Attractive Variety of Natural
Landscapes
Across the state, especially as you move from the coastal south to the elevated
north, you will find an attractive variety of natural landscapes, offering breath-taking
views. They range from the moody mangrove swamp and picturesque vegetation island,
to flat land of secondary vegetation and pockets of thick tropical forests, palm
groves and vegetable land to rugged valleys on the slopes of gentle rolling hills.
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I promised the people that if they elect me as governor, their lives will not be
the same again and I am doing it, I have several other lofty plans for residents
of the state. I am not one of those whose coming to power was fortuitous, I prepared
for it and I know that God will assist me achieve my vision for the state.
- Akpabio
Ibom Entertainment Centre
- 5-Star Hotel with 250 rooms, Int'l Standard Theme/Water Park
- Galleria with Multiple Cinema Hall, 10,000 Seater Dome
- Shopping Mall
- Complimentary Services with Monorail
Historic Sites
These relics are characterized by architectural designs, squat masonry district
offices and government guest houses with elevated zinc pan roofs, open-walled and
steep-roofed native court buildings, iron bridges and cottage styled masonry houses.
A visit to the state will present one with nostalgic feelings of colonial presence
and occupation.
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Entertainment
Akwa Ibom State is a rich entertainment destination where guests persist their enjoyment
in the mind much longer after each experience. Over the years the people's heritage
have developed into a sharable treasure with contemporary and traditional music
rich in meaning arousing to the senses and rendered with our supporting culture.
Our dancers are not just talented, they are genius in the act and you can feel the
world move with their dance steps. There are several dance troupes where dancing
speaks and plays.
Being an amusing people, there are various comedians to deliver double barrel non
stop laughter with stories so exotic to extend laughter beyond the gates.
With the coming on stream of the Tropicanna entertainment center latest pictures
will enjoy being premiered right in Uyo so our guests don't miss a thing away from
home.
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Hotels
Hotels in Akwa Ibom provide a gladdening stay for guests. At very afordable rates
they provide delightful facilities and packages to make them a home away from home.
They are hotels for every pocket, and for various kinds of visit. Whichever you
choose, you still get the legendary Akwa Ibom hospitality.
We have transient, resort, and residential hotels. The transient hotels provide
room with private bath, telephone, cable television,as well as customer services
such as laundry, cleaning, pressing, night club, restaurant, cocktail lounge, and
gift shop. The resort hotels provide a more luxurious stay with facilities and special
attractions targeted at vacationers. Such facilities include water sports and health
spa. The residential hotels offer room service in addition.
Most of our hotels operate on the European plan where tariffs cover only the room
and guests make their own arrangements for meals and services except for resort
packages which come seasonally.
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Tourism
Akwa Ibom is a rich tourism destination offering unrivalled wealth of scenic landscape,
long sandy coast, a wealth of wildlife and culture. Plus a warm and friendly people,
known for their exceptional culinary skills. Solidly wedged in Nigeria's south eastern
flank, the state is deeply religious and this shows not only in its name which translates
into The Great God of Heaven, but also in the rich relics of its traditional religion
which have been preserved across the state. The local dances, songs, folkore, mythology,
cult and traditional festivals provide engaging opportunities for those who seek
naked excitement and unspoilt pleasure.
Ibeno sand beach famous for yatching and swimming, Oron Museaum - collection of
finest carvings in Africa, Opobo Boatyard. Natural sand beaches at Ikot Abasi.
Akwa Ibom State is uni-cultural where the mores, taboos, customs and traditions
are basically the same. Similarly, the state is blessed with that there is no language
barrier among the three ethnic groups as Ibibio is spoken and understood among all
linguistic groups. But officially, English is spoken.
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Education
In Akwa Ibom State premium is placed on education as a way of empowering the future
generation. The higher institutions in the state are University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom
State University of Technology, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, College of Education,
Afaha Nsit, Obong University. They are sponsored
by both state and federal government.
Primary and secondary schools are free and compulsory for the protection of child
rights, this has led to increased enrolments.
Government also awards scholarships to various levels of students of higher institutions.
The targeted education strategy involves capacity building and empowerment that
moves technology and science based professionals into vital sectors to meet challenges
of a modern economy so as to fight unemployment and assure adequate supply of skilled
manpower. Further, these professionals as specialists in their respective fields
become able to manage themselves.as a business unit or become highly employable.
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Health
Akwa Ibom with a population of 3.9 million and 31 local government areas takes the
health of her citizens serious. The state implements a health care delivery system
through a two pronged integrated primary health care services and secondary health
care strategies.
The integrated primary health care services is deployed to carry out preventive
health care measures, health education, maternal care, infant and child care and
immunizations, mass screening, social work and environmental and occupational health.
On the huge scar HIV/AIDS has left on humanity the state has deployed an action
plan to fight the scourge. By establishing18 centres for the prevention of mother-to-child
HIV/AIDS transmission and 47 HIV/AIDS testing and counselling centres. Free food
supplements are disbursed daily for those with the virus.
Secondary healthcare facilities in the State has 42 institutions which includes
12 general Hospitals, 7 Cottage Hospitals, 8 Comprehensive Health Centres and 9
Voluntary Agency Hospitals.
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Media Houses
The State operates electronic and print media for information
disemination to her growing population. There are TV and radio stations as well
as a newspaper coporation that keeps the people abreast of happenings in and around
the state. Government
utilises the power of the press to mould opinion and set agenda.
These media houses conduct a systematic dissemination of entertainment, information,
educational programming, announcements of political and social events, as well as
public opinion and government agenda. Together, these media houses have become agents
for social change between government and the general public.
