Ebonyi State ( ig, Ȯra Ebonyi) is a
state
State may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Literature
* ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State
* ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States
* ''Our S ...
in the
South-East geopolitical zone of
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
, bordered to the north and northeast by
Benue State
Benue State is one of the North Central states in Nigeria with a population of about 4,253,641 in 2006 census. The state was created in 1976 among the 7 states created at that time.The state derives its name from the Benue River which is th ...
,
Enugu State
Enugu State ( ig, Ȯra Enugu) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by the states of Benue and Kogi, Ebonyi State to the east and southeast, Abia State to the south, and Anambra State to the west. T ...
to the west,
Cross River State
)
, image_map = Nigeria - Cross River.svg
, map_alt =
, map_caption = Location of Cross River State in Nigeria
, coordinates =
, coor_pinpoint ...
to the east and southeast, and
Abia State
Abia State ( ig, Ȯha Abia) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, it is bordered to the north and northeast by the states of Enugu, and Ebonyi, Imo State to the west, Cross River State to the east, Akwa Ibom State to the ...
to the southwest. Named for the
Abonyi (Aboine) River Abonyi is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
*Attila Abonyi (born 1946), Hungarian-born Australian footballer and manager
*István Abonyi (1886–1942), Hungarian chess master
See also
* Abony
Abony (german: Wabing) is a town ...
—a large part of which is in the state's south—Ebonyi State was formed from parts of
Abia
Abia or ABIA may refer to:
ABIA
* Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, in Austin, Texas, United States
* Australian Book Industry Awards, national literary and industry awards People
* Abia (name)
* Abia (mythology), the nursemaid of Glenus ...
and
Enugu state in 1996 and has its capital as
Abakaliki
Abakaliki is the capital city of Ebonyi State in southeastern Nigeria, located southeast of Enugu. The inhabitants are primarily members of the Igbo nation. It was the headquarters of the Ogoja province before the creation of the Southeastern ...
.
One of the smallest
states of Nigeria
Nigeria is a federation of 36 states and 1 federal capital territory. Each of the 36 states is a semi-autonomous political unit that shares powers with the federal government as enumerated under the Constitution of Nigeria, Constitution of the F ...
, Ebonyi is the
33rd largest in area and
29th most populous with an estimated population of nearly 2.9 million as of 2016. Geographically, the state is divided between the
Cross–Niger transition forests
The Cross–Niger transition forests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of southeastern Nigeria, located between the Niger River on the west and the Cross River on the east. Once a rich mixture of tropical forest and savanna woodlan ...
in the far south and the drier
Guinean forest–savanna mosaic
The Guinean forest-savanna mosaic is an ecoregion of West Africa, a band of interlaced forest, savanna, and grassland running east to west and dividing the tropical moist forests near the coast from the West Sudanian savanna of the interior.
Set ...
in the rest of the state. The other important geographical features are the
Cross River and its tributary, the
River Aloma
A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wate ...
, which flow along Ebonyi's southeastern and eastern borders, respectively; while fellow Cross River tributaries, the Abonyi (Aboine), Asu, and Eze Aku rivers run through the state's interior.
After independence in 1960, the area of now-Ebonyi was a part of the post-independence
Eastern Region until 1967 when the region was split and the area became part of the
East Central State. Less than two months afterwards, the former Eastern Region attempted to secede in the three-year long
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War (6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970), also known as the Nigerian–Biafran War or the Biafran War, was a civil war fought between Nigeria and the Republic of Biafra, a secessionist state which had declared its independence f ...
with Ebonyi as a part of the secessionist state of
Biafra
Biafra, officially the Republic of Biafra, was a partially recognised secessionist state in West Africa that declared independence from Nigeria and existed from 1967 until 1970. Its territory consisted of the predominantly Igbo-populated form ...
. At the war's end and the reunification of Nigeria, the
East Central State was reformed until 1976 when the state's north became
Anambra State
Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The state was created on August 27, 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State ...
and the south became
Imo State
Imo State ( ig, Ȯra Imo) is a States of Nigeria, state in the South East (Nigeria), South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by Anambra State, Rivers State to the west and south, and Abia State to the east. It takes its n ...
