Ekiti State, Nigeria

Map of Ekiti State	Executive Governor Biodun Oyebanji	Coat of Arms
Official Website: http://www.ekitistate.gov.ng
Population: 2,384,212 (2006 Estimate)     Alias: Land of Honour and Integrity (formerly Fountain of Knowledge)
Chief Judge:: Justice Oyewole Adeyeye.
Speaker, House of Assembly: Rt. Hon. Aribasoye Adeoye Stephen

GENERAL INFORMATION
Ekiti State was created on 1st October, 1996 out of Ondo State by the then regime of General Sani Abacha. It's capital is Ado Ekiti. Ekiti State covers the former twelve local government areas that made up the Ekiti Zone of old Ondo State.

Situated in western Nigeria, Ekiti State covers 6,353 square kilometres. Ekiti State is bounded on the South by Ondo State, on the North by Kwara State, on the East by Kogi State and on the west by Osun State.

The State is mainly an upland zone, rising above 250 meters above the sea level. It lies within the area underlain by metamorphic rock of the basement complex. It has a generally undulating land surface with a characteristic landscape that consists of old plains broken by step-sided out-crops dome rocks that may occur singularly or in groups or ridges. Such rocks out-crops exist mainly at Efon-Alaaye, Ikere-Ekiti and Okemesi-Ekiti. The State is dotted with rugged hills. The notable ones among them are Ikere-Ekiti Hills in the southern part, Efon-Alaaye Hills in the western boundary and Ado-Ekiti Hills in the central part. Tropical forest exists in the south, while Guinea Savannah occupies the northern peripheries.



Ekitis are culturally homogeneous and they speak a dialect of Yoruba language known as Ekiti. The homogeneous nature of Ekiti confers on the state some uniqueness among the states of the federation. Slight differences are noticeable in the Ekiti dialects of the Yoruba language spoken by the border communities to other states. 

ECONOMY
The state is largely agrarian. Agriculture is the mainstay of the state economy. It employs 75% of the state working population.

The State is one of the largest producers of Rice, Kolanut, oil palm and cocoa in the country. They also produce crops like cassava, yam, cocoyam, maize, cowpea, citrus, plantain and fruits like cashew, mango and orange.



As the state is within the ecological belt known for abundant forest resources the state produces high quality woods which are raw material for wood based industries within and outside the state.

The state is endowed with mineral deposits of value like Clay, Kaolin, Columbite, Cassiterite, Foundry Sand, Bauxite, Clarcomite and Charcoalnite Granite.

TOURISM
Notable among its tourist attractions are the Ikogosi tourist centre which are referred to as the haven of tourism in Nigeria.

At Ikogosi, the warm and cold water oozing out from different sources from the earth crust flow separately to meet in a pool each retaining its thermal identity.



Facilities such as a modest non-chemical pools, standard Conference hall, opulent chalets, and a fascinating restaurant are provided to cater for the various needs of tourists.

Other tourist centres are; Raw Material Display Centre, Arinta Waterfall at Ipole-Iloro, Ero Dam at Ikun-Ekiti and Fajuyi Memorial Park at Ado-Ekiti. Hotels include Ikogosi Motel, Owena Motel, etc.

Local Governments
Ado Ekiti-East Ekiti-West Emure/Ise/Orun Ekiti South-West Ikare	Irepodun Ijero Ido/Osi Oye Ikole	Moba Gbonyin Efon Ise/Orun Ilejemeje.