Nsukka

{{Short description|Local government area and town in Enugu State, Nigeria}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=January 2023}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2021}}

{{EngvarB|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}} 
{{Infobox settlement
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|name                   =Nsukka<!-- at least one of the first two fields must be filled in -->
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|image_skyline          = Ariel_view_of_Nsukka_from_the_mountains.jpg
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|image_caption          = View of Nsukka from a neighboring hill
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|subdivision_name1      = [[Enugu State]]
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|leader_title1           = Local Government Chairman
|leader_name1            = Walter Ozioko ([[Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)|PDP]])
|established_title      =  <!-- Settled -->
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<!-- Area    --------------------->
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|area_total_km2           = 5,545.38
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|elevation_m            =430
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<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of               =2006 Census
|population_footnotes           =<ref name=Umuahia_population>{{cite web| url=http://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/nbsapps/Connections/Pop2006.pdf| title=Legal Notice on Publication of the Details of the Breakdown of the National and State Provisional Totals 2006 Census| publisher=Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette| date=15 May 2007| access-date=1 July 2010| archive-date=21 May 2013| archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6GlkeapzO?url=http://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/nbsapps/Connections/Pop2006.pdf| url-status=dead}}</ref>
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|module={{Infobox mapframe|wikidata=yes|zoom=8|marker=village|coord={{WikidataCoord|display=i}}}}
|postal_code_type       = 3-digit postal code prefix
|postal_code            = 410
|area_code             =
|iso_code              = NG.EN.NS
|blank_name             = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
|blank_info             = [[Tropical savanna climate|Aw]]
|website                =
|footnotes              =
|blank_name_sec1= National language
|blank_info_sec1= [[Igbo language|Igbo]]
}}
'''Nsukka''' is a town and a Local Government Area in [[Enugu State]], Nigeria.  Nsukka shares a common [[border]] as a town  with [[Edem]], [[Opi (archaeological site)]], [[Ede-Oballa]], and [[Obimo]].

The [[postal code]] of the area is 410001 and 410002 respectively referring to [[University of Nigeria]] Campus, and Nsukka Urban.<ref>{{cite web | title = Post Offices- with map of LGA | website= nipost.gov.ng | url = http://www.nipost.gov.ng/PostCode.aspx | access-date = 20 October 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091007011423/http://www.nipost.gov.ng/PostCode.aspx | archive-date = 7 October 2009 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

== History ==

Nsukka is made up of [https://sunnewsonline.com/tag/nkpunano-community-in-nsukka-local-government-area-of-enugu-state/?amp Mkpunano], [[Nru Nsukka|Nru]], and Ihe'n Owerre. Presently, there is an erroneous trend of referring to all the towns under Enugu North Senatorial Zone as Nsukka. This trend could be as a result of Nsukka housing the [[headquarters]] of the now defunct Nsukka province under the colonial rule.

Nsukka is also a local government area and comprises several towns including Nsukka the host to the first indigenous university in Nigeria, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

Nsukka is an agricultural-trade centre for the yams, cassava (manioc), corn (maize), taro, pigeon peas, and palm oil and kernels produced by the local Igbo (Ibo) people. Weaving is a traditional local craft. Coal deposits have been discovered east of Nsukka around Obolo, a town on the main Onitsha-Makurdi road.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nsukka {{!}} Nigeria {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Nsukka |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

People in Nsukka speak central Igbo and Nsukka dialect, a sub-dialect of larger [[Igbo language]].

The influence of Nsukka people was felt as far as [[Idah]], the Achadu Oko Attah clan in Idah historically migrated from Nsukka.

'''Nsukka's ancient wars'''

Nsukka in the 18th and 19th century had one of the best fighting forces in what is present-day [[Enugu North|Enugu-North]] which they employed in waging war against their neighbours in order to gain more territories for their rising population and for other purposes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-21 |title=History Of Nsukka LGA, Enugu State |url=https://www.medianigeria.com/history-of-nsukka-lga-enugu-state/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=Media Nigeria |language=en-US}}</ref> Each community that made up the town of Nsukka had stationed in them a fighting force made up of people from that community.<ref name=":4" />

Nsukka's numerous wars with her neighbours were usually successful such that some surrounding communities requested help from Nsukka to protect them from their attackers.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2020-08-02|title=The Death of Arua Ugwuoke and Nsukka's War with Ede-Ọbara|url=https://ekeneugwuanyi.com/2020/08/02/the-death-of-arua-ugwuoke-and-nsukkas-war-with-ede-obara/|access-date=2020-09-19|website=Ekene Ugwuanyi|language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=August 2021}}</ref>

