By Chuka Nnabuife
HAVE you truly discovered Anambra? What do you really know about the state?
It may sound unsophisticated — even naïve — to ask whether you have discovered Anambra State. To some, the question may appear misplaced, perhaps even mildly insulting, given how widely known the South-Eastern Nigerian state already is for its national and global landmarks. Yet the question persists for a reason: many who claim familiarity with Anambra have only skimmed its surface. Beyond the long list of great men and women and array of business enterprises as well as institutions that have roots in the state, Anambra is an astonishing spectacle and an adorable land of enriching heritages, worthy of exploration. ‘Onwa Dezemba’, a social initiative of Anambra State government, this Yuletide offers ample opportunities for the world to explore the state.
Long before colonial cartography, the territory now known as Anambra State was already distinguished by historical, environmental, spiritual and commercial landmarks. From the Anambra River (Omambala), which gave the state its name, to the mighty River Niger; from the Ulasi and Ezu rivers to Agulu Lake; from the caves of Ogbunike and Owere Ezukala to ancient sacred groves and totems—this is a landscape of rare natural wonders and enduring intrigue.
Beyond nature, Anambra is home to some of the most compelling archaeological discoveries in Africa. The Igbo-Ukwu archaeological finds, dating back to the 9th century, firmly establish Igboland as one of the earliest centres of sophisticated metallurgical production in the world—predating many civilisations in Africa, Europe and the Americas. Sites such as Obu-Gad in Agulueri and other ancestral shrines further underline the state’s deep civilisational roots, while its artistic and aesthetic traditions continue to fascinate art historians worldwide.
Taken together, Anambra’s heritage sites, iconic facilities and cultural landmarks form the basis of a compelling tourism destination—for scholarship, leisure or family travel. Many of these sites remain largely unspoilt, easily accessible and ideal for circuit tours. Notably, as is typical across the state, they are connected by good road networks.
The UNESCO-recognised Ogbunike Caves in Oyi Local Government Area—an intricate network of caves of spiritual significance, surrounded by rare woodland ecology and sustained by living oral traditions—are less than thirty minutes from the state capital, Awka.
Agulu Lake in Anaocha Local Government Area, one of Nigeria’s largest natural lakes, lies less than fifteen minutes away. On hot afternoons, crocodiles and other large reptiles surface along its banks, offering a striking spectacle visible even from the expressway bridge. A state-owned, top-class hotel with extensive facilities sits on its shoreline, making it both accessible and inviting. Nearby is Nri, the ancient spiritual heartland of the Igbo.
The Ezu River skirts Awka’s northern borders, with roads running alongside it, allowing visitors to appreciate its winding creeks and its long history as a route of seasonal migration.
About twenty-five minutes from Awka, via smoothly asphalted roads, are the Igbo-Ukwu archaeological sites — home to world-renowned bronze artefacts that testify to advanced metallurgy, ornamental sophistication and aesthetic refinement in early Igbo civilisation.
Pioneer of African archaeology research, the British scholar, Prof. Turstan Shaw, in his writings on the Igbo-Ukwu discoveries, described the Igbo (Awka–Igbo-Ukwu) area as evidence of a highly developed and sophisticated civilisation long before European contact. In substance, he noted that the finds revealed: “a people with an astonishingly advanced artistic tradition, complex religious life and a mastery of bronze casting of a quality and sophistication previously thought impossible for sub-Saharan Africa at that period.”
Shaw emphasised that the Awka–Igbo-Ukwu area demonstrated indigenous technological innovation, aesthetic refinement and organised social structures, compelling scholars to rethink assumptions about African history and early civilisation in the Niger-Benue region. Need anyone wonder why Anambra is notable for arts, culture, technology and social sophisticatation?
Onitsha, barely twenty minutes from Awka, hosts the imposing Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum. Located at the Awka Road Junction, the monument honours Nigeria’s first President — Zik of Africa — whose legacy as a political leader, scholar, media pioneer and nationalist remains profound. A short drive away lies the River Niger, spanned by the iconic bridge that has stood for over eight decades as a monument to engineering and history.
At the foot of the mausoleum is Onitsha Main Market, widely regarded as the largest market for fast-moving consumer goods in sub-Saharan Africa. Its enduring prominence since the 1950s reflects the deep-rooted trading culture of Ndi Anambra. Nearby, at the Bridge Head, Onitsha also hosts the largest wholesale pharmaceutical market in West Africa, alongside Ochanja and Relief markets — commercial hubs that define the city’s economic pulse.
In Nnewi stands the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Mausoleum and Museum, celebrating the life and legacy of the late Igbo leader and Head of State of the defunct Republic of Biafra. The city itself, about forty-five minutes from Awka, is renowned for its industrial vitality. Nkwo Nnewi Market serves as West Africa’s hub for motor and automotive spare parts, while the city’s industrial clusters project a powerful image of indigenous enterprise and manufacturing.
A short drive from Nnewi, along the Onitsha–Owerri Expressway, the yellow-hued waters of the Ulasi River at Okija flow steadily towards the Atlantic, offering yet another natural spectacle.
Beyond history and nature, Anambra also boasts a growing collection of modern landmarks. These include the Chinua Achebe International Airport in Umueri—named after Africa’s literary icon — the Awka Millennium City, the new Government House (Light House), Dr Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka and Onitsha, the International Conference Centre in Awka, the Ekwulobia Flyover and the Solution Fun City, Awka — symbols of urban renewal and contemporary ambition.
A deliberate exploration of these sites makes for a memorable holiday, particularly during the Yuletide. This season brings Anambra’s 179 communities alive with hundreds of cultural festivals. Masquerades of astonishing variety animate village squares and streets, reaffirming the state’s reputation as a global centre of masked performance. As one walks the streets he will behold surviving vestiges of earthen walls with the uli design (uli art) murals, and buildings ardoned with carved doors, windows and balustrades, raising nostalgia of the indigenous wood carving art which awed colonialists and early missionaries about the people of the area. Traditional marriage ceremonies as well as ozo title-taking events where rich native highlife music would turn any head, along with new dance exhibitions and communal celebrations fill the calendar, turning the state into a living cultural theatre.
Add to this a rich cuisine and numerous leisure centres, and the experience is complete. Yet no tour is truly finished without a visit to Solution Fun City in Awka—a vast, purpose-built recreation and entertainment hub. Designed to cater for all ages, it offers a fitting finale to a marathon discovery of Anambra.
So, the question remains: have you truly discovered Anambra—or have you merely passed through it?
Nnabuife, Managing Director of the Anambra State Civic and Social Reformation Office (ANCISRO), writes from Awka
