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Ebonyi State

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Ebonyi is a state located in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It serves as a vital part of the country's southeastern region. The state's capital city is Abakaliki. Ebonyi is one of the smaller states in Nigeria by land area. It is the 33rd largest state in the nation. In terms of population, it is the 29th most populous. As of 2016, the state had an estimated population of nearly 2.9 million people.

Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Front gate
Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Front gate

The geography of Ebonyi is defined by diverse ecosystems and many waterways. The far southern part of the state contains Cross–Niger transition forests. The rest of the state features a Guinean forest–savanna mosaic. This mosaic is a mix of forest and open savanna land. The state is named after the Abonyi (Aboine) River. A large portion of this river flows through the southern part of the state. Other important rivers include the Cross River and the River Aloma. These two rivers flow along the southeastern and eastern borders. Inside the state, the Asu and Eze Aku rivers run through the interior. The Ichelle and Igbe rivers form parts of the western border with Benue State.

The borders of Ebonyi are shared with several other Nigerian states. To the north and northeast, it is bordered by Benue State. To the west, it sits next to Enugu State. The eastern and southeastern borders are shared with Cross River State. To the southwest, Abia State forms a border. These boundaries are often marked by the rivers mentioned previously. The state is organized into thirteen local government areas. It is also divided into three senatorial zones. These zones are Ebonyi North, Ebonyi Central, and Ebonyi South. The Abakaliki division makes up the northern and central zones. The Afikpo, Ohaozara, Onicha, and Ivo divisions make up the southern zone.

Ebonyi has a complex political and administrative history. Before Nigeria gained independence in 1960, this area was part of the Eastern Region. In 1967, the region was split into several parts. This led to the creation of the East Central State. During the Nigerian Civil War, Ebonyi was part of the secessionist state of Biafra. After the war, the East Central State was reformed. In 1976, the northern part became Anambra State and the southern part became Imo State. In 1991, these states were divided again to create Enugu and Abia. Finally, in 1996, the federal military government of General Sani Abacha created Ebonyi State. It was formed by joining parts of Enugu and Abia states together.

The climate in Ebonyi is a humid tropical climate. This means the weather is often warm and moist. There are two main seasons: a rainy season and a dry season. The rainy season lasts for eight months. The dry season lasts for four months. During the dry season, temperatures usually range from 20 to 38 degrees Celsius. In the rainy season, temperatures are cooler, between 16 and 28 degrees Celsius. The average annual temperature is 28 degrees Celsius. The state also experiences Harmattan winds between December and January. The average annual precipitation is 2500mm.

Mary Immaculate conception
Mary Immaculate conception

Agriculture is the foundation of the Ebonyi economy. The state is a leading producer of several important crops. These include rice, yams, potatoes, maize, beans, and cassava. For example, rice is mainly grown in Ikwo. Yams are predominantly cultivated in the Izzi region. Cassava production is highest in Effium and Ezamgo. Ebonyi is also known for its basket market. Hand-made baskets of various sizes are produced in Ntezi. The state is also famous for its mineral wealth. It has deposits of lead, zinc, and limestone near Abakaliki. It also contains crude oil and natural gas. Ebonyi is nicknamed "the salt of the nation." This name comes from huge salt deposits found at the Okposi and Uburu Salt Lakes.

Education and culture are very important in the state. Ebonyi is home to many institutions of tertiary education. These include Ebonyi State University and Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo. There are also several federal colleges and nursing schools. The state has a high Human Development Index for the country. Many people in Ebonyi speak the Igbo language. There are eleven different Igbo dialects spoken here. Some communities also speak the Korring language. In certain areas, people speak a mixed dialect. This dialect combines elements of Igbo and Korring. These linguistic connections extend to neighbors in Cross River and Benue states.

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File:Mary Immaculate conception.jpg
Mary Immaculate conception.jpg
File:Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Front gate.jpg
Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Front gate.jpg
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