{ { Infobox settlement
| name = Umuezukwe
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| settlement_type =
| image_skyline =St Anthonys Catholic Church, Umuezukwe.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption =St Anthony's Catholic Parish, Umuezukwe, Awo-omamma
| image_flag =
| flag_alt =
| image_seal =
| seal_alt =
| image_shield =
| shield_alt =
| etymology =
| nickname = Uzo Umuezukwe
| motto =
| image_map = Umuezukwe Road, Awo-omamma.jpg
| map_alt =
| map_caption = 'Umuezukwe Road, Awo-Omamma is an ancient access road that leads to Ughamiri (local name for Njaba River). The road leads to the historic and now abandoned Umuezukwe Oil mill factory on the waterfront. It was an important economic access road to the eastern coast via Njaba River-Oguta Lake-Orashi River waterways during the pre-colonial and oil palm trades. | pushpin_map = Nigeria | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Umuezukwe, Awo-Omamma |coordinates = | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_name = | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Imo |subdivision_type2 = Local Government Area |subdivision_name2 = Oru East |subdivision_type3 = Town |subdivision_name3 = Awo-Omamma |subdivision_type4 = Autonomous Community |subdivision_name4 = Eziawo II | leader_party = APC | leader_title = Governor | leader_name = Hope Uzodinma | unit_pref = Metric
| area_land_km2 =
|postal_code_type = 6-digit postal code prefix
|postal_code = 474112
|area_code =
|iso_code = NG.IM.OE.OM
|website =
|footnotes =
}}Umuezukwe is an ancient trade route, a river port, and a farming community in Awo-Omamma, northeast of the Niger Delta region, Nigeria's South East, Imo State. It is one of the densely populated Awo-Omamma rural settlements in the Njaba River basin.
Location
Umuezukwe is located strategically on the bank of Njaba River in the southern end, facing Ngbelle, Abiaziem, Awa, Ndegwu and Izombe, just across the river. Politically, Umuezukwe is in Eziawo Ward II of Awo-Omamma in Oru East. It is bordered by Isieke Community to the East, Umuezike to the West, Otulu in Oru West to the North-East, and Onitsha-Owerri Expressway to the extreme North, which cuts through Awo-Omamma Junction.
Oil Palm Trade
Like some other Awo-Omamma villages on the banks of Njaba River, Umuezukwe was known for its oil palm trade during the era of international oil palm business. The then government of Eastern Region operated an Oil mill factory near Njaba River waterfront in Umuezukwe. In addition to the government managed Umuezukwe Oil mill, private businesses moved in, established and operated their commercial mills within the community and its neighbours. Due to the lucrative oil palm trade and the commercial waterway in the region, the community's Eke Market held on the river beach, becoming a converging point for local and international traders, thus supporting the larger market of neighbouring Oguta. The market was renamed 'Eke Beach Umuezukwe'. The economic activities around the entire area turned Umuezukwe into one of the renowned river ports in the basin, and an economic hub for exports and evacuation of goods to and from the Eastern coast via Orashi River-Oguta Lake-Njaba River routes.
Early Christian Mission
It was among the early communities in the Njaba/Orashi River region, and the first in Awo-Omamma to embrace Christianity. This was possible because of its location on Njaba River-Oguta Lake-Orashi River navigable waterways and trade route.
Parish
The Irish Christian missionaries founded St Anthony's Catholic Church, Umuezukwe, in the 1890s. On 28 March 2013, the Roman Catholic Church confirmed Umuezukwe as a parish at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Orlu.