Ekiti State
“Fountain of Knowledge”
Key Information
Capital City
Ado Ekiti
Governor
Biodun Oyebanji
Deputy Governor
Monisade Afuye
Date Created
October 1, 1996
Geopolitical Zone
South West
Area
6,353 km²
Estimated Population
3,277,717 (2016 estimate)
Senatorial Districts
3
About Ekiti State
Ekiti State is a landlocked territory in southwestern Nigeria known for its mountainous landscape and high academic output. It was carved out of Ondo State and is inhabited by the Ekiti people, a sub-group of the Yoruba ethnic group.
Creation and Historical Background
Ekiti State was created on October 1, 1996, by the military government of General Sani Abacha. It was excised from the northern part of the old Ondo State following years of advocacy by the Ekiti Council of Obas and the Ekiti State Creation Committee. The state is culturally homogeneous, with the Ekiti dialect of the Yoruba language spoken across its sixteen local government areas.
Geography and Natural Landmarks
The state's topography is defined by its undulating hills and valleys, which sit at an average elevation of over 250 metres above sea level. It features a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, supporting vegetation that lies largely within the rainforest belt with areas of derived savanna toward the northern parts. Notable geological formations include the metamorphic rock outcrops found in areas like Ikere and the unique confluence of warm and cold springs at Ikogosi.
Economic Activities and Agriculture
Agriculture is the primary occupation of the Ekiti people, providing employment for a majority of the rural population. The state produces cash crops such as cocoa and oil palm, as well as timber and other forest products, alongside food crops like yams, cassava, and rice. Recent economic initiatives focus on developing the Ekiti Knowledge Zone to leverage the state's high literacy rates for technology and service-based industries.
Education and Cultural Identity
Often cited as the 'Land of Honour and Integrity,' Ekiti is historically recognized for producing a disproportionately high number of professors and academic professionals in Nigeria. Education is highly valued as a tool for social mobility, supported by institutions like Ekiti State University and Afe Babalola University. The state's culture is celebrated through traditional festivals such as the Udiroko and Egungun festivals, which emphasize communal history and ancestral reverence.
Local Government Areas (16)
Other Nigerian States
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