Nnewi

Nnewi is a city in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria. It is part of the Igbo-speaking region and serves as a major commercial and manufacturing center. The city is traditionally organized around quarters, notably Otolo, Uruagu, and Umudim, with the Obi of Nnewi as its traditional ruler. Nnewi lies inland from the larger commercial hubs of the Niger Delta and Onitsha and is connected by road to other major towns in southeastern Nigeria.

Historically, Nnewi developed from a market town with a long-standing craft and metalworking tradition, evolving into a center for trade and small-scale manufacturing. In contemporary times it has become known as a major engineering and auto-parts hub, hosting hundreds of small and medium-sized workshops and factories. The automotive sector has grown in the city, and Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing is among the prominent companies operating in Nnewi.

Population estimates place Nnewi in the hundreds of thousands, with a dense commercial district and a network of informal workshops. The economy is driven by trade, fabrication, and distribution of goods across southeastern Nigeria and beyond. Culturally, the city shares the Igbo language and customs common to Anambra, while maintaining its own local traditions and communal life centered on the traditional quarters and religious centers.

Notable people associated with Nnewi include industrialist Cletus Ibeto, founder of the Ibeto Group, and other prominent businessmen who have contributed to its reputation as an entrepreneurial town.