. Fifteen years afterwards, Anambra and Imo states were divided with their eastern parts becoming
Enugu State
Enugu State ( ig, Ȯra Enugu) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by the states of Benue and Kogi, Ebonyi State to the east and southeast, Abia State to the south, and Anambra State to the west. T ...
and
Abia State
Abia State ( ig, Ȯha Abia) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, it is bordered to the north and northeast by the states of Enugu, and Ebonyi, Imo State to the west, Cross River State to the east, Akwa Ibom State to the ...
, respectively. It was not until 1996, when Enugu State's east and Abia's northeast were split off and joined to form Ebonyi State.
Economically, Ebonyi State is based around agriculture, mainly of
yams,
rice
Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly ''Oryza glaberrima
''Oryza glaberrima'', commonly known as African rice, is one of the two domesticated rice species. It was first domesticated and grown i ...
,
oil palm
''Elaeis'' () is a genus of palms containing two species, called oil palms. They are used in commercial agriculture in the production of palm oil. The African oil palm ''Elaeis guineensis'' (the species name ''guineensis'' referring to its co ...
, and
cassava
''Manihot esculenta'', common name, commonly called cassava (), manioc, or yuca (among numerous regional names), is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America. Although a perennial plant, cassava is extensively ...
crops. A key minor industry is mining due to
lead
Lead is a chemical element with the symbol Pb (from the Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials. Lead is soft and malleable, and also has a relatively low melting point. When freshly cu ...
,
zinc
Zinc is a chemical element with the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. Zinc is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a shiny-greyish appearance when oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the periodi ...
, and
limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
deposits around Abakaliki, and locally hand-made baskets of various sizes at
Ntezi
Ntezi is located in the eastern outskirt of Ishielu LGA of Ebonyi State in Nigeria. Ntezi is pronounced ''Eh-teh-ji'' ''(Eteji)'' by the natives, and belongs to the ''Orring,'' Oring or ''Orri'' People. The dialect of Ntezi is ''K'eteji'' with the ...
. Ebonyi has the
joint-twentieth highest Human Development Index
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistic composite index of life expectancy, education (mean years of schooling completed and expected years of schooling upon entering the education system), and per capita income indicators, whi ...
in the country and numerous institutions of tertiary education.
Geography
It was one of the six states created in 1996 by the then federal military government of General
Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha (20 September 1943 – 8 June 1998) was a Nigerian military officer and politician who ruled as the military head of state of Nigeria from 1993 until his death in 1998. He seized power on 17 November 1993 in the last successful c ...
. The State of Ebonyi was created from parts of both
Enugu State
Enugu State ( ig, Ȯra Enugu) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by the states of Benue and Kogi, Ebonyi State to the east and southeast, Abia State to the south, and Anambra State to the west. T ...
and
Abia State
Abia State ( ig, Ȯha Abia) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, it is bordered to the north and northeast by the states of Enugu, and Ebonyi, Imo State to the west, Cross River State to the east, Akwa Ibom State to the ...
, which were the Abakaliki division from Enugu State and the Afikpo division from Abia State respectively. It has three senatorial zones, the Abakaliki division make up Ebonyi North and Ebonyi Central senatorial zones, while the Afikpo, Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo division make up the Ebonyi South senatorial zone. Ebonyi has thirteen local government areas as well as local development centres created by the state government. It is home to six prominent higher institutions of learning:
Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki (EBSU);
Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo
The Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI) is a Nigerian higher institution located in Ndufu, Alike Ikwo of Ebonyi State. It was established in 2011. It was formally called Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo until Februar ...
;
Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana;
Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu
The Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu (popularly known as "FCA Ishiagu") is based in Ishiagu, Ivo Local government area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The college promotes education, training and research into agricultural production, processin ...
;
Federal College of Education (Technical), Isu;
Ebonyi State College of Education Ikwo
Abakaliki is a Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. It's headquarters are in the town of Nkaliki.
It has an area of 443 km and a population of 126,837
based on the census conducted i2006. Thehe postal code
A postal code (al ...
(EBSCOEI); College of Health Sciences, Ezzamgbo and
Ebonyi State College of Health and Midwifery (EBSCONMU), Uburu. In 2021, three other Universities were introduced by Governor David Umahi, Aeronautical Engineering and that of Technology in Ezza and Izzi Local Government Areas (LGA), and King David University of Medical Science, Uburu, Ohaozara LGA, Ebonyi State.
