Ebonyi State

Geography

It was one of the six states created in 1996 by the then federal military government of General Sani Abacha. Bounded by the states of Benue to the north for about 96 km (partly across the Ichelle and Igbe Rivers), Cross River to the east for 198 km (123 miles, partly across the River Aloma and Cross River), Abia to the south for 70 km (43 miles), and Enugu to the west. The State of Ebonyi was created from parts of both Enugu State and Abia State, 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 eight prominent higher institutions of learning: Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki (EBSU); Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo; Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana; Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu; Evangel University, Okpoto; Federal College of Education (Technical), Isu; Ebonyi State College of Education Ikwo (EBSCOEI); College of Health Sciences, Ezzamgbo; School of Nursing and Midwifery Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Afikpo; School of Nursing and Midwifery Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki{{cite web |access-date=20 March 2014}} 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

Ebonyi State has a humid tropical climate, with one rainy season and one dry season lasting for 8 and 4 months, respectively. The temperature typically ranges from 20 to 38 degrees Celsius during the dry season and from 16 to 28 degrees Celsius during the rainy season. Harmattan winds are common between December and January. The average annual temperature is 28 degrees Celsius, and the average annual humidity is 50-60%. The region receives an average annual precipitation of 2500mm.

Demographics

Ebonyi State is home to several distinct Igbo and Korring dialects, spoken in communities such as Edda, Ehugbo (Afikpo), Izzi, Ezza, Mgbo, Ikwo, Oshiri, Unwana, Akpoha, Okposi, Amasiri, and Onicha.

In some areas like Amuda-Okpolo, Ntezi-Okpoto, and Effium, people speak a mixed dialect that combines elements of Igbo and Korring languages. This mixed dialect also shares similarities with Kukelle, spoken in Ukelle in Cross River State, and Kufia, spoken in Ufia (Utonkon) in Benue State.

Politics

The State government is led by a democratically elected governor who works closely with members of the state's house of assembly. The Capital city of the state is Abakaliki.

Electoral system

The electoral system of each state is selected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two-thirds of the State local government areas. If no candidate passes the threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government Areas.

Administration

In 1999, Dr. Sam Ominyi Egwu was elected as the first governor of the state under the People's Democratic Party (PDP). He was succeeded by Martin Elechi 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, 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, beans, and cassava, 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, 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.

Infrastructures

Ebonyi has the Ebonyi State International Airport, built on the Abakaliki end of the Abakaliki-Afikpo Expressway. Ebonyi has 23 flyovers, the highest in South East Nigeria. Ebonyi state is known for its trademark concrete roads and multicolored infrastructure, began by former governor Dave Umahi.

Local government areas

Ebonyi State consists of thirteen (13) Local Government Areas. They are:

• Abakaliki
• Afikpo North
• Afikpo South (Edda)
• Ebonyi
• Ezza North
• Ezza South
• Ikwo
• Ishielu
• Ivo
• Izzi
• Ohaozara
• Ohaukwu
• Onicha

Languages

Igbo language is the primary language and there is Korring language spoken by the Orring people of Ebonyi state who are also found in their numbers in northern Cross River state who are known as Ukelle people, and the Ufia and the Ogballa people found in Ado and Oju LGAs of Benue state. There are primarily eleven Igbo dialects spoken in Ebonyi states. They are: Afikpo, Mgbo, Izzi, Ezaa, Edda, Ikwo, Kukele, Legbo, ohofia-agba, Mbembe, Okposi, Uburu. Languages of Ebonyi State listed by LGA:

Religion

Ebonyi State are predominantly Christians.

Church

The Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki (1973) with 174 parishes is under Bishop Peter Nworie Chukwu (2021). https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dabak.html The Anglican Province of Enugu includes the Dioceses of Abakaliki led by Bishop Monday Nkwoagu, Anglican Diocese of Abakaliki Afikpo led by Bishop Paul Udogu (2010), Anglican Diocese of Afikpo Ikwo led by Bishop Kenneth C. Ifemene, Anglican Diocese of Ikwo and Ngbo led by Bishop Godwin A Awoke (2018) Anglican Diocese of Ngbo.

Education

A list of tertiary institutions in Ebonyi state includes:

• Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic
• Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu
• Ebonyi state University
• Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo
• Ebonyi State College of Health and Midwifery, Uburu
• Federal College of Education (Technical), Isu
• King David College of Medicine, Uburu, Ebonyi State
• College of Nursing and Midwifery Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Afikpo
• School of Nursing and Midwifery Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki
• Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo
• Evangel University, Okpoto

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Ebonyi State

• Anyim Pius Anyim
• Uche Azikiwe
• Andy Chukwu
• Onyebuchi Chukwu
• Martin Elechi
• Akanu Ibiam
• Francis Nwifuru
• Chigozie Ogbu
• Frank Ogbuewu
• Ogbonnaya Onu
• Emmanuel Onwe
• Nnenna Oti
• Patoranking
• Sinach
• Tekno
• Dave Umahi

References

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