The article provides a historical account of the founding of Owerri, a city in Imo State, Nigeria. It traces the city's origins back to the 14th century when Ekwem Oha, the founding father, fled from Umuori Village due to a life-threatening dispute with his brother Ndum over the sharing of a funeral cow. The dispute arose after their father's death, and despite Ekwem being the first son and traditionally entitled to certain parts of the cow, Ndum, who purchased the cow, disagreed. The local elders sided with tradition, prompting Ndum to plot against Ekwem, who then escaped to Egbu and eventually settled on a hilltop now known as Ugwu Ekwema. The name 'Owerri' is derived from the relief expressed by Ekwem and his family upon settling, which translates to 'He has taken what is his right.' The British later anglicized the name from Owere to Owerri when they made it a Divisional and later a Provincial Headquarters.

The article provides a historical account of the founding of Owerri, a city in Imo State, Nigeria. It traces the city's origins back to the 14th century when Ekwem Oha, the founding father, fled from Umuori Village due to a life-threatening dispute with his brother Ndum over the sharing of a funeral cow. The dispute arose after their father's death, and despite Ekwem being the first son and traditionally entitled to certain parts of the cow, Ndum, who purchased the cow, disagreed. The local elders sided with tradition, prompting Ndum to plot against Ekwem, who then escaped to Egbu and eventually settled on a hilltop now known as Ugwu Ekwema. The name 'Owerri' is derived from the relief expressed by Ekwem and his family upon settling, which translates to 'He has taken what is his right.' The British later anglicized the name from Owere to Owerri when they made it a Divisional and later a Provincial Headquarters.