Another instance of Nsukka's expansionist bid was the war with Ejuona-Obukpa (a community in [[Otukpa|Obukpa]]) which eventually ended in the annexing of a part of Ejuona-Obukpa. According to D. C. Ugwu, this war should not be viewed as one between Nsukka and the entire Obukpa as Ejuona (the involved community) refused the assistance of the rest of Obukpa.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Ugwu|first=D. C.|title=This is Obukpa: The History of a Typical Ancient State|publisher=Fourth Dimension Publishers|year=1985|isbn=9789781562884|location=Enugu|pages=3}}</ref>

By the time the war ended, Nsukka succeeded in taking parts of Ejuona-Obukpa, almost wiping out one village (Umugboguru) of all its inhabitants in the process.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Ozioko|first=M. A.|title=Obukpa: Past and Present|publisher=De-Adroit Innovation|year=2005|location=Enugu|pages=55–56}}</ref>

Nsukka is the second largest town in Enugu state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enugu State Government |url=https://www.enugustate.gov.ng/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=www.enugustate.gov.ng |language=en-US}}</ref> The people of Nsukka are deeply religious and most of the indigenes of this geographical area are traditional religion adherents.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Uwaegbute |first=Kingsley Ikechukwu |date=2021-01-02 |title=Christianity and Masquerade Practices Among the Youth in Nsukka, Nigeria |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00020184.2021.1886049 |journal=African Studies |language=en |volume=80 |issue=1 |pages=40–59 |doi=10.1080/00020184.2021.1886049 |s2cid=233413569 |issn=0002-0184}}</ref> They celebrate a popular masquerade festival known as "Omabe festival" every year.<ref name=":3" /> The essence of<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-10 |title=After 25 years, Omabe Festival returns to Enugu community |url=https://newtelegraphng.com/after-25-years-omabe-festival-returns-to-enugu-community/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=New Telegraph |language=en-US}}</ref> the festival is show the indigenes' reverence for their Chi (i.e. Personal god). Also, the Omabe festival enables them to strengthen the relationship between different communities that made up of this geographical area.

The Omabe is notable for its magical and stylistic displays.

