Akwa Ibom State Anthem

The Anthem of Akwa Ibom State

Stanza One

Let Us Rise, Akwa Ibom State
To The Faith Of Greatness
O Akwa Abasi Ibom,
Let Our Dreams Be Ever One
Rise Beyond Ethnicity
Build With Love, ‘our Promised Land’
Forward Ever! Backward Never!
Serve The Land In Unity And Love

Stanza Two

God of mercy hear our plea,
make our land a place to be,
Let the war-like sheathe his sword,
still all vices in the land.
Grant your rule O Prince of Peace,
that our State may ever be
Peaceful ever! Warring never!
Let your will O! God forever reign.

Akwa Ibom is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered by Cross River, Rivers, Abia, Ebonyi states and the Atlantic Ocean.

Akwa Ibom Governor (in dark cloth, standing up, in the middle), Deputy Governor (the lady standing by the Governor’s left hand side) & top traditional rulers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, 2023
Busy road on Itam market day, Akwa Ibom

It was created in 1987 from Cross River State and has 31 local government areas.

It  has a population of about 5.5 million people as of 2016 and is the 15th most populous state in Nigeria.

The state is rich in natural resources such as oil, gas, clay, limestone, salt, and coal.

Akwa Ibom is also known for its cultural diversity and language similarities. There are over 20 languages spoken in Akwa Ibom, but the major ones are Ibibio, Anaang, Efik, and Igbo.

Akwa Ibom takes its name from the Qua Iboe River which bisects Akwa Ibom before flowing into the Bight of Bonny.

Akwa Ibom has a tropical climate with two seasons: rainy and dry. The rainy season lasts from April to October and the dry season from November to March.

It is home to various tourist attractions such as the Ibom Plaza, the Ibeno Beach, the Stubb’s Creek Forest Reserve, the National Museum of Colonial History, and the Meridien Akwa Ibom golf course.

Akwa Ibom has a vibrant culture and celebrates various festivals such as the New Yam Festival, the Ekpe Masquerade Festival, the Leboku Festival, and the Christmas Carols Festival.

Located in the South Eastern part of the country, Akwa Ibom is a key member of Nigeria’s South South Zone, rich in crude oil, natural gas and a diversity of agricultural produce. 

Over 5000 expatriates working for various organisations like Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron, Elf, the Aluminum Smelter Company, ALSCON, Forrestal, Reynold International and the University of Uyo have found a home here.

Capital City: Uyo

Other Major Cities: Eket, Ikot Ekpene, Abak, Ikot Abasi and Oron.

Ethnic Groups: Multi-ethnic: Ibibio, Anang, Oron, Eket, Ibeno, Mbo

Location: Latitude 4o 32’ and 5o53’ North and Longitude 7o25’ and 8o25 East.

Area: 8,412 square kilometers

Climate: Tropical climate marked by two distinct seasons; the dry season (November – March) and the wet season (April – October). The wet season is usually interrupted by a short dry spell in August.

Mean annual rainfall is 2,200mm in the north of the state and 3,500mm in the south of the state.

Sunshine is between 1,400 to 1,500 hours per year. Average temperature range from 23oC to 31oC.

Vegetation: Three easily distinguishable vegetation; the saline water swamp forest, the fresh water swamp forest and the rainforest.

Mineral Resources: Crude oil, natural gas, limestone, gold, salt, coal, silver nitrate, glass sand, kaolin.

The major industrial crop is the oil palm tree. The Akwa Ibom has the densest groves of oil palm in Nigeria. The Akwa Palm Industries PLC was set up in 1991 to harness the full potential of this crop.

The production of crude palm oil will allow for downstream industries which can refine the oil into vegetable oil, soaps, margarine, glycerin, candles, detergents and numerous other products. The kernel oil is used for the manufacture of high quality toilet soap. Bye product from the oil palm industries are used for the production of livestock feeds.

Arable Crops
Cassava
Yam
Cocoyam
Maize
Rice
Cowpea
Melon

Horticultural or Fruit Crops
Plantain
Banana
Pineapple
Pawpaw
Mango
African peas

Vegetable Crops
Leafy vegetable
Okro
Pepper
Tomatoes

Cash Crops
Oil palm
Coconut
Rubber
Cocoa
Raffia palm
Gmelina
Kola

Although Akwa Ibom is mineral-rich, agriculture is the bedrock of its economy. It employs about 70 percent of the state’s workforce. Most are engaged in subsistent farming. The industrial sector is small and is dominated by government owned companies. The private sector is active in the service areas, although a few industries are privately owned.

At inception, the state inherited a number of companies from Cross River State. These are:

  • Sunshine Batteries, Essien Udim
  • Peacock Paint, Etinam
  • Quality Ceramic Industries, Itu
  • Qua Steal Products Limited, Eket
  • Asbestonit Industries, Oron
  • Plasto – Crown Industries, Uyo
  • International Biscuits Limited, Ikot Ekpene
  • Champion Breweries, Uyo
  • Pamil Industries, Abak

Most of the companies are ailing, becoming a drain on government. As part of the economic policies, these companies are to be revived and privatized. Government is diverting its interest in them in line with overall philosophy to focus on creating an enabling environment for private sector initiatives to flourish.

The LGAs (Local Government Areas) in Akwa Ibom State are:

  1. Abak
  2. Eastern Obolo
  3. Eket
  4. Esit Eket
  5. Essien Udim
  6. Etim Ekpo
  7. Etinan
  8. Ibeno
  9. Ibesikpo Asutan
  10. Ibiono Ibom
  11. Ika
  12. Ikono
  13. Ikot Abasi
  14. Ikot Ekpene
  15. Ini
  16. Itu
  17. Mbo
  18. Mkpat Enin
  19. Nsit Atai
  20. Nsit Ibom
  21. Nsit Ubium
  22. Obot Akara
  23. Okobo
  24. Onna
  25. Oron
  26. Oruk Anam
  27. Udung Uko
  28. Ukanafun
  29. Uruan
  30. Urue-Offong/Oruko
  31. Uyo