About IUDU, United Kingdom
Who We Are
We are the Idumuje-Ugboko Development Union (IUDU), UK Branch.
Our Mission
To build a Progressive, Prosperous and an Egalitarian community.
Our Aims
- To unify and support all Idumuje-Ugboko indigenes residents in the United Kingdom.
- Provide financial support for infrastructure projects in Idumuje-Ugboko.
- Preserve and propagate the rich history and socio-cultural heritage of Idumuje-Ugboko.
- Â Liaise and maintain through the National Executive Committee (NEC), a cordial working relationship with other affiliated arms of IUDUÂ .
The History of IUDU- UK Branch
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1960s
The Idumuje-Ugboko Development Union (IUDU) London branch is an independent arm of the wider IUDU.
This branch was founded in the 1960s by the late Mr Obika Chukwuka, Prince Eke Patrick Nwoko, the late Mr Chukwuka Omezi and Mr Francis Isichei. Initially, the paramount objective was to provide an academic scholarship for intelligent Idumuje-Ugboko sons and daughters who did not have the financial means to further their secondary education.
This visionary and charitable objective scored some early successes. Two sons of Idumuje-Ugboko were successfully seen through their secondary school education by the Union's munificent gift. Sadly, the relocation of the majority of its founding members from the UK to Nigeria did not just stop entire scholarship project in its tracks, the Union was also mothballed. -
1980s to 1990s
A succession of unfortunate incidents in the late 1980s to the early 1990s resulted in the reconstitution of this body by Mr Ben Omezi, Ned Nwoko and Victor Omezi, albeit with a different set of aims and objectives. In consequence, the union was reconstituted in 1996 but was unceremoniously dissolved in 1998. It was briefly refloated in 2001.
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2003 to Date
Finally, after a long interval of dormancy, and following a prompt by Chief Akpakwu who was on a visit to the UK, the Union was relaunched on Sunday, June 29, 2003 by Mr Ben Omezi and the late Mr Obika Chukwuka.
Mr Ben Omezi is the current President, and Dr Ben Onwochei, the Patron.
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The Founding Members
The Late E. Chukwuka
Mr Francis Isichei
The Late Eric Omezi
Mr Patrick Nwoko
A brief History Of Idumuje-Ugboko
The Location
Located in Aniocha, North of Delta State, Nigeria, Idumuje-Ugboko is bordered to the East by Idumuje-Unor, Ekpon or Akpu to the North West, Ohodua to the North East, Igbodo to the West and Onicha-Ugbo to the South.
The Language
The spoken language is Enu-ani, a variant of the Ibo language.
The History
Idumuje-Ugboko was founded in the 17th century. Historians are of the opinion that a core group of settlers led by Nwoko, his siblings and relations, Omezi, Obodo, Obu, Iyitor, Ina, Osei, Ekwulu, Oko-Onyeme, Mokobia, Osigwe, Igha and Ikohue founded Idumuje-Ugboko, but not before a majority of them initially settled in Idumuje-Unor. For a more detailed look at the history of Idumuje-Ugboko, please go to www.idumuje-Ugboko.com
The Villages Of Idumuje-Ugboko
Idumuje-Ugboko is made of four villages. They are Atuma, Ogbe-Obi, Ogbe-Ofu and Onicha-Ukwu (Ogbe-Akwu). The four villages are reputed to have migrated from various towns and kingdoms in and around the present states of Delta, Edo and Ondo states. For example, the Atuma village is said to have migrated from Owo, a town in the present-day Ondo state, the Ogbe-Ofu from Emu, an Ishan speaking town in the present-day Edo state, the Ogbe-Obi from Uzebu in the old  Benin kingdom and Onicha-Ukwu from Onicha-Ukwu, a town in the present-day Delta state. Onicha-Ukwu is the last of the villages to settle in Idumuje-Ugboko.
There are sixteen Ebos and twenty-four quarters, commonly known as Idumu.
The sixteen Ebos are as follows:
Ogbe Ofu
Idumu Obu
Idumu Uzu
Idumu Okhohue
Idumu Uhu
Atuma
Idumu Onije
Idumu Ina
Idumu Ekwulu
Idumu Ona
Ikoko Iyala
Idumu Ezi
Ogbe Obi
Idumu Isagbeme
Umu Omile
Ahama
Onicha Ukwu
Idumu Uwadia
Idumu Ukwu
Idumu Isa
The four villages are made up of the following twenty-three quarters
Atuma
Idumu Onije
Idumu Ona
Idumu Ina
Idumu Ekwulu
Ikoko Iyala
Idumu Ezi
Ogbe Ofu
Idumu Ebe
Idumu Anya
Idumu Ukwunne
Idumu Osu
Idumu Esi
Idumu Omoidia
Idumu Uzu
Ogozar
Onicha Ukwu
Onicha Ukwu
Idumu Ukwu
Idumu Uwadia
Idumu Isa
Ogbe Obi
Uzebu.
Idumu-Ugo
Owu
Idumu-Isagbeme
Umu Omile
Social Institutions Of Idumuje-Ugboko
There are various social institutions that underpin the traditions and the culture of Idumuje-Ugboko. Sitting at the top of this social order is the Obi. He is seen and regarded as the chief custodian of the custom and the tradition. The other social institutions that play pivotal roles in the governance of the community are as follows:
- The chiefs – the Palace and the Onotu chiefs
- The Obi-in- Council
- The Council Of Chiefs
- The Ndi Dibie
- The Ndi Omu
- The Ndi Iche
- The Ikpala
- The Ikolo
- The General Assembly (Izu-Ani)
- The Youths
- The Development Union
The Traditional Festival
Like other Ibo communities, the Idumuje-Ugboko culture venerates the new yam festival or what is traditionally referred to as Iwa-Ji, meaning ‘the eating of the new yam’. In most Ibo cultures where this festival is observed, the ceremony is usually marked at the end of the rainy season which signals the end of the harvest season and the preparation for a new farming cycle.
In Idumuje-Ugboko, the new yam festival is usually a joyous occasion. It is always accompanied by feasting and dancing. It is also the time to give thanks to the gods for their benevolence in concluding the harvest season. The process is kicked off by the assemblage of chiefs and the paying of homage to the Obi. The feast in songs and dance called the Ogbanigbe brings down the curtain on the festival.