Ebonyi State

Ebonyi
State
Nickname(s): Salt of the Nation
Igbo: Mbà ùmẹ́ ànị̀

Location of Ebonyi State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 6°15′N 8°05′E / 6.250°N 8.083°E / 6.250; 8.083Coordinates: 6°15′N 8°05′E / 6.250°N 8.083°E / 6.250; 8.083
Country  Nigeria
Date created 1 October 1996
Capital Abakaliki
Government
 • Governor
(List)		 David Nweze Umahi (PDP)
 • Deputy Governor Eric Kelechi Igwe
 • Senators
Area
 • Total 5,533 km2 (2,136 sq mi)
Area rank 33rd of 36
Population (2006 Census)
 • Total 2,176,947
 • Rank 34 of 36
 • Density 390/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Ebonyian
GDP (PPP)
 • Year 2007
 • Total $2.73 billion[1]
 • Per capita $1,232[1]
Time zone UTC+01 (WAT)
ISO 3166 code NG-EB

Ebonyi is a state in southeastern Nigeria. It is inhabited and populated primarily by the Igbo.[2] Its capital and largest city is Abakaliki. Other major towns include Afikpo, Unwana, Onueke, Edda, Onicha, etc. It was one of the six states created in 1996 by the then federal military government. The State of Ebonyi was created from parts of both Enugu State and Abia State, which in turn were initially constituents of the old Anambra and Imo States respectively. It has three senatorial zones (north, south & central), thirteen local government areas as well as local development centres created by the state government. It is home to six Higher institutions of learning: Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki (EBSU); Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo (FUNAI); Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana; Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu; Ebonyi State College of Education Ikwo (EBSCOEI) and College of Health Sciences, Ezzamgbo.[3]

Demographics

There are several Igbo dialects spoken in Ebonyi State, including Edda, Ehugbo, Izi-Ezza-Mgbo-Ikwo dialect cluster, Unwara, Akpoha, Okposi, Onicha and Uburu.

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.

Natural Resources

Ebonyi is primarily an agricultural region. It is a leading producer of rice, yam, potatoes, maize, beans, and cassava in Nigeria.[4] Rice and yams are predominantly cultivated in Edda, a region within the state.[4] 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 several incentives to investors in the agro-allied sector to encourage production. Ebonyi is called "the salt of the nation" for its huge salt deposit at the Okposi and Uburu Salt Lakes.[4]

Local Government Areas

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

See also

  • 2011 clashes in Ebonyi State
  • "Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu".
  • Ebonyi State Executive Council

References

  1. 1 2 "C-GIDD (Canback Global Income Distribution Database)". Canback Dangel. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
  2. ↑ http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~legneref/igbo/igbo2.htm
  3. ↑ "Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu". FECAI, Ishiagu. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "[Ebonyi Online - About Ebonyi State
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.