These media houses provide locally produced content broadcasting in English and
occasionally in Ibibio for the natives. They welcome business enterprise adverts
and advertorial.
Government champions special programmes through her public enlightenment parastatal,
Ethical and Attitudinal Re-orientation Commission (EARCOM), EARCOM seeks to inculcate
traditionally treasured values of honesty, integrity, self esteem, enterprising
spirit, respect to self and constituted authorities, sanctity of human life, peaceful
coexistence, continence, sexual morality, work ethics, contractual obligation and
general responsibilities among citizens. Private enterprises also sponsors a number
of programmes towards the service to their customers.
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Government
There are 31 Local Government areas in the state with Ikot Ekpene, the oldest local
government area in Nigeria created in 1951, as one of them. Others are: Abak, Eket,
Ekpe, Atai, Essien Udim, Etinan, Etim Ekpo, Ikono,Ikot Abasi, Ini, Itu, Mbo, Mkpat
Enin, Nsit. Ibom, Nsit Ubium, Okobo, Onna, Oron, Oruk Anam, Ukanafun, Uquo Ibeno,
Uruan, Urue Offong/Oruko, Uyo, Obot Akara, Ibesikpo Asutan, Ibiono Ibom, Eastern
Obolo, Udung Uko, Ika, Ibeno.
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Performing Arts
Akwa Ibom State has a robust tradition of drama and theatre. The state is richly
endowed with a well articulated and diversified tradition of celebrated rituals,
myths, festivals, initiation, masquerading, ceremonies, story telling, as well as
performing arts, songs, poetry, music, dance, mime and puppetry.
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Traditional Games
Akwa Ibom taditional games are a reflection of traditional and cultural history,
societal role, and norms of the people. Apart from their recreational aims, Akwa
Ibom traditional games seek to inculcate good moral values, resilience in the face
of strong opposition, honesty, respect for superiors, skills and production of socially
fit and well mannered citizens. Above all, since these games are played in participation
of large audiences, they afford the opportunity for family, village and communal
contract.
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Transportation
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Visual Arts
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Museums and Monuments
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The State Transport Company (AKTC) provides transport services to members of the
Public. These services are complemented by the Local Government Mass Transit Programme
and Private transporters. The Calabar and Port Harcourt seaports in Cross River
and Rivers States respectively, as well as Oron, Ifiayong and Ikot Abasi beaches
in Akwa Ibom provide access by sea.
The Mobil Air-strip at Eket, the Calabar and Port Harcourt International Airports
also provide air services to the State.
The construction of Ibom International Airport has reached an advanced stage. The
Akwa Ibom International Airport, occupying 2,453 hectres is located within the three
local Government areas of Uruan, Okobo and Nsit Atai. It is designed to have a capacity
for handling Boeing 747 aircraft, currently the world's largest Jet-liner. The three
main components of the airport are:
- Aircraft Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO)
- Cargo Operation
- Passenger Operation
Ultra Modern Motor Parks
With booming commnercial activities in the State, the government has developed four
ultra- modern motor parks in Uyo, the State capital to facilitate easy movement
of goods and services. These parks are located at Itam, Mbiabong, Olusegun Obasanjo
Way, near Federal Secretariat and Aka-Nung-Udoe Road, near Champion Breweries Plc.
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Amongst the better known traditional arts of Africa are those of Akwa Ibom State.
This is evident in the archeological findings of anthropologists. Raffia and cane
craft have developed in the State to the extent that Ikot Ekpene, the main cluster
of raffia craft in the Town is known as the ‘Raffia City’. While in Ikot Andem Itam
in Itu, cane craft is more of a passion than an art.
To this end, arts and crafts occupy a vintage place in the culture of the people.
It remains a pride as one of the cultural endowments of the State. Akwa Ibom is
one of the best known traditional arts and craft making parts of the African continent.
This is expressed in its indigenous works of art and its rich amalgam of artists
like Ekpo Eyo (1977) of the Ibibio Mask and Oron Ekpu fame, Akpan the sculptor of
world acclaim among others. It is a thing of interest that majority of the art carvings
and masks were designed and produced by the people of Annang sub-linguistic group
found around Ikot Ekpene area of the State.
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Museums, historic sites and monuments dot the entire landscape of Akwa Ibom State.
This is evidence of the people’s enormous cultural vitality and capacity for immediate
response to facing new challenges. There are Stone Age, metal-smelting sites, bronze
and terracotta figurines, ancient farming and fishing settlements and sites of abandoned
village playgrounds, sacred groves and shrines.
There are three museums in Akwa Ibom State which hold the relics of ethnic works
of arts and history of the cultural heritage of the people of Akwa Ibom State. The
museums are located in Uyo, Oron and Ikot Udo Essang in Onna Local Government of
the State.
There is also the traditional centres of religious ritual and group dispersal like
the famous Akwa Akpa Island, Ibom and Asan Ibibio, Afaha Nsit and Obio Ibiono and
early settlement sites at Enwang, Ididep, Isiet and Inua Akpa, Otoro and Esuk Oro
with legendary landing beaches, pre- colonial water routes that leads to the ancient
river beach market which agricultural produce, crafts, slave-trading goods, palm
produce were transacted. The Portuguese and Aro Slave trading outposts and occasional
troves of old manila currency still litter the hinterland of the state.
In addition to these are the abandoned landing jetties, prefabricated buildings
and warehouses from the flourishing oil palm trade, a mark of the state being an
oil-palm heartland which brought economic prosperity and opened the region to civilization.
Akwa Ibom state as a land of historical landscapes is evidenced by the various pre-colonial
and colonial landscapes and legacies in all parts of the state including slave trade
routes, slave warehouses, dungeons and slave masters lodges.
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