Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Map of Akwa Ibom State	Executive Governor Udom Emmanuel	Coat of Arms
Official Website: http://www.akwaibomstate.gov.ng
Population: 3,920,208 (2006 Estimate)     Alias: Land of Promise
Local Governments
Abak Eastern Obolo Eket Esit Eket Essien Udim Etim Ekpo Etinan Ibeno Ibesikpo Asutan Ibiono Ibom Ika	Ikono Ikot Abasi Ikot Ekpene 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 Uyo

GENERAL INFORMATION Akwa Ibom State was created on September 23, 1987, by the then Federal Military Government under General lbrahim Babangida, out of the then Cross River State with Uyo as it's capital. Akwa Ibom was created by combining the Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Eket and Abak divisions of old Calabar province. Ikot Ekpene, Abak, Eket, Ibeno are a few of many prominent cities. Ibibio, Annang, Oron, Eket and Ibeno are the major languages. Akwa Ibom State is located in the south-east of the country, lying between latitudes 4°321 and 5°331 North, and longitudes 7°251 and 8°251 East. The State 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.

Akwa Ibom State is made up of a homogeneous group of people believed to have originated from a single ancestral stock. The languages spoken in the state are closely related, and the Annang and Ibibio languages are mostly identical with a few dialectical differences. The Eket and Ibeno languages are more closely related to each other than to the other two, and are only partially understandable by speakers of the other two languages. The people are predominantly of the Christian faith although some native African religions are practised by some of the people.



The inhabitants of the state are: Ibibio, Annang, Ibeno and Eket. The Ibibio are the largest group, whilst the Annang, which form the second largest group, speak a language very similar to the Ibibio Language. Ibeno and Eket speak a similar language, and are located at the ocean. The Ibibio language belongs to the Benue-Congo language family, which forms part of the Niger-Congo group of languages.

ECONOMY
Akwa Ibom State is a predominantly civil service state with the government being the major engine of growth. The people are mainly farmers and fishermen in the riverine areas.

Akwa Ibom is a major oil producing state, with most of the oilfilelds located offshore Ibeno. The government has made attempts to diversify the state economy along the lines of mechanised agriculture, tourism and IT. This is typified by the Ibom Rice, IT parks initiatives, and the 5-star Ibom Meridien Hotel and Resort, and world class golf course.