Oko Town is an Igbo speaking town in south eastern Nigeria. It is one of the 16 towns that make up the geopolitical area called Orumba NorthLocal Government Area of Anambra state. It is the major economic town of the local government largely dependent on a very large student community and staff strength of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko. Oko is regarded as a citadel of learning due to the start of western educations and establishment of first polytechnic in the old Anambra State in the town. It is also widely recognized because of its erosion site which has baffled geologists for many years and records have it that it is supposedly deeper than the Grand Canyon.
Origin
Around the early 12th century, a farmer was known to have founded Oko. He was known to be a good hunter and was engaged in hunting mostly after planting season and before crops were ready for harvest. During these periods, food was usually scarce and there was always need to look for other food sources beside farm crops. Oko is famous for a few reasons;
The first mechanized palm oil processing factory in Aguata District was established in Oko in 1927 by Chief John Ifeakor, behind the present St Peter’s Catholic Church.
Politics
The first executive vice president of Nigeria, Chief Alex. I. Ekwueme was the vice president to Alhaji Shehu Shagari under the auspices of National Party of Nigeria from 1 October 1979 to 31 December 1983. Ekwueme and Shagari won the presidential election for a second term that was to run from 1983 to 1987, but their administration was toppled in a military coup and replaced by Major-General Muhammad Buhari. Oko has produced many other prominent politicians like Hon Uchenna Okonkwo-Okom who made tremendous contributions in persuading the government to address the conservation of Oko. He served as Chairman of various critical House Committees including Environment, Judiciary and Business, Privileges, Rules and Ethics. Finance and Appropriation, in Anambra House of representative between 2003 and 2007.
Health
There are many health clinics and hospitals in Oko that serve the health needs of the people, along with those of neighbouring communities. In the early 1970s and 1980s, Oko Community Hospital was a specialist hospital which served the town and various communities. There are many nurses and medical technologists who work in the hospitals.
Oko is well known for agriculture. Major food crops include assorted vegetables and fruits, yam, cassava, coco-yam, plantain, banana, oranges and maize. There are several private mechanized fish and poultry farms. Oko is also rich in minerals such as limestones in form of gravels at Ugwudibia in Uhuene axis of Eziabor, and in form of kaolin chalk at Iyi-Benji in Ezioko, and Iyi-Agu in Okeani.
Justice
Oko town has produced many legal practitioners both at the bar and bench who have made their marks in their chosen fields. These include an Appeal Court Judge; Justice Mrs Angela Otaluka, the first American Lawyer Chukwukwelu Bartholomew Okonkwo both from the Ezioko Village in Oko and many others.
Sports
Oko has produced various sporting individuals who went on to achieve national and international honours. Annual football competition among different amateur football clubs are usually held during the Christmas period. Winners are awarded cups sponsored by prominent indigenes of Oko.