==Climate==
{{Weather box
|location = Nsukka
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 36.1
|Feb record high C = 36.9
|Mar record high C = 37.8
|Apr record high C = 36.7
|May record high C = 35.0
|Jun record high C = 33.3
|Jul record high C = 35.0
|Aug record high C = 32.8
|Sep record high C = 32.8
|Oct record high C = 34.4
|Nov record high C = 35.0
|Dec record high C = 35.6
|year record high C = 37.8
|Jan high C = 33.5
|Feb high C = 34.9
|Mar high C = 34.7
|Apr high C = 33.6
|May high C = 32.0
|Jun high C = 30.5
|Jul high C = 29.5
|Aug high C = 29.6
|Sep high C = 30.2
|Oct high C = 31.2
|Nov high C = 32.6
|Dec high C = 32.9
|year high C = 32.1
|Jan mean C = 25.6
|Feb mean C = 27.2
|Mar mean C = 28.3
|Apr mean C = 27.4
|May mean C = 26.6
|Jun mean C = 25.5
|Jul mean C = 25.0
|Aug mean C = 24.8
|Sep mean C = 24.8
|Oct mean C = 25.3
|Nov mean C = 26.0
|Dec mean C = 25.6
|year mean C = 26.0
|Jan low C = 20.3
|Feb low C = 22.8
|Mar low C = 23.9
|Apr low C = 23.9
|May low C = 23.1
|Jun low C = 22.6
|Jul low C = 22.3
|Aug low C = 22.3
|Sep low C = 22.1
|Oct low C = 22.3
|Nov low C = 21.6
|Dec low C = 20.0
|year low C = 22.3
|Jan record low C = 12.8
|Feb record low C = 12.8
|Mar record low C = 16.1
|Apr record low C = 19.4
|May record low C = 19.4
|Jun record low C = 18.9
|Jul record low C = 19.4
|Aug record low C = 18.9
|Sep record low C = 18.3
|Oct record low C = 18.9
|Nov record low C = 14.4
|Dec record low C = 12.2
|year record low C = 12.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 18.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 15.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 70.3
|Apr precipitation mm = 130.1
|May precipitation mm = 217.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 251.9
|Jul precipitation mm = 241.9
|Aug precipitation mm = 237.1
|Sep precipitation mm = 292.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 200.9
|Nov precipitation mm = 12.1
|Dec precipitation mm = 7.7
|year precipitation mm = 1695.4
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 1.4
|Feb precipitation days = 1.2
|Mar precipitation days = 3.9
|Apr precipitation days = 6.8
|May precipitation days = 12.2
|Jun precipitation days = 13.7
|Jul precipitation days = 15.6
|Aug precipitation days = 15.3
|Sep precipitation days = 17.8
|Oct precipitation days = 12.2
|Nov precipitation days = 1.3
|Dec precipitation days = 0.7
|year precipitation days = 102.1
|time day = 15:00 [[Standard time|LST]]
|Jan humidity = 34.3
|Feb humidity = 37.4
|Mar humidity = 45.6
|Apr humidity = 56.4
|May humidity = 63.6
|Jun humidity = 68.5
|Jul humidity = 71.3
|Aug humidity = 70.8
|Sep humidity = 70.3
|Oct humidity = 66.4
|Nov humidity = 50.5
|Dec humidity = 38.7
|year humidity = 56.1
|Jan sun = 186.0
|Feb sun = 173.6
|Mar sun = 182.9
|Apr sun = 183.0
|May sun = 186.0
|Jun sun = 153.0
|Jul sun = 117.8
|Aug sun = 117.8
|Sep sun = 123.0
|Oct sun = 173.6
|Nov sun = 219.0
|Dec sun = 217.0
|year sun = 2032.7
|Jand sun = 6.0
|Febd sun = 6.2
|Mard sun = 5.9
|Aprd sun = 6.1
|Mayd sun = 6.0
|Jund sun = 5.1
|Juld sun = 3.8
|Augd sun = 3.8
|Sepd sun = 4.1
|Octd sun = 5.6
|Novd sun = 7.3
|Decd sun = 7.0
|yeard sun = 
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/NI/65257.TXT
| title = Enugu Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = 22 July 2016}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (extremes)<ref name = DWD>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_652570_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Enugu / Nigeria
| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 22 July 2016}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

== Cultural practices ==

=== ''Eshu'' (cow) funeral rituals ===
{{For|more information about Igbo religion and cultural practices|Odinala}}
''Eshu'' is an Igbo breed of cow used in a funeral rite in the Nsukka cultural area of [[Igboland]]. Many factors influence if someone will receive funeral rites, such as how and when they die, their marital status, and if they performed the same rites for their own parents. If someone qualifies, then the rite is performed to ensure that the dead can rest peacefully and to lift them to a higher position within the spirit world. There are many animals which can be used and each animal has a different significance. The cow is the highest ranked among those used in the ritual.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ossai|first=Anayo Benjamin|date=2016|title=Cow(Eshu) ritual in the funeral rite: the significance in the Nsukka cultural area of Igboland|url=https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jrhr/article/view/141460|journal=Journal of Religion and Human Relations|language=en|volume=8|issue=2|pages=35–54|doi=10.4314/jrhr.v8i2|doi-broken-date=31 January 2024 |issn=2006-5442}}</ref>

=== Ndishi tradition ===
In traditional Igbo society, men's dominance was total. Women were to be seen but not to be heard: it was a man's world. Whether in the day to day governance, economic activities, religion, among others, women played a peripheral role in the society. A man could marry as many wives as he wants. The younger wives could be the age mates of his first set of children. Whether the husband is virile enough to satisfy the innumerable wives is hardly taken into consideration. To check marital infidelity on the part of the women in this polygamous society, the Nsukka Igbo instituted the Ndishi/Nna tradition. &nbsp;The Ndishi/Nna tradition connotes a spiritual avowal among the Nsukka people which origin is embedded in myth. The tradition forbids any married woman from engaging in any form of extra-marital affairs or assisting the relations without express permission of the husband. Women from other parts of Igboland who are married to the men of this area are usually forewarned about the efficacy of this tradition. It is the general belief among the people that any such act attracts the wrath of the gods, which results to instant madness for the transgressor. Employing qualitative approach which includes, participant observation, indepth interviews and oral tradition, the researchers explored the potency of this tradition in checking marital infidelity. &nbsp;Enugu-Ezike, Obollo, and Imilike communities which have distinct cultural practices among Nsukka people were selected for the study. Johannes Andenaees's theory of punishment and deterrence would be applied.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Ngozika Obi-Ani|last2=Chiemezie Atama|last3=Charity. N. Onyishi|date=2016|title=Ndishi/ Nna Tradition among Nsukka Igbo: Crude Tool in a Man's World|publisher=University of Nigeria|url=http://rgdoi.net/10.13140/RG.2.1.2576.1529|doi=10.13140/RG.2.1.2576.1529}}</ref>

