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About Aba
Every city has a
memory of itself. This small city Aba, boasts highly of its
excellent friendship and has the popular name "Enyimba". It
is a city in Nigeria, located on the Aba River. It is an important
market and transportation center. Aba is gradually becoming a memory
to me. A memory so strong and delightful that nearly a day goes by
that I don't think of going back there.
I still remember
the day that I left. I was so full of excitement about moving to
another country...to the unknown. I didn't realize how much I was
leaving behind in my haste to find something "new", I still
remember 'Ama-awusa' at night, I miss sitting in front of our house
and watching people walk by, but mostly I keep thinking that maybe
everything was just right then.
Aba, the 'Enyimba
city' makes up the richest ethnic mix in Nigeria. Perhaps
one of the most overlooked things about Aba are the people who keep
it going. The one thing that I loved about Aba growing up is that
everyone who lived there cared about it, and let us not forget that
Aba used to be an envy for all cities in Nigeria
once upon a time.
Aba only takes one
visit to keep you coming back time after time. Where else can you
mingle with your favorite friends, let alone have a chance to be
yourself? In Aba you can spend quality time at Mr Bigg's or
Crunchies with people who share your family ideals while enjoying
new friendships in such natural surroundings.
The Aba people are very entrepreneurial.
Textiles, processed palm oil, pharmaceuticals,
soap, plastics, cement, footwear, and cosmetics are manufactured in
Aba. Many of the home-made products generally come from Aba.
Major industries include Nigerian Breweries, Aba Textile Mills,
International Glass Industries.
Aba offers excellent restaurants serving a diversity of
cuisines. The best nigerian foods, such as Jollof Rice, stewed rice,
garri with Okra or Egusi soup, pounded yam with pepper soup, Isi-ewu
are available in all the restaurants. You can also go to Ama-awusa
at night to get the best suya with traditional palm wine. Chinese
restaurants are also in Aba. Fast food places with snack bars are
also found. Places like Ndafia, Crunchies , Mr Bigg's also serve
snacks.
Aba has a school of
arts and science, secondary schools, a teacher-training college, and
several technical and trade institutes.
The city of Aba has a population of about 1.1million
(est. 2004).
Tourist Attractions
Aba foremost
electronic and indigenous technology
Aba central market
Ariaria Market, Aba
Education
Primary schools
Some of the well known primary schools include:
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Owerri Road Primary School
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Santa Maria Primary School
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Cameroun Barracks Primary School
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Golf Course Primary School
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St Bridget Primary School
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Abayi Umuocham Primary School
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Constitution Crescent Primary School
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Ndoki Road Primary School
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Danfodio Road Primary School
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Ehere Road Primary School
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Azikiwe Road Primary School
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Tenant Road Primary School
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Market Road Primary School
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Cameroun Road Primary School
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Hospital Road Primary School
The city has well over 90 primary schools, most
running two sections of morning and afternoon. These sections, which
are individual schools by themselves, operate 07:30Hrs - 12:30Hrs
and 12:30Hrs - 17:30Hrs, all local time.
Secondary schools
There are also a number of well known secondary
schools like:
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Girls' Technical College
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Sacred Heart College
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Eziama Boys High School
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Ngwa High School
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Wilcox Memorial Comprehensive Secondary School,
Ogbor hill Aba)
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Community Girls Secondary School
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Secondary Technical School
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Nigerian Christian Seminary School
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Boys Technical College [BTC]
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Girls High School, Ogbor Hill,
Private schools
There are also numerous private schools, including:
Tertiary schools
The tertiary schools are:
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Abia State University Teaching Hospital
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Abia State Polytechnic
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School of Health Technology
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Redemtion College of Education (privately owned)
Health
Aba has a number of hospitals including Abia State
University Teaching Hospital, Wimpole Clinic, and a number of
private hospitals.
Transport
Aba is served by a station on
Nigerian Railways. A large network of private transportation
includes luxury buses that ferry people daily to various parts of
the nation. The city is second only to
Onitsha in mass transportation daily volume in the eastern part
of Nigeria. Other transportation used are motorcyclists, generally
called Okada (the name being derived from an old airline,
"Okada Air").
Sports
Enyimba International Football Club of Aba, popularly called
“The Peoples Elephant”, is the town's most popular football club.
Enyimba FC's entire winning track-record is the richest among all
Nigerian football clubs. With 2
CAF Champions League Trophies, and a number of trophies, won
locally, the club is currently ranked 2nd in the CAF Club Rankings.
Aside from these famous qualities as a city, Aba has also
acquired a reputation as a “holy ground” with the dedication of the
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a Christian denomination with 12
million members worldwide. The temple is located on the Upper Aba/Okpu-Umuobo
Road, Off Aba/Owerri Road, in Aba. It occupies 1, 080 square meters
or 11, 500 square feet of the floor.
The easiest way to travel to Aba, Nigeria internationally is
to fly to Port Harcourt, Nigeria through London or Paris, which is
about 33.9miles drive to Aba. The second option is to fly to Lagos.
There are daily flights to Lagos from both London and Paris as well
as other countries. If you fly in to lagos you will need to arrange
a flight from Lagos to Owerri or Port Harcourt to get to Aba.
Our sunny weather is comfortable and everybody is friendly.
Next time you are in Nigeria, don't forget to visit Aba, the Enyimba
city.
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