About Ekiti State

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ABOUT
EKITI STATE

Ekiti State is situated entirely within the tropics. It is located between longitudes 40°51′ and 50°451′ East of the Greenwich meridian and latitudes 70°151′ and 80°51′ north of the Equator. It lies south of Kwara and Kogi State, East of Osun State and bounded by Ondo State in the East and in the south, with a total land Area of 5887.890sq km.

Ekiti State has 16 Local Government Councils. By 1991 Census, the population of Ekiti State was 1,647,822 while the estimated population upon its creation on October 1st 1996 was put at 1,750,000 with the capital located at Ado-Ekiti. The 2006 population census by the National Population Commission put the population of Ekiti State at 2,384,212 people.

More Information About Ekiti State

Oun abajoro kiipe kun

Oun asepo nileye

Ehin ola wa tidara o

Awa Ekiti ati parapo

Kaparapo katun panupo

Awa Ekiti ati gbominira

Okan lawansee

Ekiti, Ekiti ati gbominira (2ce)

Awa Ekiti iwaju laomalo lagbara Olorun

Awa Ekiti okan soso ma ni’wa o lailai

Mainly an upland zone rising over 250 metres above sea level, Ekiti has a rhythmically undulating surface. The landscape consists of ancient plains broken by steep-sided outcropping dome rocks. These rocks may occur singularly or in groups or ridges and the most notable of these are to be found in Efon-Alaaye, Ikere-Ekiti and Okemesi-Ekiti.

An important feature of the state is the large number of hills it possesses, which are often the site of towns in which much of the population resides. In fact, the word ‘Ekiti’ was derived from the local term for hill.

The State enjoys a tropical climate with two distinct seasons. These are the rainy season (April – October) and the dry season (November – March). Temperature ranges between 21oC and 28oC with high humidity. The south – westerly winds and the North East Trade winds blow in the raining and dry (Harmattan) seasons respectively. Tropical Forest exists in the south, while guinea savanna predominates in the northern peripheries.

LGNameHQ1963 Census1991 Census2006 Census
1Ado-EkitiAdo-Ekiti151,519.00149,472.00308,621
2Ekiti EastOmuo-Ekiti123,649.00136,519.00137,955
3AiyekireOde-Ekiti  148,193
4Ekiti  South WestIlawe-Ekit124,044.00134,271.00165,277
5Ekiti WestAramoko171,347.00247,373.00179,892
6Efon AlaayeEfon-Alaaye  86,941
7EmureEmure-Ekiti105,295.00131,639.0093,884
8Ise/OrunIse-Ekiti  113,754
9Ido-OsiIdo-Ekiti101,546.00107,990.00159,114
10IjeroIjero-Ekiti109,330.0093,286.00221,405
11IkereIkere-Ekiti114,780.0059,257.00147,355
12IkoleIkole-Ekiti92,902.00142,657.00168,436
13Irepodun/IfelodunIgede-Ekiti104,818.00124,088.00129,149
14MobaOtun-Ekiti122,504.00165,805.00146,496
15IlejemejeIye-Ekiti  43,530
16OyeOye-Ekiti88,558.00136,805.00134,210
 Total 1,410,2921,629,162.002,384,212

Agriculture is the main occupation of the people of Ekiti, and it is the major source of income for many in the state. Agriculture provides income and employment for more than 75% of the population of Ekiti State.

Some of Ekiti’s agricultural produce are: Cash crops such as Cocoa, Oil Palm, Kolanut, Plantain, Bananas, Cashew, Citrus and Timber; Arable /Food Crops such as Rice, Yam, Cassava, Maize and cowpea. A detailed list of agricultural produce is contained in the tables below.

Cash Crops

S/NoCropLocationsUses
1CocoaIse, Emure, Ilawe, Ado, Igede, Igbara, Odo, Aramoko, IkoroCocoa butter, Cocoa, Powder, Beverages, Cocoa Liquor and Export
2Oil PalmSpread across the StateVegetable Oil, Spices, Flavoring and export
3Kola NutIkoro, Igede, Ise and generally in the forest zoneStimulants and export
4Plantain/BananaWidespread across the StatePlantain Flour, Plantain Beer, Plantain Balls & Chips/Crape
5CashewNorthern part of the StateOil, Nuts and for export
6CitrusWidespread across the StateFruit, Juice, Fruit Wine and for export
7RubberSouthern part of the StateTyre manufacturing, Crepe and for export
8TimberIjero, Ise, Ikere, Aramoko, AdoLog, Planks, Panel Furniture Ilawe and for export

