elbinmanny:
Sights of Ikot-Ekpene

Dragonking:


The south south is the best place to stay in Nigeria..the environment is conducive, the air is fresh, the people are hospitable(not tribalistic and not religious fanatics)..Everything is just great..if all SS governors can work hard and develop their states, there is no need hustling in Lagos or abuja.

mmsen:


'Arochuku' was an Ibibio settlement initially.

They retained the customs even after the influx of Igbo speaking peoples.

elbinmanny:
its possible cos ikot ekpene is the borther town to Abia state

lazsnaira:

Are you from umuahia?

elbinmanny:
Sights of Ikot-Ekpene

elbinmanny:
Ikot Ekpene, known throughout Nigeria as " The Raffia City", or locally simply as "IK," is a historic town in the southernNigeria,in Akwa Ibom state. It is the political and cultural capital of theAnnang ethnic group in Nigeria (Nair, 1972). The town is located on the A342 highway that parallels the coast, between Calabar to the south east andAba to the west, with the state capital,Uyo, on this road just to the east.Umuahia is the next major town to the north.Ikot Ekpene is known as a regional centre of commerce, with notable exports of palm products, especiallypalm oil, kernels, raffia products including raffia fibers and its sweet wine, as well as ground crops of yams,cassava, taro, and corn. The population is made up primarily of the Annangpeople with a small number of Igbo Traders and Hausa Suya Vendors. Significant exports also include basket weaving, sculpture, and, most notably,raffia cane furniture (hence the colloquial name of the town).Though most inhabitants of the area did not have direct contact with European traders who they called Mbakara until early in the twentieth century, it is believed that European articles of trade reached the people since the 17th century. Sustained contact with the Europeans began during the Aro expedition when Ukpong Inokon, an Aro Blood Brotherhood leader escaped to Ifuho. (Ette, in press) In November 1903, British troops arrived in the area from Calabar and the following year established a garrison there in January 1904. From Ikot Ekpene the troops marched to Uyo and from there to Abak and Opobo (now Ikot Abasi). Between 1904 and 1910, Ikot Ekpene became part of the Eyong District. In 1914 Enyong District was broken up into two: Enyong and Ikot Ekpene Districts. The new Ikot Ekpene District included Uyo and Abak with the headquarters in Ikot Ekpene town (Akpan, 1967).By 1919 trade with Europeans opened up as the town became an administrative center. The following companies had post and stores in the town: John Holt Cooperative Wholesale Society Paterson Zochonos (PZ), G. B. Olivant and the Compagnie Francaise de L'Afrique Occidentals. The establishment of these companies resulted in exodus from the surrounding areas and made Ikot Ekpene a vibrant metropolis. In 1937, the colonial administration built the main market and separated those who sold imported European goods from indigenous articles. A slaughter house was added to allow for the inspection of meat.Under the British the town became the seat of both the (Annang), Division and (Ikot Ekpene) County Council. Today it is a municipal center in the state of Akwa Ibom.Kannan Nair, the noted historian described the town as a cultural and political capital of the Annangs and the Ibibios. The Ibibios live to the East and most of the Annangs live to the South of the town. In 1903, the British sent in troops and a garrison was stationed there at the main entrance to the town known as Control Post. The town was so important to the British that when a proposed road linking Owerri and Calabar in the late 1920s was to bypass the town, the British administrators abandoned the idea in favor of one linking Eket and Owerri in order to bring the town into the loop (Nair, 1972). It became the site of the experiment in local self governance by the British in 1951. It was also the birthplace of the famous Ibibio Welfare Union when James Udo Eka teamed up with Udosen Obot at Methodist school in Ikot Obong Edong ( Noah, 1988).Ikot Ekpene, probably more than any other town, was seriously impacted in the Biafrian civil war. It had strategic military and political importance to both the Biafrians and Nigerians. The town and the area changed hands at least 3 times in this bitter conflict. Following the war, the new reorganization and state structure led to policies that did not recognize the historic importance of the town as most of the Annang leaders were massacred during the war.Like most Annang communities, Ikot Ekpene has a tradition of self-improvement from its sons and daughters, both near and far. Several groups are working together to recapture and rebuild what they fondly call "The Raffia City". Ikot Ekpene has a long history of transforming the raffia fibre into cloth used in shoes, hats, handbags, mats and with distinctive cultural carvings made out of wood. These unique arts and crafts trades have continued alongside traditional agriculture.Many foreign organizations and churches are present in the area. Four institutions of higher learning have added a richness to the town: The Akwa-Ibom state polythecnic Ikot Osurua, Ritman university, the School of Nursing and the St Joseph Major Theological Seminary.

ethicalUser:
Sheraton under construction in the heart of IK

Eberex:
I spent a year in IK between 2013-2014. I worked as facility engineer at gov akpabio's place at Ukana.
They have good weather, good roads but most of the indigenes are not hospitable. In as much as you find good structures in this part of akwa ibom, I must say these people think too local.
When it comes to sunday worship, they are number one, yet they believe more on fetish things.
One of the difficult things I went through was the language. Kai ! Whenever you mEet someone, they would automatically think u are one of them. Very rare to see them speak good english. But what I did enjoy was their soup. White soup, afang, atanma etc. No tomato sauce for here o! What they use as stew is pepper soup with white rice. I never tried it. I will contiunue with my article later abeg

philips70:


Nice job. But Sheraton in Ikot Ekpene? What's the attraction, business environment or tourism? Hope it's not going to be one abandoned ill patronized Sheraton though.

ocelot2006:


The Le Meriden is at quiet Uduak, yet it is a hot spot for tourists and golfers. This Sheraton is in the heart of one of Akwa Ibom ' s bustling cities and commercial hub, AND a short ride from Uyo. Trust me, it will thrive VERY WELL.

Flyingngel:




Atan akpan iko. Mkpo abadie?

john4aguero:

So you from Akwa Ibom? Iyammi

Raxxye:
Ade eyen Annang?

intergral:
I also stay in warri delta state... Mehn that you Governor F*cked up.... Imagine local governments like Udu that is an oil producing place looks as if they are from one of the poorest states in Nigeria...

elbinmanny:
you are very much welcome dear. The masqurade is the popular "ekpo masqurade"

Spaxon:

john4aguero:


Chai!!! I sabi say Akwa Ibom no de everly carry last. Ameyaya idogho etuk.

fellory:



comments from handles such as this belongs to a non yoruba.The intention Is to create angst among the yoruba and other tribes.You must however be discerning enough to recognise this.

elbinmanny:
Craft and culture

Spaxon:

idioko oooo

idem mmfoo?

einsteino:



Uduaghan is a dissapointment what annoys me the most is he keeps bagging awards for the best governor. Please on what basis do they even give him this award, cos atimes i wonder if there is another Uduaghan who governs a delta that is different from the one i know of.

Spaxon:

ataa eyen ikpaisong. annang

Raxxye:
Lol. Just sent you a PM. You cool?