Enugu, A Place to be
Calm, peaceful and serene, Enugu, the Coal City State, is aptly nicknamed, from its history as the one time largest producer of coal in Nigeria.
Formed in 1991, the name “Enugu” was coined from two Igbo words, enu and ugwu, meaning ‘ontop of a hill.’ This phrase bears an accurate description of the region with its undulating, rolling hills.
Formerly a part of Anambra State, Enugu is known within Igboland as the Wawa state. This is influenced by the language where natives respond with wa, meaning ‘no,’ instead of mba as commonly used in other parts of Igboland.
Flanked by Anambra to the west, Ebonyi to the east, Abia to the south, and Kogi and Benue to the north, it is a social hub with a metropolitan city capital.
Enugu’s environs are covered by open grassland, wooded areas and clusters of palm trees. The undulating hills beckon to adventurous tourist seekers with amazing views of different areas. It is constituted majorly by the Igbo people.
A city well known for its hospitality and peace, it is no wonder Enugu has over 300 hotels, willing to cater to diverse visitors from around the world.
Enugu’s hotels serve as places of recreation, anniversary celebrations and dinners events, as well as conference centres. Popular hotels include Bon Hotel Sunshine, Adig Suites, Golden Royale, Utopia Suites, Bridgewaters, DMattel, Oakland Hotel, Nike Lake Resort (popular tourist attraction) and so much more.
Cuisine is a major part of the Enugu culture and there are numerous food spots spread around vantage positions within the metropolis. Popular restaurants in the city area include; Native Pot, Discovery Kitchen, Celebrities, Ntachi Osa, Roots, Open Sharaton, Idi Oku Restaurant, Emily Restaurant, Mama Onyinye, Dolphin’s Restaurant, and so many more spread across the interconnected roads network.
These restaurants cater to numerous people, from businessmen, socialites, tourists, working-class and everyday people, and offer the chance to experiment and enjoy popular local dishes famous in the city.
Breathtaking foreign kickshaws are served in places like Happy Panda, Octopus Chinese Restaurant, and Apple Restaurant at affordable fees.
Even for those concerned about their pockets, Enugu has restaurants that cater to their needs and serve them food well within their means. Street corners and kiosks supply an endless variety of dishes from the tantalizing to the downright salivating. From dishes like roasted plantains and beans, ofe akwu, ji na agbugbu, nkwobi, peppersoup, abacha, ukwa, and a host of others
The most sought after and widely consumed local food in Enugu is Okpa. It is a sweet oily meal made from the flour of Bambara nuts and sold from early in the morning.
Freshly tapped palm wine is easily accessible and enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.
Furthermore, Enugu has a thriving chain of shopping malls that cater to the needs and tastes of the mostly middle-class population. From international brands like Shoprite, Game and local malls like Roban Stores and Spar. These indigenous and internationally owned businesses attract a lot of revenue and investments for the city.
There exist numerous opportunities to harness the rejuvenation of technology, industry, and education within the state by connecting and tapping into the large thriving academic environment with primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. It is home to the first indigenous university in Nigeria, UNN (University of Nigeria, Nsukka)
Numerous indigenous festivals and events are celebrated in the state. Popular ones include the New Yam Festival, held between August and October and the Mmanwu (masquerade) festival in November. It is usually accompanied by exotic displays of rituals, culture, and traditions.
The tourism experience allows visitors to take road trips to the old coal mines to explore tunnels; while Ezeagu and Awhum waterfalls, Miliken Hills and Ngwo Pine Forest are favored as venues for picnics, hangouts and leisure.
One great cultural institution is The National Museum of Unity located around the Ogui axis and home to different entertainment and food hubs. It is a scenic place containing treasured memories of Igbo People, Enugu History and the evolution of culture over the years.
Enugu is regarded as one of the most peaceful and beautiful cities in Nigeria.
With the thriving academic, social, economic and cultural sectors, is it any wonder that the city excels?
Coal City is truly a place to be.
