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Ekiti
State
Flag
Nickname(s): Land of Honour & Integrity, formerly Fountain of Knowledge.
Location of Ekiti State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 7°40′N 5°15′E / 7.667°N 5.250°E / 7.667; 5.250Coordinates: 7°40′N 5°15′E / 7.667°N 5.250°E / 7.667; 5.250
Country	Nigeria
Date created	1 October 1996
Capital	Ado Ekiti
Government
• Governor (List)	John Olukayode Fayemi (APC)
• Deputy Governor	Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi
• Senators	Fatimat Raji-Rasaki Duro Faseyi Biodun Olujimi
Area
• Total	6,353 km2 (2,453 sq mi)
Area rank	31st of 36
Population (2006 Census)
• Total	2,398,957
• Rank	29th of 36
• Density	380/km2 (980/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Ekitian
GDP (PPP)
• Year	2007
• Total	$2.85 billion[1]
• Per capita	$1,169[1]
Time zone	UTC+01 (WAT)
ISO 3166 code	NG-EK

Ekiti is a state in western Nigeria, declared a state on 1 October 1996 alongside five other states in the country by the military under the dictatorship of General Sani Abacha. As one of the newest states of the Nigerian federation, it was carved out of the territory of old Ondo State, and covers the former 12 local government areas that made up the Ekiti Zone of old Ondo State. On creation, it had 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs), having had an additional four carved out of the old ones. Ekiti State is one of the 36 states (inc. Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria)) that constitute Nigeria and is reputed to have produced the highest number of professors in the country. With a single town in Ekiti State, Okemesi, reputed to have over 30 professors, several pioneer academics also hail from the state, including Adegoke Olubummo (one of the first Nigerian professors in the field of mathematics) and Ekundayo Adeyinka Adeyemi (first Professor of Architecture in Africa, south of the Sahara). Other professors from the state include J. F. Ade Ajayi, Niyi Osundare, Sam Aluko and Prof A. A. Agboola.

Following a prolonged political crisis, President Olusegun Obasanjo imposed a military administrator (General Tunji Olurin) on Ekiti State in October 2006. On 27 April 2007, Olurin was replaced by Tope Ademiluyi. In the PDP primary of 2006, the first-place finisher Yinka Akerele and second-place finisher Prof. Adesegun Ojo were supposed to be in a run-off to determine who would be the nominee of the Nigerian ruling party when President Obasanjo summoned them to Abuja and imposed the candidate who came third, Engineer Segun Oni. He was later elected in the 2007 election as the governor of the state in an election marred by widespread irregularities although the APC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi challenged his election and forced a rerun in May, 2009.^[2]

The May 2009 rerun was characterized by even worse rigging and the election was disputed again. Eventually, after three years, the election of Oni was thrown out and Dr. Kayode Fayemi was declared the duly elected governor of Ekiti State.

The prominent private university in Ekiti State is Afe Babalola University, Ado–Ekiti^[3] (ABUAD), founded by the legal luminary, philanthropist, seasoned administrator, and farmer Aare Afe Babalola, #SAN.^[4] It has become a pillar of support for the state in terms of human capital development and empowerment.

History

Ekiti was an independent state prior to the British conquest. It was one of the many Yoruba states in what is today Nigeria. The Ekiti people as a nation and districts of Yoruba race trace some of her progeny to Oduduwa, the father and progenitor of Yoruba race even though good reason appear to establish the existence of aboriginal people in Ekiti region prior to influx of royalty from present day Ile Ife as that kingdom grew and abound.

There are two major schools of thought regarding Ekiti History. First was the story that tied the origin of Ekiti to Ife. The story goes that the Olofin, one of the sons of Oduduwa had 16 children and in the means of searching for the new land to develop, they all journeyed out of Ile-Ife as they walked through the Iwo - Eleru (Cave of Ashes) at Isarun and had stop over at a place called Igbo-Aka (forest of termites) closer to Ile-Oluji.

The Olofin, the 16 children and some other beloved people continued with their journey, but when they got to a particular lovely and flat land, the Owa-Obokun (the Monarch of Ijesha land) and Orangun of Ila decided to stay in the present Ijesha and Igbomina land of in Osun state. While the remaining 14 children journeyed onwards and later settled in the present day Ekiti land. They discovered that there were many hills in the place and they said in their mother's language that this is "Ile olokiti" the land of hills. Therefore, the Okiti later blended to Ekiti. So Ekiti derived her name through hills.

