The idea for this book has metamorphosed from inspirations gained from my parents and personal observations of the environmental, social, economic and political transformation taking place in Ali Ogba communities spanning over several decades. The main idea of the book dates back to several decades ago when I was a young man completing field work for my research as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the B. Sc. degree in Geography at the University of Nigeria. The field work was interrupted by the Nigerian - Biafra war but resumed after the war. The original idea was developed and additions made focusing on the design of Ali Ogba communities' settlement patterns. These manuscripts were put aside while pursuing advanced degrees in the United States until the nineteen nineties when issues of Ali Ogba sustainable development occupied my thoughts especially as each passing decade brought changes in the physical, socio-cultural, political and economic environment landscapes of Ali Ogba communities. The overarching goal is to document for posterity the Ali Ogba environment and way of life in the early part of the 20th century in contrast to the Ali Ogba of today with emphasis on the changes that have occurred and what they portend for the future of Ali Ogba communities in the contexts of 21st century Nigeria and global technological advances.
