The name Ümu-Odia” simply means the children (descendants) of Odia. The child Odia was delivered at home by Idilibe, daughter of Igbolokwu, before she got married to Uruoga son of Ezikwelle. Her brother’s name was Okeagu. Hence the reason why sexual relationship/marriage is still forbidden amongst the sons and daughter of Umuodia and Uruoga.
Igbolokwu was the son of Uru-owelle, son of Nkwelle, son of Ogidi, son of Inwelle, son of Ezeachumagha, the great warrior from Nri.
Immediately Idilibe got married, Igbolokwu and his wife took the child Odia their grand son and nurtured him to maturity. At the time Ogbolokwu joined his ancestors, Odia was still very young in age, and Okeagu who was already a grown up with wife saw the absence of their Father as a great opportunity to collect all the family lands. Hence the reason, Umuodia community does not have a sizeable land mass till date. About 70% of the land presently owned by Umuodia community were purchased from Okeagu, Ezeani and Ezikwelle communities.
Even the very large expanse of land that originally belonged to Umu-odia in the present day Nkwelle-Ogidi community land, which formerly belonged to solely to Uruowelle communities was lost to the greed of Ezikwelle people during the land court case between Uruowelle and neighbouring towns Oze, Nkwelle and Azu-Ogbunike.
Uruowelle a small, populated community who were predominantly peasant farmers beckoned on their supposedly brothers Ezikwelle for a loan to enable them sustained the court case, when it was becoming difficult to meet up with the financial demands of the court case from the monthly levies from every grown-up man in the community. But to their utmost surprise, Ezikwelle bluntly turned down this request. Ezikwelle population at that time was about five times bigger than Uruowelle population.
On a second visit to Ezikwelle for financial assistance(loan) when the court case was tilting in favour of the three towns that consolidated their cases against Uruowelle, Ezikwelle cunningly agreed to offer financial assistance but on the condition that the Uruowelle land would a community land not on 50/50 ownership deal, since the levies would be per person and not on 50/50 basis.
Uruowelle has no choice but to accept the shylock/Jacob’s type assistance from Ezikwelle. As the saying goes, it is better to cut the tail of an animal, than losing it completely. This is the reason, Uruowelle land that extends from buildings market to Oze, Nkwelle and Azu-Ogbunike is being shared equally to all the family members of Nkwelle-Ogidi. Simple mathematics shows that Ezikwelle community is now enjoying ownership of about 75% of the traditional Uruowelle land due to their large population. It is a pity.
The greed attitude of Ezikwelle community may be borne out of the fact that apart from Uruagu and Okpaeri, majority of the people living in Ezikwelle in the present day are visitors, hence the reason for their non-compassionate behaviour then.
Odia had two sons – Ofuogoli and Ejiofor
Ofuogoli had two sons – Abawii and Nkika
Ejiofor had three sons : Ogodu-abuoku, Obuli and Ozonu.
THE DESCENDANTS OF OFUOGOLI
Abawii : Chiejina Amanchukwu, Ekezie , Okonkwo Iwuanugo, Okongwu Ubom, Onuekwusi Igboanugo.
Nkika : Onyekwelu/Nwabuisis, Aniebue/Umerah
DESCENDANTS OF EJIOFOR
Ogoduabuoku : Okoye, Onwubufor, and Oguno*
Obuli : Onyuma, Nwokolo, Prof Chinua’s father, Abide*
Ozonu : Afumuohe
Afumuohe married three wives by name
Ughanaku: Ekesiobi, Anyaeji, Okafor, Anene, Anwuruebo, Ibegbu, Iloka.
Nwanyi abachi: Okoye Anabalogu, Uzochina, Okonkwo agu.
Onumalu : Obiozor, Okafor, Okeke.
The full details of the genealogy of Umu-odia is contained in the Umuodia lineage power point version on this website.
Today, by the grace of God, Odia has grown in leaps and bounds and very richly blessed with abundance of human resources and talents – enjoying peace and unity as the hallmark of their strength, oneness and progressive development.