EBONYI STATE

Date Created: October 1, 1996

Capital: Abakaliki

Main Towns: Afkpo, Uburu, Nkalagu, Ishiagu, Okposi, Amasiri, Onicha, Abakaliki, Eba Unwana.

Ebonyi state was carved out of Abia and Enugu States on October 1, 1996 as one of the six newly created states by General Sani Abacha administration.

The state which situated in the South-eastern part of the country shares boundaries with Benue to the north, Enugu to the northwest, Abia to the south-east and Cross River to the east.

Ebonyi State consists of twelve local governments namely: Afkpo South, Afikpo North, Onicha, Ohaozara, Abakaliki, Ishielu, lkwo, Ezza, Ezza South, Ohaukwu, Ebonyi, and Ivo.

The people of Ebonyi State are predominantly farmers. Main crops obtained in this state are palm produce, cocoa, maize, groundnut, rice, yam, plantain, banana, cassava, melon, sugarcane, local beans, fruits and vegetables. Fishing is also carried out in Afikpo. The state is blessed with mineral resources such as lead, limestone, zinc, marble and salt.

In the industrial sector are Nigerian Cement Company at Nkalagu, Quarry and Crush Industries at Ishiagu.

Educationally, though young, the State boasts of a medical school campus in Abakaliki, a Federal Polytechnic in Unwana, two Schools of Nursing at Afikpo, two Colleges of Agriculture at Ishiagu and Ikwo respectively and several Secondary and Primary Schools found all over the state.

The health sector of the state is not left out. The state has two notable state hospitals, the General Hospitals at Onicha and Edda.

There are centres of Tourist attraction in the state. They are the Ndibe Beach at Afkpo, Uburu Salt Lake, Uburu, Ishiagu Pottery works, Ishiagu.

The people of this state are Igbos with several dialects and have a rich cultural heritages. This is expressed in the colourful dances namely Nkwa Umuagbogho of Afikpo and Nkwa Nwite. The pottery works of Ishiagu also form part of the rich culture of the State.