Arable/Food Crops

S/NoCropHighly Cultivated LGAsIndustrial Uses/Products
1RiceIrepodun/Ifelodun, Ekiti West, Ekiti East, IkoleFlour, Grits, Grains
2YamWidely cultivated across the StateYam Flour
3CassavaWidely cultivated across the StateGarri, Starch, Adhesive, Mosquito Expeller, Livestock Feeds, Chips, Yeast, Alcohol Products
4MaizeWidely cultivated across the StateMaize, Grit, Corn Flour
5CowpeaNorthern Part of the StateGrits, Flour
6Plantain & BananaWidely cultivated across the StatePlantain Flour, Plantain Chips/Crepe, Plantain Juice & Beer

Ekiti is rich in natural mineral resources, with several of these yet to be tapped. They include casserrite, columbite and tantalite which are found in Ijero-Ekiti, ceramic (ball) clays and kaolinitic clays which are available in Isan Ekiti and Oye Local Government Area.
Feldspar which is used in the manufacture of glass is found in Oke Ewu in Ijero Ekiti and in Aramoko. Bauxite clay is available in Orin-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area, while foundry quartzite can be found around Ijero and Efon Alaaye, Ekiti.
Dimension stones like granites, charconites and banded gneisses exist extensively in Ikere-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti, Oye-Ekiti, Ewu and Otun-Ekiti. Mica/Moscovite is found in most parts of the state, while Tantalum is also available in Ijero.
A comprehensive list of natural resources can be found in the table below.

S/NoTypes of MineralTownLGAIndustrial Uses/Product
1Clay KaolinIsan-EkitiOyeChemicals, Industrials abrasive, Ceramics wares,  Pharmaceuticals, Fertilizers. White tiles, Insulator wares, Pencils.
2Cassiterite and Tin OreIjero-EkitiIjeroTin Planting, Tin Can, Alloys Printings and Dying.
3ColumbiteIjero-EkitiIjeroSpecial Steel, Electronic Tube, Filaments in Rackets and Air Craft Manufacture
4Bauxite (Aluminum Ore)Orin-EkitiIdo OsiAluminum Productsproduction
5Foundry SandIjero-EkitiIjeroFoundry Ceramics Manufactureof Glass Wares
6Charnochite GraniteIkere-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti, Emure-Ekiti, AramokoIkere, Ado, Emure, Ekiti WestStone Cutting and Polishing, Road Aggregate



S/NoLG NameHQ
1Ado-EkitiAdo-Ekiti
2Efon-AlaayeEfon-Alaaye
3Ekiti EastOmuo-Ekiti
4Ekiti South WestIlawe-Ekiti
5Ekiti WestAramoko
6EmureEmure-Ekiti
7AiyekireOde-Ekiti
8Ise/OrunIse-Ekiti
9Ido-OsiIdo-Ekiti
10IjeroIjero-Ekiti
11IkereIkere-Ekiti
12IkoleIkole-Ekiti
13IlejemejeIye-Ekiti
14Irepodun/IfelodunIgede-Ekiti
15MobaOtun-Ekiti
16OyeOye-Ekiti
Ekiti Central Senatorial District
  • Ado Local Government Area
  • Efon Local Government Area
  • Ekiti West Local Government Area
  • Ijero Local Government Area
  • Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area
Ekiti North Senatorial District
  • Ido/Osi Local Government Area
  • Ikole Local Government Area
  • Ilejemeje Local Government Area
  • Moba Local Government Area
  • Oye Local Government Area
Ekiti South Senatorial District
  • Ekiti East Local Government Area
  • Ekiti South West Local Government Area
  • Emure Local Government Area
  • Aiyekire Local Government Area
  • Ikere Local Government Area
  • Ise/Orun Local Government Area

Federal Constituencies

  • Ekiti Central I – Ado/Irepodun/Ifelodun
  • Ekiti Central II – Ijero/Efon/Ekiti West
  • Ekiti North I – Ikole/Oye
  • Ekiti North II – Ido-Osi/Ilejemeje/Moba
  • Ekiti South I – Ekiti South West/Ikere/Ise-Orun
  • Ekiti South II – Ekiti East/Emure/Aiyekire



People and Culture

The Ekitis, whose ancestors migrate from Ile-Ife as a people, form one of the largest ethnic groups in Yorubaland. Ekitis are culturally homogeneous and the speak a dialect of Yoruba language known as Ekiti. The homogeneous nature of Ekiti confers on the state some uniqueness among the states of the federation. Slight differences are noticeable in the Ekiti dialect of the Yoruba language spoken by the people. This is informed and influenced by their spatial locations, especially the border communities to other states. For example the people of Ado local government area do not speak exactly the same dialect with the people of Ijero local government area, while the people of Ikole area speak something different from the people of Ikere area. The communities influenced by their locations include Otun (Moba land) that speaks a dialect close to the one spoken by the Igbominas in Kwara State.