=== Masquerade ===
Nsukka is known to be rich in tradition and it is one of the Igbo communities that still upholds her traditional practices especially the masquerade festival.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Igbo Culture Is Superb: Watch Nsukka Masquerade (Oriokpa) | website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeXfXsnEmcE}}</ref> These masquerades comes in different colors and shapes, some are beautifully made while some are tattered.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Ikem |first=Felix |date=January 30, 2019 |title=Masquerades of terror in Nsukka |url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/masquerades-of-terror-in-nsukka/ |website=The Sun: Voice of the Nation}}</ref>  The Nsukka masquerade assumes different names in different communities. In Obollo Afor, it is called Akatakpa; in Igbo Etiti, it is known as Odo; in Orba it is known as Ogede; in Nsukka, it is called Oriokpa or Omaba.<ref name=":2" /> In olden days, masquerades were a rallying point as they performed different functions ranging from entertainment to peace making, social control, and it was also used for security purposes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 22, 2022 |title=How Masquerade Brought Mayhem in Nsukka Community |url=https://bellnewsonline.com/how-masquerade-brought-mayhem-in-nsukka-community/ |website=Bell News Online}}</ref>

== Sports ==
Sport is an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

* Bimfid Football Academy
* Nsukka Stadium
* UNN Sport Council
* Franco football pitch UNN
* UNN Volleyball Court
* UNN Basketball Court 2
* Hockey Pitch
* Ziks Drive Campus
* Yaka Ventures
* Lawn Tennis Pavilion
* Basket Yaka VenturesBall Court
* R & S Sports
* Squash Hall
* cricket pitch
* GoldLeaf Fitness Club.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nsukka Sports Club - Enugu |url=https://enugu.infoisinfo.ng/card/nsukka-sports-club/50613 |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=Infoisinfo |language=en-NG}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nsukka sport clubs |website=ng-check.com|access-date=2023-09-24 |url=https://ng-check.com/nsukka-sports-club/2321306.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.directory.org.ng/cgi-sys/suspendedpage.cgi?lga=enugu_nsukka |title=Archived copy |access-date=3 June 2023 |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603161551/https://www.directory.org.ng/cgi-sys/suspendedpage.cgi?lga=enugu_nsukka |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Infrastructure ==

=== Public institutions ===
The administrative offices of Nsukka are spread over various administrative buildings. The town hall with the local government chairman’s office is one of several administrative buildings in Nsukka. In 2021, former Governor of Enugu State, Governor [[Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi]] relocated the zonal offices of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to a newly constructed State Secretariat Annex at [[Ede-Oballa]]. These MDAs include Ministry of Education, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Lands and Urban Development, Office of the Auditor General (both state and local government offices), Office of the Statistician-General, PPSMB Audit Department, and Science Technical and Vocational Schools Management Board STVSMB.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 1, 2021 |title=Ugwuanyi relocates zonal offices of MDAs, agencies to Nsukka |url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/ugwuanyi-relocates-zonal-offices-of-mdas-agencies-to-nsukka/ |access-date=26 February 2024 |work=Nigerian Tribune}}</ref>

Beside the [[Nnamdi Azikiwe Library]] located in University of Nigeria, Nsukka, there is also a state library at Library Road Nsukka.

=== Hospitals ===
In Nsukka, medical care is provided by several hospitals and clinics owned by either the church, government or private individuals. Prominent among them are Bishop Shanahan Hospital located at Enugu Road, Nsukka and the University of Nigeria Medical Center.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 February 2024 |title=Nsukka Hospitals and Medical Clinics |url=https://www.finelib.com/towns/enugu-state/nsukka/hospitals-and-medical-clinics |access-date=26 February 2024 |website=Finelib}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{portal|Traditional African religion}}
{{Enugu State}}
{{Cities in Nigeria}}

{{Authority control}}
{{wikivoyage}}

[[Category:Local Government Areas in Igboland]]
[[Category:Local Government Areas in Enugu State]]
[[Category:Cities in Enugu State]]
[[Category:Sacred sites in traditional African religions]]