Stimuli to the Economic Growth of Aba Before 1970

Undoubtedly, commerce plays a vital role towards the growth of a particular locality. This is so in the case of Aba, which is often referred to as ‘the commercial hub’ of Igbo land, South-east of Nigeria. Looking at Aba from economic dimension, it could be said that the area witnessed a lot of economic activities especially, trade in oil palm. It was as a result of this mineral resource (oil palm) that attracted people of different descent- both Africans and non-Africans to the area who came with their commodities to engage in one form of trade or another. Adopting historical methodology which encouraged ample utilization of primary (oral and archives) and secondary sources, it attempts a reconstruction of the history of the town with a view to indicate the relative contribution of economic factors to its growth. Findings however, revealed that the major stimulus for the growth of Aba to an urban center was as a result of economic activities that took place in the town. This factor and the location of Aba, had even before the British presence engendered a trend in Aba’s growth. This existing force of growth encouraged the rise in population, rise of entrepreneurship, for instance; leather works that was manifested in the emergence of numerous foreign and indigenous enterprises, and in fact, laid the infrastructures that has made Aba an important town in Nigeria. The increased immigration of people attracted by economic opportunities created a situation in which the Ngwa owners of the land became vastly out-numbered by the non-Ngwa residents. It is on this premise that this paper will examine land and people of Aba, how Aba emerged as an economic hub as well as discusses the impact of economic activities on the area under review