The people of Okeako, Irele, Omuo-Oke speaks a dialect similar to that of Ijumus in Kwara/Kogi States. The people of Ekiti West and Efon-Alaaye local government areas, that is, the Efon Alaaye and Okemesi communities speak a similar dialect to that of Ijesas of Osun State. However , part of the uniqueness of the Ekitis is that where ever is your own part of the state, you will understand well, when the other Ekiti man/woman speaks, inspite of the dialectal variations. in addition, all towns in Ekiti State take a common suffix, “Ekiti,” after their names. the main staple food of the people of Ekiti is pounded yam with vegetable soup.

Ekiti as a people settle in nucleus urban patterns, well linked with network of roads. The State can boast of more than 127 large and small, ancient and modern towns, located on hills and valleys that characterise the state from which the confinement takes its name, Ekiti, that is, ‘Okiti’ meaning hill. Ekiti State, apart from the fact that it is the only state with a warm spring in Nigeria is the watershed and source of some prominent rivers such as Ero, Ose, Ogbese and others. The people of Ekiti are hard-working , upright, studious and very articulate. Ekiti men are predominantly farmers but women engage in trading.

The people are mostly Muslims and Christians while some are still traditional religionists.

The state is highly rich in culture. They have their own unique traditional way of: Dressing, Dancing, Festival,religion and other ways of life. As enumerated below: The rulers of the Towns are Obas like other Yoruba Towns. Traditionally, the natural rulers in Ekiti State, whose people are Yoruba, are usually described as sacred or divine kings. Their installation and coronation are performed with solemn and lengthy rites which set them apart, thereafter living an ordered ceremonial existence, secluded in their palaces, subjected to the many rituals of court and approached only with infinite respect. They rarely appeared in public, except on ceremonial occasions.

By ancient customs, the Obas were not only the heads of their towns and kingdoms, but by their personifications, reincarnating also all their ancestors back to the origin of the dynasties. They are also the titular heads of all religious sets in their kingdoms. Their appointments are, partly by divination, made by the king makers who are invariably the high chiefs. They are appointed from among the children of past rulers. The ceremonies between their appointments and coronation are elaborate. The sacredness of their offices was neither empty nor nominal; they are regarded by their people as divinity with whose well being, their own conditions are bound up. They are the sources of honour, able to bestow titles and chieftaincies. The Obas are also the fountain of justice.

In the State’s framework, Obas are not expected to take part in partisan politics. Palaces of traditional rulers are true symbolical relics of the people culture and tradition.Some of the richly endowed artifacts oriented palace in Ekiti State are the Ewi of Ado’s palace, Elekole of Ikole’s palace, Oore of Otun’s palace, Alawo of Awo Ekiti palace and a host of others.

Typical Ekiti man can not do without Iyan (pounded yam) in a day, with melon soup, crowned with bush meat.

Tourism

Ekiti offers serenity and a wide variety of tourist attractions such as extended rivers, unique wildlife, vast tracks of unspoiled nature ranging from tropical forest, magnificent waterfalls, conducive hilltop holidaying climates, spectacular warm and cold water springs oozing out and touching, yet retaining its thermal identity, nowhere in the world has this unique warm springs experience.Other attractions include traditional ways of life preserved in local customs; rich and varied handicrafts and other colourful products depicting or illustrative of native arts, lifestyle, dance and the authentic and unsophisticated but friendly attitude of both the indigenes and residents of the State.Ekiti State is blessed with many tourist sites, many of which are yet to be explored and developed. The present government believes that if the tourist sites are developed, they are capable of generating billions of Naira for the state annually. The government has therefore decided to partner with the private sector to fully develop the tourism potentials of the state so as to generate substantial revenue for government, create employment opportunities and alleviate poverty at the grassroots.

This Dam is constructed on Ose River at Egbe Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government. The dam supplies the whole Local Government regular pipe-borne water.
Both fishing and irrigation systems of farming are practise by the villagers. People go to Egbe Ekiti from all over the state to purchase fresh and smoked fish for their local consumption.

Both dams and lakes are good resort centres for tourists coming to Ekiti on a visit.

This Dam is constructed on Ose River at Egbe Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government. The dam supplies the whole Local Government regular pipe-borne water.
Both fishing and irrigation systems of farming are practise by the villagers. People go to Egbe Ekiti from all over the state to purchase fresh and smoked fish for their local consumption.