Climate
y.
Demographics
There are several Igbo dialects spoken in Ebonyi State which includes
Edda
"Edda" (; Old Norse ''Edda'', plural ''Eddur'') is an Old Norse term that has been attributed by modern scholars to the collective of two Medieval Icelandic literary works: what is now known as the ''Prose Edda'' and an older collection of poem ...
,
Ehugbo
Ehugbo often referred to as Afikpo, is the second largest urban area in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. It is the headquarters of the Afikpo North Local Government Area.
It is situated in the southern part of Ebonyi State and is bordered to the north by ...
(Afikpo),
Izzi-
Ezza
Ezaa or Ezza is a northeastern Igbo sub-group, in Ebonyi State, southeastern Nigeria. The Ezaa are direct descendants of Ezekuna, and his wife, Anyigo. They are therefore, often referred to as Ezaa Ezekuna. The group is found at the north of Af ...
-
Mgbo-
Ikwo
The Ikwo is a subgroup of the Igbo people who live in southeastern Nigeria. The area is rich in mineral resources, and the ancestors of today’s inhabitants developed bronze-casting techniques over a thousand years ago, some found in the town of ...
dialect cluster, Oshiri, Unwara, Akpoha, Okposi, Onicha; and a mixed Igbo and Korring dialects spoken in Amuda-Okpolo,
Ntezi-Okpoto and
Effium, which is also familiar with
Kukele in Cross River, and
Utonkon in Benue States respectively.
Administration
In 1999, Dr.
Sam Ominyi Egwu was elected as the first governor of the state under the
People's Democratic Party People's Democratic Party or ''variant thereof'', could refer to:
* People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
*People's Democratic Party (Belize)
*People's Democratic Party (Bhutan)
*People's Democratic Party (Chile)
* People's Democratic Party (Dom ...
(PDP). He was succeeded by
Martin Elechi
Martin Elechi is a Nigerian economist and politician. He served as the Governor of Ebonyi State from 2007 to 2015. He ran in the 2007 Nigerian general election on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) ticket and assumed the position on May 29, 20 ...
who was elected in 2007 and successfully ran for re-election in 2011, under the same PDP. Gov Martin Elechi was succeeded by the current Governor,
Dave Umahi
David Nweze Umahi CON (born July 25, 1964) better known as Dave Umahi is a Nigerian politician who is currently serving as the Governor of Ebonyi State.
Early life and education
Umahi was born 25 July 1964. He is the son of Elder Joseph Uma ...
, who was elected in the March 2015 election and re-elected in March 2019 for a second term in office.
Natural resources
Ebonyi is primarily an agricultural region. It is a leading producer of rice,
yam, potatoes, maize,
bean
A bean is the seed of several plants in the family Fabaceae, which are used as vegetables for human or animal food. They can be cooked in many different ways, including boiling, frying, and baking, and are used in many traditional dishes th ...
s, and
cassava
''Manihot esculenta'', common name, commonly called cassava (), manioc, or yuca (among numerous regional names), is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America. Although a perennial plant, cassava is extensively ...
, and have a notable basket market in Nigeria.
Rice is predominantly cultivated in Ikwo, yams in Izzi, with other regions in the state such as Amasiri, Edda and Ezillo making notable contributions, Effium and Ezzamgo taking the top spots in cassava production, and basket production in Ntezi.
Ebonyi has several solid mineral resources, including lead,
crude oil
Petroleum, also known as crude oil, or simply oil, is a naturally occurring yellowish-black liquid mixture of mainly hydrocarbons, and is found in geological formations. The name ''petroleum'' covers both naturally occurring unprocessed crude ...
, and natural gas, but few large-scale commercial mining mines. The state government has, however, given some incentives to investors in the agro-allied sector to encourage production but capacity remains largely under utilized. Ebonyi is called "the salt of the nation" for its huge salt deposit at the Okposi and Uburu Salt Lakes.
There are also some tourist locations within the state prominent ones include Abakaliki Green Lake, Uburu Salt Lake, Unwana and Ikwo Beaches.
