All About Ojoto History

The name Ojoto is derived from Ojo and Oto – Ojoto two brothers. One (Ojo) is now a village while the other Oto is a family in Ire, Ojoto. The founder of Ojoto, OGBUA DIJI (renowned farmer) is believed to have migrated from NRI with his two brothers, ALOJUM and ADIKE. ALOJUM the eldest founded ALOR while ADIKE the youngest founded OBOSI. This must have been about five centuries.

Ogbus Diji’s first son IFITE later called EZIEKE, settled in his father’s domain – EZIEKE, while the other sons of his wives moved away from Ezieke to found the six villages of Ojoto. One of the villages EZEMA is believed to have migrated from UKE. Umueke in Ibusa,Igbouzo (Delta state) and Umudim in Nnewi are said to be founded by one of the sons of Ojoto. Ojoto now the headquarters of Idemili South Local Government is divided into two halves by the Idemili River which runs from Oraukwu to the estuary, the River Niger, passing through Alor, Uke, Nnobi, Ojoto, Umuoji, and Obosi.

Ojoto Uno and Obofia each has four villages. The villages comprising Ojoto Uno are Ezieke, Ojo, Ire, and Umuchem. The Obofia villages are Enugo, Ndiabo, Umuezema and Ezema.

The Order of seniority is as follows:
1. Ezieke 2. Ojor 3. Enugo 4. Ire 5. Ndiabor 6. Umuchem 7. Umuezema 8. Ezema
Symbol: The Oji Ojoto which lived in Ezieke best symbolized Ojoto. It had two main branches, each with four sub – branches. Oji Ogbuadiji fell down in 1948 and was given a funeral by the eight villages of Ojoto. Ogbaudiji is one of the Cardinal deities in Ojoto. The shrine is at Ezieke. The Chief Priest is from Uruowelle family.
The Headship of Ojoto; Ezieke village is the head of all the eight Villages of Ojoto. In Ezieke, this headship is located in Umuonyia family. Whoever is at the head of Umuonyia holds the ‘Ofo’ Ojoto. The present holder is Chief Augustine Obidiwe, also the seat of justice is located at Oye Ezieke. Serious decisions and traditional rites are performed by all eight villages on this ground. The fathers of Ojoto ordained Okwuajana as a place of justice. The one for Umuonyia is located at Oye Ezieke and is often used by all when assembled although, all villages have their shrines and Okwu-Ajana.
Geographical Location; Ojoto is bounded on the North by Umuoji, on the East by Uke, on the South by Nnobi, partly Nnewi and Ichi and on the West by Oba. The old Onitsha-Nnobi and Onitsha-Oba-Nnewi roads pass on either side of Ojoto. Ojoto has important road links with these neighboring towns for carrying out commercial, social and cultural activities. These activities have endured over the years and are even waxing stronger. Ojoto-Obofia is therefore rather on the West of Ojoto-Uno.
Ojoto – Uno Obofia
Ezieke Enugo
Ojo Ndiabo
Ire Umuezema
Umuchem Ezema