Information
City: EkitiCountry: Nigeria
Continent: Africa
Ekiti, Nigeria, Africa
Overview
Ekiti is one of Nigeria’s 36 states, tucked away in the country’s southwest where red earth lines the roadside.The area’s rolling hills catch the light at sunset, and its deep cultural roots run just as strong as its passion for education.Here’s a closer look-starting with point one.Ekiti State sits in southwest Nigeria, with Ado‑Ekiti as its capital, and stretches between Kwara to the north, Kogi to the northeast, Ondo to the south and southeast, and Osun to the west, where red earth lines the roadside.The land rises into gentle uplands, dotted with rolling hills, quiet valleys, and dense tropical forests where the air smells faintly of wet earth.In the local language, “Ekiti” means “hill,” the kind you might see rising gently on the horizon.Two.As of the latest update, the governor is Biodun Oyebanji, and the state has 16 local government areas, including Ado-Ekiti, Ikere, Ijero, Oye, Ekiti East, Ekiti West, Ikole, and Ise/Orun.Three.Ekiti was carved from old Ondo State on October 1, 1996, under General Sani Abacha’s military rule, a day marked by the sharp crack of celebratory gunfire.The Ekiti belong to the wider Yoruba ethnic group, their roots stretching back hundreds of years to a time when drums echoed through village squares.They speak and celebrate much like other Yoruba communities, yet hold on to their own unmistakable identity-woven into the songs, stories, and colors of daily life.Number four.The people are mostly Ekiti-Yoruba, speaking Yoruba in the Ekiti dialect, with English as the official language you’ll hear in schools and government offices.Mostly Christian, with a sizable Muslim community and pockets of traditional African faiths-think drumbeats echoing during village ceremonies.In Ado‑Ekiti, the Udiroko Festival and the Ogun Festival fill the streets with the pulse of drums, lively music, and dancing-essential threads in the fabric of local culture.The Ekiti are known for honoring their elders and living closely together, often sharing meals under the shade of a mango tree.Five.People often call Ekiti the “Fountain of Knowledge” for its strong focus on learning and impressive literacy rates, where classrooms hum with the sound of turning pages.It’s home to Ekiti State University, where lecture halls buzz with students, and to the Federal University in Oye-Ekiti.The state’s dotted with primary and secondary schools, many carrying decades of proud tradition-classrooms where the scent of old books lingers.Number six.The economy’s mostly agrarian, with neighbors out early tending rows of corn and wheat.The main crops here include yam, cassava, maize, cocoa, rice, and palm products, from glossy green palm nuts to golden ears of maize.Other economic pursuits include trading goods in busy market stalls, crafting items by hand, and running small local industries.Its rolling hills, thundering waterfalls, and quiet forest reserves make it a place with real tourism potential.Seven.Ikogosi Warm Springs offers a rare sight-warm water and cold water running side by side, clear enough to watch the currents mingle.Arinta Waterfalls in Ipole-Iloro, the Erin Ayonigba Sacred Fish River in Erinjiyan-Ekiti, and the Olosunta and Orole Hills in Ikere-Ekiti brim with local myths, age-old worship sites, and striking views-like sunlight spilling across the rocky slopes.Eight.The road network is fairly well developed, connecting LGAs with nearby states through smooth stretches of asphalt.In recent years, healthcare’s gotten better and clean water flows more reliably, though both still run into stubborn problems.Electricity reaches most places, though in some towns the lights still flicker.Nine.In Ekiti, politics is lively and loud, with crowds turning out in force on election day.The state swings back and forth between Nigeria’s two big political parties-most often the PDP and the APC-like a pendulum ticking between familiar points.Among the well-known names in local politics are Kayode Fayemi, who once led the state, Ayo Fayose, another former governor, and Biodun Oyebanji, the man currently holding the office.Ten.Youth face high unemployment and underemployment, rural roads and utilities often fall short, election seasons sometimes stir political tension, and in some regions, erosion eats away at the land.
Landmarks in ekiti
