
  5. ^"Nigerian king visits Acadiana, reconnecting with 'royal subjects' who have migrated to U.S."WCBD News 2.2021-07-08.Retrieved2022-01-02.
  6. ^abc"Edo State College of Education, Igueben Campus – Skills for Services".Retrieved2021-07-09.
  7. ^"List of Towns and Villages in Igueben LGA".Nigeria Zip Codes.10 March 2014.Retrieved5 January2022.
  8. ^Nigeria, Media (2018-04-19)."List Of Towns And Villages In Igueben L.G.A, Edo State".Media Nigeria.Retrieved2023-04-25.
  9. ^Nimmons, Fidelia (2021).The Genius of Benin Military.UK: Amazon. pp. 65–66.ISBN9798472627764.
  10. ^Benin, Kingdom."Izotan Traditional Rites".kingdom-of-benin.weebly.Weebly.Retrieved4 May2023.
  11. ^"Uda Microfinance Bank Limited".Directory.Retrieved2021-07-14.
  12. ^"Igueben, Edo, Nigeria Deforestation Rates & Statistics | GFW".globalforestwatch.org.Global Forest Watch.Retrieved5 January2022.
  13. ^"esanland".Retrieved2023-02-03.
  14. ^Nimmons, Fidelia (2015).Revised Primary History Kingdom of Benin.UK: Amazon. pp. 27–35.ISBN978-1516972524.