Local government areas
Ebonyi State consists of thirteen (13)
Local Government Areas
A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a state, province, division, or territory.
The phrase i ...
. They are:
*
Abakaliki
Abakaliki is the capital city of Ebonyi State in southeastern Nigeria, located southeast of Enugu. The inhabitants are primarily members of the Igbo nation. It was the headquarters of the Ogoja province before the creation of the Southeastern ...
*
Afikpo North
*
Afikpo South
Eddaland administratively designated by Nigeria as Afikpo South covers an entire local government area in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Locations
Eddaland is composed of many autonomous communities and towns which include: Ebunwana Edda, Nguzu Edda, Eko ...
(Edda)
*
Ebonyi
Abakaliki is a Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. It's headquarters are in the town of Nkaliki.
It has an area of 443 km and a population of 126,837
based on the census conducted i2006. Thehe postal code
A postal code (a ...
*
Ezza North
Ezza North is a local government area in Ebonyi State Nigeria. Its headquarters is at Ebiaji town. It has an area of 305 km and a population of 145,619 at the 2006 census. Ezza North created in 1996 alongside other LGAs in the then new Ebonyi ...
*
Ezza South
Ezza South is a local government area located in Ebonyi state on south-eastern Nigeria. Its headquarters is Onueke, which also serve as a central unification town for the Ezza nation as well as headquarters of Ebonyi Central senatorial zone. It w ...
*
Ikwo
The Ikwo is a subgroup of the Igbo people who live in southeastern Nigeria. The area is rich in mineral resources, and the ancestors of today’s inhabitants developed bronze-casting techniques over a thousand years ago, some found in the town of ...
*
Ishielu
Ishielu is a Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Ezillo.
It has an area of 872 km and a population of 151,048 at the 2006 census.
The postal code
A postal code (also known locally in var ...
*
Ivo
Ivo is a masculine given name, in use in various European languages. The name used in western European languages originates as a Normannic name recorded since the High Middle Ages, and the French name Yves is a variant of it. The unrelated So ...
*
Izzi
*
Ohaozara
Ohaozara is a Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Obiozara Uburu.
It also has other town like Ugwulangwu, and Okposi in the Local Government Area.
It has an area of and a population of 148,626 as o ...
*
Ohaukwu
*
Onicha
Onicha is a Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. It has an area of 476 km2 and has a population of 236,828 according to the 2006 census. The postal code
A postal code (also known locally in various English-speaking countries ...
Languages
Igbo language is the primary language and there are primarily ten Igbo dialects spoken in Ebonyi states.They are:Afikpo, Mgbo, Izzi, Ezaa, Edda, Ikwo, Kukele, Legbo, Mbembe,Okposi,Uburu and
Oring
Oring may refer to:
*O-ring, a gasket or seal with an O-shaped cross-section
*O-ring chain, a specialized type of roller chain
* Oring language, in Nigeria
* Orienteering
**Fox Oring
*OR-ing as an operation of logical disjunction
In logic, d ...
.
Languages of Ebonyi State listed by LGA:
Education
![Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Front gate](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Ebonyi_State_University%2C_Abakaliki%2C_Front_gate.jpg)
A list of tertiary institutions in Ebonyi state includes:
*
Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic
Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana is located in Unwana city, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The polytechnic was founded in 1981 and is owned by the federal government.
It is named after Akanu Ibiam, the First Republic Governor of Eastern Region, ...
*
Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu
The Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu (popularly known as "FCA Ishiagu") is based in Ishiagu, Ivo Local government area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The college promotes education, training and research into agricultural production, processin ...
*
Ebonyi state University
Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki was founded in 1999 in Abakaliki, Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country ...
*
Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo
The Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI) is a Nigerian higher institution located in Ndufu, Alike Ikwo of Ebonyi State. It was established in 2011. It was formally called Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo until Februar ...
*
Ebonyi State College of Health and Midwifery,
Uburu
*
Federal College of Education (Technical), Isu
*
King David College of Medicine, Uburu, Ebonyi State
Notable people
*
Anyim Pius Anyim
Anyim Pius Anyim (born 19 February 1961) is a Nigerian politician who served as president of the Nigerian Senate from 2000 to 2003, he was Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) during Goodluck Jonathan presidency. He was elected a ...
