Ebonyi

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)
Area
  Total 5,533 km2 (2,136 sq mi)
Area rank 33rd of 36
Population
  Estimate (2005) 1,739,136
  Rank 34 of 36
Demonym(s) Ebonyian
GDP (PPP)
  Year 2007
  Total $2.73 billion[1]
  Per capita $1,232[1]
Time zone WAT (UTC+01)
ISO 3166 code NG-EB

Ebonyi is a state of Nigeria, in the south of the Eastern region. It is inhabited and populated primarily by Igbo. Its capital and largest city is Abakaliki. It is one of the six states created in 1996 by the Abacha government. Ebonyi was created from parts of both Enugu State and Abia State. It home to four Higher institutions of learning which include: Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki (EBSU); Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI); Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana; and Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu.[2]

Demographics

There are ten primary languages spoken in Ebonyi State: Afikpo, Edda, Mgbo, Izzi, Ezza, Ikwo, Kukele, Legbo, Mbembe,Okposi,Uburu and Oring. These languages are all subgroups of the Igbo language and are commonly spoken throughout south eastern Nigeria.

Administration

In 1999, [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 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.[3]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.[5]

Local Government Areas

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

See also

References

External links

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