Effium

Effium is the largest of the autonomous Orring communities in Ebonyi State, in the southeast of Nigeria, and lies in the Ohaukwu local government area. Its indigenous people, the Effium, are a subgroup of the Orring people, who are found in Ebonyi, Benue and Cross River states. Agriculture is the main occupation, and the chief products are yam, cassava, rice, groundnut, palm oil and timber. The community includes a number of smaller communities, among them Okporo, Okpodum, Okpere, Ivweda, Ebia, Watuma, Ogbagere, Ikachi, Ohage, Enweminyi, Ubegu, Okpudu, Uffiacha and Ibilifu. According to local tradition the first settlers were the Effium themselves, who then accommodated the Ezza, followed by people from Arochukwu, Amuda and elsewhere. Its cultural life includes the new yam festival Jioha and the ceremonies Vwujojo and Vwugba. Effium shares boundaries with Benue State, Izzi, Ngbo, Uli and Igumale, and its large main market is one of the biggest in Ebonyi State.