Both dams and lakes are good resort centres for tourists coming to Ekiti on a visit.

Ero dam and lake are man-made tourist attractions in the State. This dam is located at Ikun Ekiti in Moba Local Government of the State. The lake covers some kilometers. In fact, it was initially designed to cover only five kilometres but eventually it covered eleven kilometres. This dam supplies three Local Governments drinkable water and the Local Governments that benefit from this are: Oye, Ido-Osi and Moba itself. This is to say that the dam supplies over one hundred towns and villages in the state with pipe borne water.

According to experts, the dam is capable of supplying Ekiti State as a whole potable water. The indigenes of the town and neighbours and even Hausas fish on this Ero lake. Local canoes, boats and modern flying boats are made use of by these fishermen. This dam encourages the people to practise irrigation (system of farming) in their environments.

It is a triangular park where the late Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi was buried. This park is at Ado Ekiti, the heart of Ekiti-land in Ekiti State. Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi was the Governor of the Old Western State. He was swept off by the coup of 1966 but accorded a heroic burial for his sacrifice and patriotism.

The meeting point of warm and cold spring

The Haven of tourists in Nigeria. Ekiti State is richly endowed with tourism potentials. Tourists to the state would be irresistibly charmed with the beauties of Ikogosi where warm and cold water oozing from different sources flowing separately to join in a pool but each retaining its thermal identity.

Geographical Location

Ikogosi Ekiti, where the warm spring is located is in Ekiti West Local government of Ekiti State of Nigeria. It is situated in a valley and from the surrounding hills rises the warm spring.

Historical Background

Giant Tortoise being taken care of by the Hard working Zoological assistance Traditionally speaking, there are many stories from the indigenes of this town regarding the origin of the warm spring. A version of the stories rests more on the traditional belief of the people that both springs (Warm and Cold) were wives of the same husband who turned to springs water in the wake of rift and rivalry between them. The hot and ill-tempered first wife believed to have turned to the popular warm spring while the cool-tempered second wife turned to cold spring water. The husband became the undulating hills that encompass the springs. It is well established that some of the Villagers still worship the springs as their deities.

The scientific proof could not be wished away in favour of the traditional belief. The possible and plausible scientific explanation is that the deeper a body of water goes underground, the hotter it becomes and if by chance it is forced back to the surface through some earth fault, the temperature will be relatively high.

The Baptist mission in the early 50s established a youth and conference center and other conveniences on a hill adjacent to the warm spring area. This started attracting different people from far and near, even foreigner started visiting the centre to the the work of nature. At the wake of 1978 however, the Ondo State acquired this popular tourist centre from Baptist Mission. A few infrastructure were put in place by this Mission before the resort centre was acquired from them by the State government, but, after the acquisition of this center, however, both the federal and the state government focused attention on how to develop the center to a modern tourist resort.

Belief

The spring water is said to have some therapeutic effects in some diseases like rheumatism and guinea-worm. People who have access to the spring use it for the battery of their vehicles instead of the normal battery water.

These two hills are located at Northern and southern parts of the town (Ikere Ekiti) respectively. They are both steep-sided hills. These are good resort centres for Tourists to visit and see for themselves what God has done for the State of Honour, Fountain of Knowledge. There are deities in charge of these two hills. Both are worshipped accordingly. In line with the belief of the people of this town the Olosunta and Orole deities reside in the hills respectively. Both deities are credited with some feats such as provision of children to barren women and protection of Ikere from warfare. They are believe to be responsible for the welfare of the town. Ikere Ekiti is usually described as the only unconquered town in Ekiti during the popular inter-tribal wars.

FestivalTownTime / Period
IdirokoAdoAnnually
OgunIre in particular and all parts of the stateAugust, through September,Annually
AeregbeAfao, Igbara-Odo, EmureAugust, Annually
Epa (Masquerade)IsanMay, Annually
IkerejeIlaweDecember, Annually
AlayereIgbara-OdoDecember, Annually
AyanOmuoAdoAnnually
Oro IbejiIgara-OdoAugust ,Annually
ObanifonOgotun, Are, EsureDecember/June/February, Annually
ElefonIkoroFebruary, Annually
OluaEpa, Eyio, Ilu-OmobaJune/August, Annually
OkudiIyinJuly, August, Annually
EegunIjanJuly, August, Annually
OlosuntaIkereAnnually
Egungun/ImaleIdirokoAll parts of the stateAnnually
Ijesu (New Yam Festival)All parts of the stateAnnually
OodunIyinJune, July, Annually
Odun OpaIyinAnnually
AmomoIseAnnually
IromoIgedeAnnually

