The former Owerri Province was created towards the end of 1913, though it effectively took off in 1914, with headquarters at Owerri.
It then, included the following districts, Aba, Opobo, Degema, Owerri, Bonny, Okigwe (including Orlu), and Bende (including a portion of the Aboh district lying east of the Niger).2
In 1915, Opobo and Afikpo Districts were transferred to Calabar and Ogoja Provinces respectively.
Furthermore, in 1931, the province, was reorganized into six administrative divisions, viz: Ahoada, Aba, Okigwe, Owerri, Bende and Degema.3
When
in April 1947, the new Rivers Province was created out of Owerri Province with
headquarters at Port Harcourt, the former Owerri province was left with, four
divisions – Aba, Bende, Okigwe and Owerri.4 In 1949, the headquarters of the province was moved to Umuahia-Ibeku in Bende Division.
Reference:
Iwuagwu, O. (2006). Rural development in eastern Nigeria: an assessment of colonial and post colonial development plans in the former Owerri Province, 1946-1976. Education, 5(326), 543.
National Archives Enugu (hereafter NAE), EP. 1308/2-CSE, 12/1/343
Now agents of division will never give you the above information knowing that you do not read, but more of it is available at the National Archives, go there and read them or do some some research.
Prior to the coming of the Colonialist, Port-Harcourt never existed. In its place was the farmlands of Diobu people, that stretched to the Riversides of the Bonny River, named Borokiri by the Okirika People.
Port-Harcourt (Igweocha) and Opobo (Igwenga) were both part of Owerri Province at a time including Degema. While Opobo and Degema were Divisions, Port-Harcourt was developed as the port town of Owerri Province, although the preliminary construction of the town started a year before the creation of the Owerri which now included the town being developed.
It remained part of Owerri Province from 1913 to 1947 when the New Rivers Province was created.