It is a truism that a tree does not make a forest, but there could be a tree that stands out in the forest like a colossus, shielding other trees and animals.
The history of the creation of Dunukofia Local Government cannot be complete without the tireless efforts of some eminent sons of the local government area especially Prince Engr. Arthur Eze, Ozoigbondu, Ebube Ukpo, who could be best described as the “Giant redwood” of the local government area.
The creation of the local government area began with the vigorous agitation by Dunukofia clan against the division of its communities into two separate divisions of Awka and Onitsha by the British coloniala masters when they settled in the region in 1906. Ukpo, Ifitedunu, and Ukwulu were in Awka Division and they attended Abagana native Court while Umunnachi and Umudioka were in Onitsha Division and were attending Ogidi native Court under Onitsha division.
This agitation led the District Officer, Awka Division, Mr. A.F.B. Bridges to visit the clan in 1932 and to come up with a report christened ‘Umudunukofia’ clan, Awka and Onitsha Division. This report received the nod and signature of Mr. W.H.L Lyod, the Acting Resident, Onitsha province on December 6, 1932, and was subsequently submitted to the office of the Honourable Secretary, Southern Provinces, Enugu for consideration and approval. In 1933, this report received the attention of the Chief Secretary to the Government, Lagos and was given provisional approval for the clan to come together with a slight modification. However, the approval did not see the light of the day until after the Nigeria/Biafra civil war.
Several years later, through the outstanding efforts of Prince Eze, the dream of the reunification became a reality in December, 1996 with the creation of the local government are. It became a political and social reunion of these culturally affiliated communities of Ukpo, Ifitedunu, Umunnachi, Umudioka, Ukwulu and Nawgu.
Created by the regime of General Sani Abacha, the local government area shares boundaries with communities in Awka North, Idemili North, Njikoka and Oyi Local Government areas. The building of a permanent structure for its headquarters at its current location along Enugu-Onitsha expressway began in 1997 but was abandoned. Later in 2005, the administration of Dr. Chris Ngige inspected the abandoned building to ascertain its durability. Immediately after the visit, the Ngige administration began the construction of two bungalows to be used as offices. These buildings were completed and commissioned for use on April 13, 2005. Same year, another office block was built to accommodate some health staff of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Ukpo Annex who were displaced.
In 2008, the government of Anambra State under Governor Peter Obi awarded the main secretariat building for completion. The secretariat was completed and commissioned on March 21, 2011. The completion of the secretariat helped to address the office challenges of workers in the council area and also gave the local government a befitting headquarters.
The council area has seen the administration of many sole administrators, elected and appointed transition committee chairmen who made varying efforts to bring the local government to its enviable status. Today, the local government area is chaired by Mr Augustine Nnoyelum Onyemaobi. He was appointed by Mr. Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Charly Nwamgbafor, Odenigbo, in 2022. Since his assumption of duty as the transition committee chairman of the local government area, Mr Onyemaobi has shown extraordinary leadership in actualizing the dreams of the founding fathers of the Local Government area. He has vowed to raise the bar of delivering good governance under his administration. One of the major steps he has in this wise was the recent hosting of Dunukofia at 26 celebration- a one week event that drew the sons and daughters of the council area across party, religion and cultural divides to come together and contribute to the betterment of the local government area.
Once again special appreciation must go to Prince Engr. Arthur Eze for his continued contributions to the steady development of Dunukofia local government area and to many other sons and daughters of the council area who have remained committed to the development of the council area. Also special appreciation must go to all the members of Dunukofia Solution Team and the Silver Jubilee Plus celebration committee, led by Barr. Chijioke Ozumba.
Written by AUGUSTINE ONYEMAOBI
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