Akwa Ibom is a state in Nigeria. It is located in the coastal southern part of the country, lying between latitudes 4°32′N and 5°33′N, and longitudes 7°25′E and 8°25′E. The state is located in the South-South geopolitical zone, and is bordered on the east by Cross River State, on the west by Rivers State and Abia State, and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean and the southernmost tip of Cross River State.
Akwa Ibom is one of Nigeria's 36 states, with a population of over five million people. The state was created in 1987 by Ibrahim Babangida from the former Cross River State and is currently the highest oil- and gas-producing state in the country. The state's capital is Uyo, with over 500,000 inhabitants. Akwa Ibom has an airport and two major seaports on the Atlantic Ocean with a proposed construction of a seaport at Ibaka, Oron. The state also has a 30,000-seat sports complex. It is shaped like the Allianz arena stadium.[4] Akwa Ibom state is also home to the Ibom E-Library, an information centre.[5] In addition to English, the main spoken languages are Ibibio, Annang, Ekid, Oro and Obolo.[6]
The people in Akwa Ibom are predominantly Christian.
Like their Efik neighbors of Cross River State, people of Akwa Ibom speak various dialects of the Ibibio-Efik languages, which belong to the Benue–Congo language family, forming part of the Niger–Congo group of languages.
The following table lists languages of Akwa Ibom State and the local government areas in which they are spoken:[12]
| Language | LGA(s) spoken in | |
|---|---|---|
| Anaang | Abak, Essien Udim, Ika, Ikot Ekpene, Oruk-Anam, Ukanafun | |
| Obolo | Eastern Obolo | |
| Ekid | Eket, Esit Eket | |
| Etebi | Esit Eket | |
| Ibibio | Etinan, Ibiono Ibom, Ikono, Ikot Abasi, Itu, Mkpat Enin, Nsit Atai, Nsit-Ubium, Onna, Uruan, Uyo | |
| Ibuno | Ibeno | |
| Ika Oku | Ika | |
| Nkari | Ini | |
| Itu Mbon Uso | Ini | |
| Idere | Itu | |
| Efik | Itu, Uruan | |
Christian.
LanguagesLike their Efik neighbors of Cross River State, people of Akwa Ibom speak various dialects of the Ibibio-Efik languages, which belong to the Like their Efik neighbors of Cross River State, people of Akwa Ibom speak various dialects of the Ibibio-Efik languages, which belong to the Benue–Congo language family, forming part of the Niger–Congo group of languages. The following table lists languages of Akwa Ibom State and the local government areas in which they are spoken:[12]
|