Ebonyi State Profile

Ebonyi is primarily an agricultural region. It is a leading producer of rice, yam, potatoes, maize, beans, and cassava in Nigeria. Rice and yams are predominantly cultivated in Edda, a region within the state. Ebonyi has several solid mineral resources, including lead, crude oil, and natural gas, but few large-scale commercial mines. The state government has, however, given several incentives to investors in the agro-allied sector to encourage production. Ebonyi is called "the salt of the nation" for its huge salt deposit at the Okposi and Uburu Salt Lakes.

There are ten primary languages spoken in Ebonyi State: Afikpo, Mgbo, Izzi, Ezaa, Edda, Ikwo, Kukele, Legbo, Mbembe,Okposi,Uburu and Oring. These languages are all subgroups of the Igbo language and are commonly spoken throughout south eastern Nigeria.There are ten primary languages spoken in Ebonyi State: Afikpo, Mgbo, Izzi, Ezaa, Edda, Ikwo, Kukele, Legbo, Mbembe,Okposi,Uburu and Oring. These languages are all subgroups of the Igbo language and are commonly spoken throughout south eastern Nigeria.
Ebonyi State is richly endowed culturally. The traditional mode of dressing for the men is an over flowing jumper or longsleeve shirt worn over a George wrapper tied around the waist and flowing down to the ankles. This is complemented with a cap and a walking stick for support and defence. For the women, the traditional dress is a blouse over an Abada or George wrapper around the waist. This outfit goes with a headgear, earrings and necklaces.
Two important traditional festivals are observed every year: the masquerade and the New Yam Festivals. The masquerade is a very important and colourful institution, and features the Omaba Ekpe and Ogbodu masquerades. The New Yam festival is known by various names, such as Joku, lhejoku or Njoku ji. The festival marks the end of the farm ing season and ushers in the harvest and con sumption of the new yam.
There are a variety of colourful dances in the State. The notable ones are the "Nkwa Umuagbogho" of Ehugbo, "Nkwa Nwite" of Ehugbo, "Oji anya lere" of Amasiri, "Uri" and "Akpoha lgurube" and the "Dibugwu" cultural dances of OgbuEdda.
Traditional industries and works of art include blacksmithing at Ezza and pottery works at Ishiagu in lvo LGA. Other works of art produced in the State include carved doors and stools, walking sticks, tra ditional flutes, wooden mortars and pestles.

The people of Ebonyi State are of lgbo stock. However, there are also nonlgbo speaking indigenes. The nonlgbo speaking people of the state include the Okpotos and the Ntezis in Ishielu Local Government Area. English is widely spoken as the second language, and a visitor will be under stood anywhere in the state, if he can speak English language or its local variant, the pidgin.

Ebonyi State has an estimated population of 4,339,136 based on the 2005 census and the inhabitants are spread across 5,935 square kilometers. The state is predominantly dominated by the Igbos with other minority ethnic groups from neighbouring states.

With a land area of about 5,935 sq. km, Ebonyi State is popularly known as the ‘Salt of the Nation’ apparently because of the large deposits of salt water in the state. The State shares a border with Benue State to the North, Enugu State to the west, Imo and Abia States to the south and Cross River State to the east.