Dunukofia

Dunukofia is in Anambra State, South East Nigeria.

Understand

Dunukofia is one of the 21 Local Government Areas that make up Anambra State. Dunukofia LGA is made up of six towns: Ukpo, Ụmụnnachi, Ifitedunu, Ụmụdioka Ukwullu and Nawagu. Ụmụdioka is also known as Dioka ịchi or Dioka Ezebo.

The majority of the population belongs to the Igbo ethnic group, which is the predominant ethnic group in the Eastern Nigeria. Ukpo is serving as the administrative headquarters of Dunukofia LGA. The economy of Dunukofia is primarily agrarian, with agriculture being the main occupation.

Dunukofia people are predominantly Christians and Traditional African worshippers. Their chief crop is yam. Other crops include cassava, cocoyam, maize, fluted pumpkin, melon, and tomatoes. Planting yam is mainly the affair of men.

Ụmụdioka town people are noted for igbuichi (facial sacrification). Ụmụdioka is made up ten villages: Akpom, Umuezechua, Umuajana, Umuchigbo, Uruagu, Umuezekwo, Uruowelle, Umueze, Ugwu and Okpuru.

Climate

The rainy and dry seasons are the two main seasons that Dunukofia LGA experiences each year with 3 weeks touch of harmattan around December to January. The wet season is warm, oppressive, and overcast, and the dry season is hot, muggy, and partly cloudy. The region's average annual temperature is 28 degrees Celsius, and there are an average of 2950 mm of rain there each year.

Get in

Dunukofia is among the most accessible local governments in Anambra State, with federal and state roads crossing it at different points. There are so transportation means through which prospective visitors and tourists to Dunukofia can use in getting to the city. These include:

By plane

The nearest airport is the Chinua Achebe International Airport. From there it is 30 minutes’ drive to Dunukofia through the Onitsha—Enugu Old Road axis. The cost of getting to Dunukofia by air from different parts of Nigeria starts at ₦100,000.

Asaba Cargo Airport is an alternative.

By bus

Numerous transport companies offer bus shuttle services from different parts of Nigeria to Dunukofia. Prominent among these transport companies are the Transport Company of Anambra State and GUO Mass Transit with their fully operational bus parks within the Dunukofia metropolis. Several small shuttle operators also convey people from different parts of Anambra State and its environs to Dunukofia. The approximate cost of travelling by road to Dunukofia is ₦30,000 from the South West region, ₦40,000 from the North and ₦500 from the South Eastern parts.

Get around

There are a number of options available to visitors in Dunukofia to move around within the towns.

These intra-city transportation options include the tricycles popularly known as “Keke napep”, the minibuses, and the taxi shuttle service providers and the commercial motorcycle riders also known as “Okada”. The average cost of these intra-city transport options is approximately ₦300 However, if the tricycles or taxi cabs are hired for personalized services, the costs increase to ₦500-1000.

See

• Okpoimodu Shrine is an ancient shrine at Ụmụnnachi Town. It is believed that visiting the shrine will aid in the resolution of issues and achieve justice.
• Mkpupa Stream; A fresh water stream dedicated to the Mkpukpa deity. If you want to, relax and feel the nature, Mkpupa Stream is the ideal place.
• Ogbunike Cave: The cave is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ogbunike, a town not far from Ụmụdioka.

Do

The people celebrate various cultural festivals and traditions, showcasing their customs, music, dance, and traditional attire.Dunukofia is a local government area that combines a predominantly agrarian economy with a mix of rural and semi-urban settlements. The area is known for its cultural heritage, educational institutions, and ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure for the well-being of its residents.

• The New Yam Festival, usually celebrated in middle of September of every year, is an important way of marking the beginning and end of the farming season. It is a celebration of life, accomplishments in the community, culture and well-being. One of its popular produce, yam, is hugely celebrated yearly at the harvest of new yams from the farms, in an elaborate ceremony popularly known as the New Yam Festival. The celebration attracts tourists from the country and offers a platform for the women to show their art to visitors. Each town in Dunukofia Local Government Area has their own date for celebrating New Yam Festival.
• Mkpupa Festival: Dedicated to Mkpukpa deity, the festival is a masquerade festival to mark the ending of the planting season. It is a 4-day event (one week in Igbo calendar) usually in July in Ụmụdioka.

Buy

• Afọr-igwe Market. A daily ancient market, that boost more on quarterly afor market days according to Igbo culture, One can get almost everything in the market, including wares, articles, utensils, livestock, food stuffs, and grains, to affordable price. Food items like vegetable and fruits are cheaper and assorted on Afọr Market day. 
• 1 Eke umudioka (Eke Umunnachi), Umudioka village (go east from Awka to Dunukofia Umudioka Market). 8AM-noon. Eke Umudioka Market is a daily market selling fresh produce, grains, and local goods, with prices negotiated between buyers and sellers, peaking on Thursdays. (updated Aug 2024)

Eat

Food you can't afford to miss while in Dunukofia are: Ofe Akwu and Rice, Ofe Oha, Ofe Onugbo, Ofe Egusi and Ofe ogbono. These can either go with pounded yam or fufu.

• Odueze Restaurant can boast of all kind of Nigerian foods and drinks. For eat in and take away. It is beside Central School Ụmụnnachi. It opens around 8AM and closes 10AM. A plate of food costs ₦1000.
• Bolingo Restaurant in Afọr-igwe Market, Ụmụdioka: For all the local dishes in affordable prices. Located beside garage at Afọr-igwe Market Umudioka. Eat in and take away, open daily from 9AM-9PM.

Sleep

• Maybeach Hotels and Suites Ifitedunu, at Akueche's quarters Ukpommiri, Ifitedunu. Maybeach has popular amenities like: pool, spa, free parking, free breakfast, WiFi (fast internet connection), room service 24 hours and it's also children friendly.
• Koka Hotel Nawfia, along Old Enugu Onitsha Road in Ụmụdioka, is affordable with basic facilities
• Don Motel, Ogidi, along Onitsha Old oad in Ụmụdioka, is a mini hotel with nice and relaxing environment.

Connect

All network available in Nigeria are all available in Dunukofia.

Go next

Awka