Akwa Ibom State

Akwa Ibom State is the foremost state in crude oil and natural gas production in Nigeria. The State is domiciled in the oil-rich SouthSouth geopolitical zone and has the serene town of Uyo as the State's capital. Akwa Ibom State is bordered by Cross river state, Rivers state, Abia State and the Atlantic Ocean. Popular tribes in Akwa Ibom State include the Ibibio, Annang, Eket, Obolo, Efik, Ibono and Oron.There are a number of tertiary Institutions in Akwa Ibom state and these include the University of Uyo, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron, Akwa Ibom state University Oruk Anam and Mkpat Enin, Obong University, Akwa Ibom state Polytechnic Ikot Osurua, Uyo city Polytechnic Nduetong Oku, Apex Polytechnic, Heritage Polytechnic Eket, School of Nursing Uyo, Akwa Ibom state College of Education Afaha Nsit, Ritman University, and Sure Polytechnic Ukanafun.   

The State boasts 31 Local Government Areas which include Abak, Eastern Obolo, Eket, Esit Eket, Essien Udim, Etim Ekpo, Etinan, Ibeno, Ibesikpo Asutan, Ibiono Ibom, Ika, Ikono, Ikot Ekpene, Ikot Abasi, Ini, Itu, Mbo, Mkpat Enin, Nsit Atai, Nsit Ibom, Nsit Ubium, Obot Akara, Okobo, Onna, Oron, Oruk Anam, Udung Uko, Ukanafun, Uruan, Urue Offong, Oruko, and Uyo. Christianity is the dominant religious persuasion in Akwa Ibom state. Akwa Ibom State also has an estimated population of 3, 920,218 inhabitants while the State boasts prominent Landmarks such as the magnificent Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Ibeno beach, Ibom Plaza, Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Center, Akwa Ibom International Airport, Le Meridien Ibom Golf Resort, National Museum Uyo, Lord Lugard's Residence, the Ibom e-library and the Maritime Academy of Nigeria.

Akwa Ibom state is home to a number of indigenous cuisines which include the very popular Afang soup which is served with eba or fufu and a plethora of sea food which include oysters, periwinkles and crab. Important festivals held in Akwa Ibom state include the Atakpo, Ekong, Ekong Nkemba, Ekpe, Ekpiri Akata, Mfuuho, Ikon Ebre, New Yam, Obodom Eyong, Usoro Ekpo, Oko, Mbre Mmong, and Iso Awa- Itam festivals.       

AKWA IBOM STATE GOVERNOR

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State is Udom Emmanuel.

AKWA IBOM STATE SLOGAN

Land of Promise

GEOGRAPHY OF AKWA IBOM STATE

Akwa Ibom State is typically a water-bordered geographical entity considering its close proximity to the Atlantic ocean. The annual precipitation level is appreciably high at 4000mm per annum with the average temperature ranging between 24-25 degrees centigrade. The total area of Akwa Ibom State is estimated at 7,081 km squared with about 60 percent of this consisting of water.   

ECONOMY OF AKWA IBOM STATE

The predominance of oceans and water bodies in Akwa Ibom State makes it ideal for fishing and quite a sizeable percentage of the State's population indulge in this either as a pasttime or as a means of livelihood. Farming is also a veritable source of income for inhabitants of Akwa Ibom State.

However, owing to the huge deposits of crude oil in Akwa Ibom State and the gargantuan scale of operations in the Oil sector within the state, the crude oil business is easily Akwa Ibom State's most viable economic activity providing employment opportunities to over 60 percent of the State's workforce with the prescence of several multinational oil companies adding to Akwa Ibom State's revenue. Other mineral resources found in Akwa Ibom state include limestone, clay, gold, salt, coal, silver nitrate, glass sand, silica sand, lignite, uranium, lead, and Zinc.

Also, Akwa Ibom has an international airport and two seaports with a third being constructed at great expense in the town of Ibaka. Trade also booms in Akwa Ibom state with the state hosting several markets which include the Abak main market, Abo market, Uyo main market, Affiong market, Ura Bom market, Urua Oto market, Offiong Etok market, Obong Annang market, Itam market, and the Ibno market in Eket.       

HISTORY OF AKWA IBOM STATE

Akwa Ibom State was carved out of  Cross River State in 1987 by the administration of Gen Ibrahim Babangida with Tunde Ogbeha as the pioneer administrator of the State from 1987-1988. Former Governors of Akwa Ibom state include

Tunde Ogbeha - 1987- 1988

Godwin Abbe- 1988- 1990

Idongesit Nkanga- 1990- 1992

Akpan Isemin- 1992-1993

Yakubu Bako- 1993-1996

Joseph Adeusi- 1996-1998

John Ebiye- 1998-1999

Victor Attah - 1999- 2007

Godswill Akpabio - 2007- 2015

Udom Emmanuel - 2015 to date.