*
Uche Azikiwe
Uche Ewah Azikiwe , (born 4 February 1947) is a Nigerians, Nigerian academic, educator and author. She is the widow of former President of Nigeria Nnamdi Azikiwe. She is a professor in the Department of Educational Foundation, Faculty of Educati ...
*
Andy Chukwu
Andy Chukwu (born 14 May 1959)is a Nigerian movie director. He started his career as an actor. Movies he has acted in include ''Karishika (1996)'', ''Witches (1998)'' and '' Issakaba (2000)''. Movies directed by him include '' Mr. Ibu'' and '' 2 ...
*
Onyebuchi Chukwu
Onyebuchi Chukwu (born 22 April 1962) is a Nigerian politician who served as Minister of Health from 2010 until 2014.
Early life and education
Chukwu was born in Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. After attending the Federal Government College, Sokoto, Chukw ...
*
Martin Elechi
Martin Elechi is a Nigerian economist and politician. He served as the Governor of Ebonyi State from 2007 to 2015. He ran in the 2007 Nigerian general election on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) ticket and assumed the position on May 29, 20 ...
*
Akanu Ibiam
Akanu Ibiam (29 November 1906 - 1 July 1995), was a distinguished medical missionary who was appointed Governor of Eastern Region, Nigeria from December 1960 until January 1966 during the Nigerian First Republic.
From 1919 to 1951, he was kn ...
*
Chigozie Ogbu
Chigozie Ogbu is a Nigerian academician and the current substantive Vice chancellor of Ebonyi State University. He was appointed by the Governor of Ebonyi State
Ebonyi State ( ig, Ȯra Ebonyi) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone o ...
*
Frank Ogbuewu
Ambassador Frank Nchita Ogbuewu is a Nigerian political figure and a former Minister of Culture and Tourism for the country. His appointment as minister was confirmed in July 2003 by the Olusegun Obasanjo, Obasanjo administration. Frank Ogbuewu is ...
*
Ogbonnaya Onu
Ogbonnaya Onu (born 1 December 1951) is a Nigerian politician, author and engineer. He was the first civilian governor of Abia State and was minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Nigeria from November 2015 till his resignation in 20 ...
*
Emmanuel Onwe
Emmanuel Onwe is a lawyer, human rights activist, newspaper columnist, and former member of the Nigerian Senate. He is presently the Commissioner for Information in Nigeria's Ebonyi State. He is also a founding and executive member of the Njiko ...
*
Nnenna Oti
Nnenna Nnannaya Oti (born 15 November 1958) is a Nigerian professor and the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Technology Owerri. Oti defeated Ikechukwu Dozie on 13 April 2021 and has resumed office as the 8th Vice-Chancellor of the insti ...
*
Patoranking
Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie (born 27 May, 1990), better known by his stage name Patoranking, is a Nigerian reggae-dancehall singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Ijegun-Egba Satellite Town, Patoranking hails from Onicha, Ebonyi State. He starte ...
*
Sinach
Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu, known professionally as Sinach, (born 30 March 1972) is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and senior worship leader at Loveworld until 2021. She is the first singer-songwriter to top the Billboard Christian Songwriter char ...
*
Tekno
*
Dave Umahi
David Nweze Umahi CON (born July 25, 1964) better known as Dave Umahi is a Nigerian politician who is currently serving as the Governor of Ebonyi State.
Early life and education
Umahi was born 25 July 1964. He is the son of Elder Joseph Uma ...
See also
*
List of people from Ebonyi State
The following is a list of notable people whose state of origin is Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
{{compact ToC, side=yes, top=yes, num=yes
A
* Chris Abani
* Anthony Agbo
* Anyim Pius Anyim, first president of the Nigerian Senate from Ebonyi Sta ...
*
2011 clashes in Ebonyi State
*
*
Ebonyi State Executive Council
References
External links
For All Things Ebonyi State
States of Nigeria
States and territories established in 1996[{{Cite web, title=Ebonyi State Government ::{{!:: SALT OF THE NATION, url=http://www.ebonyistate.gov.ng/, access-date=2022-02-21, website=www.ebonyistate.gov.ng]