Towns and Villages

Esinmu-Ekiti
Ikere-Ekiti
Ajaye-Ekiti
Esun-Ekiti
Ikogosi-Ekiti
Ajebandele Ekiti
Esure-Ekiti
Ikole-Ekiti
Alafe Ekiti
Ewu-Ekiti
lkoro-Ekiti
Ara-ljero-Ekiti
Eyio-Ekiti
lkosun Ekiti
Ara-lkole Ekiti
ldo-Ekiti
lkota Ekiti
Aramoko-Ekiti
ldo-lle Ekiti
lkoyi-Ekiti
Araromi lyin Ekiti
Ifaki-Ekiti
lkun-Ekiti
Araromi Oke Ekiti
lfishin-Ekiti
lkunri Ekiti
Araromi-Ekiti
lgbara-Odo-Ekiti
llafon Ekiti
Araromi-ljero-Ekiti
lgbo-Aso-Ekiti
Ilemoso Ekiti
Asin-Ekiti
Igbogun-Ekiti
Ileona-Ekiti
Ilepu-Ekiti
Isa Ekiti
Okemesi-Ekiti

Aaye-Ekiti
Asole-Ekiti
lgbole-Ekiti
Aaye-Oja Ekiti
Awo-Ekiti
Igbonna Ekiti
Ado-Ekiti
Bolorunduro Ekiti
Igede-Ekiti
Afao-EKiti
ljelu-Ekiti
Aiyebode Ekiti
Emure-Ekiti
ljero-Ekiti
Aiyede-Ekiti
Epe-Ekiti
ljesa Modu Ekiti
Aiyedun-Odo-Ekiti
Eporo-Ekiti
ljesa-lsu-Ekiti
lgbeja Ekiti
llasa-Ekiti
Araromi-Obo-Ekiti
lgbemo-Ekiti
Ilawe Ekiti
Are-Ekiti
Isaba-Ekiti
Oke-Ora Ekiti
Ilogbo-Ekiti
Isaoye Ekiti
Oke-Oro-Ekiti
Ilogun Ekiti
Ise-Ekiti
Oloje-Ekiti
Iloro-Ekiti
Isinbode-Ekiti
Omuo-Ekiti
Iludun-Ekiti

Ilukuno-Ekiti
Itapa-Ekiti
Ora-Ekiti
Iiuomoba-Ekiti
Itapaji-Ekiti
Oran Igbemo Ekiti
Ilupeju-Ekiti
Itawure-Ekiti
Orin Odo Ekiti
llure Ekiti
Iworoko-Ekiti
Orin-Ekiti
Imesi-Ekiti
Iye-Ekiti
Orun Ekiti
Imojo-Ekiti
lyemero Ekiti
Osain-Ekiti
lpao-Ekiti
Iyin~Ekiti
Osi-Ekiti
Ipere-Ekiti
Ode-Ekiti
Osin-Ikole-Ekiti
Ipole Iloro-Ekiti
Odo Oro Ekiti
Osun-Ekiti
Iporo-Ekiti
Odo-Ekiti
Otun-Ekiti
Ipoti-Ekiti
Odofin-Ekiti
Owode Ekiti
Irare Ekiti
Odo-Ora-Ekiti
Owosi-Ekiti
Ire-Ekiti
Odo-Owa-Ekiti

Eda-Ekiti
Igirigiri-Ekiti
Afolu Ekiti
Eda-Oniyo-Ekiti
lgogo-Ekiti
Agbado-Ekiti
Efon-Alaaye
ljan-Ekiti
Aisegba-Ekiti
Egbe-Ekiti
Aiyedun-Oke-Ekiti
Erijiyan-Ekiti
ljesa-lye-Ekiti
Aiyegbaju-Ekiti
Erinmope-Ekiti
ljurin-Ekiti
Aiyegunle Ekiti
Erio-Ekiti
lka-Ekiti
Aiyetoro Ekiti
Irele-Ekiti
Ogbese-Ekiti
Temidire Ekiti
lro Ekiti
Ogbese-lse-Ekiti
Temidire-Ikole-Ekiti
Iro-Aiyeteju-Ekiti
Ogotun-Ekiti
Usi-Ekiti
Iroko-Ekiti
Oke-Ako-Ekiti
Usin-Ekiti
lropora-Ekiti
Oke-Ijebu Ekiti
Ilero-Ekiti
Itaji-Ekiti
Ootunja-Ekiti
Oye-Ekiti