It must however be noted, that this history may describe the history of certain royalty in present-day Ekiti, but not all of Ekiti which is made up of 131 Principal towns, with their own royalty and many land-owning communities with no royalty at all. In fact, the invading royalties from the East went on to colonize and transform the aboriginals, distinguishing the Ekiti dialect upon mix-up with the Ife/Oyo tongue of the Yorubas according to Samuel Johnson, the renowned historian of early Yoruba States and Affairs

Second school of thought on Ekiti origin is more likely and grounded in actual history. It was said that Oduduwa, the ancestor of the Yoruba traveled to Ife [Ife Ooyelagbo] where he met people who were already settled there. Among the elders he met in the town were Agbonniregun [Stetillu], Obatala, Orelure, Obameri, Elesije, Obamirin, Obalejugbe just to mention a few. It is known that descendants of Agbonniregun [Baba Ifa] settled in Ekiti, examples being the Alara and Ajero who are sons of Ifa. Orunmila [Agbonniregun] himself spent a greater part of his life at Ado. Due to this, we have the saying ‘Ado ni ile Ifa’ [Ado is the home of Ifa]. The Ekiti have ever since settled in their present location.^[5]

Nobody can give accurate dates to these events due to the lack of written sources, but people have lived in Ekiti for centuries. It is on record that Ekiti Obas had prosperous reign in the 13th century. An example was the reign of Ewi Ata of Ado-Ekiti in the 1400s.

About the Ekitis, Samuel Johnson had this to say:

"Historically, the Ekitis are among the aboriginal elements of the Nigeria absorbed by the invaders from the East (Yoruba people from Ile Ife). "The term Ekiti denotes a "Mound", and is derived from the rugged mountainous feature of that part of the country. It is an extensive province and well watered, including several tribes and families right on to the border of the Niger, eastward. They hold themselves quite distinct from the Ijesas, especially in political affairs." (Samuel Johnson, The History of the Yoruba, 1921). It is believed that the ancestors of Ekiti people who came to combine with the aboriginal people on the land migrated from Ile Ife, the spiritual home of the Yoruba people. According to oral and contemporary written sources of Yoruba history, Oduduwa, the ancestor of the Yoruba traveled to Ife [Ife Ooyelagbo] where he met people who were already settled there. Among the elders he met in the town were Agbonniregun [Stetillu], Obatala, Orelure, Obameri, Elesije, Obamirin, Obalejugbe just to mention a few. It is known that descendants of Agbonniregun [Baba Ifa] settled in Ekiti, examples being the Alara and Ajero who are sons of Ifa. Orunmila [Agbonniregun] himself spent a greater part of his life at Ado. Due to this, we have the saying ‘Ado ni ile Ifa’ [Ado is the home of Ifa]. The Ekiti have ever since settled in their present location.
The early Ekiti country is divided into 16 districts (and it has been maintained to this day), each with its own Owa or King (Owa being a generic term amongst them) of which four are supreme, viz. : —
(1) The Owore of Otun, (2) The Ajero of Ijero, (3) The Ewi of Ado and (4) The Elekole of Ikole.
The following are the minor Ekiti kings : —
(5) Alara of Aramoko, (6) Alaye of Efon Alaye, (7) Ajanpanda of Akure, (8) Alagotun of Ogotun, (9) Olojudo of Ido, (10) Ata of Aiyede, (11) Oloja Oke of Igbo Odo, (12) Oloye of Oye, (13) Olomuwo of Omuwo, (14) Onire of Ire, (15) Arinjale of Ise and (16) Onitaji of Itaji.
The Orangun of Ila is sometimes classed among them, but he is only Ekiti in sympathy, being of a different family."

The modern Ekiti state was formed from part of Ondo in 1996.^[6] Prior to this, it was part of the Ondo Province in Western Region of Nigeria. While the non-Ekiti part of the region largely dominated geographically, Akure which was then regarded as an Ekiti town was the headquarters of Ondo province.

Geography

The State is mainly an upland zone, rising over 250 meters above sea level. It lies on an area underlain by metamorphic rock. It is generally an undulating part of the country with a characteristic landscape that consists of old plains broken by step-sided out-crops that may occur singularly or in groups or ridges.
Such rocks out-crops exist mainly at Aramoko, Efon-Alaiye, Ikere-Ekiti,Igbara-odo- ekiti and Okemesi-Ekiti. The State is dotted with rugged hills, notable ones being Ikere-Ekiti Hills in the south, Efon-Alaiye Hills on the western boundary and Ado-Ekiti Hills in the centre.

Climate and vegetation

The State enjoys tropical climate with two distinct seasons. These are the rainy season (April–October) and the dry season (November–March). Temperature ranges between 21° and 28 °C with high humidity. The south westerly wind and the northeast trade winds blow in the rainy and dry (Harmattan) seasons respectively. Tropical forest exists in the south, while savannah occupies the northern peripheries.

Towns and administrative divisions

The people of Ekiti State live mainly in towns. These towns include: Ado, Ikere Ekiti, Awo Ekiti, Ayegbaju Ekiti, Orun-Ekiti, Araromi Oke Ekiti, Efon-Alaaye, Aramoko Ekiti, Temidire-Ikole Local Govt, Igede Ekiti, Are Ekiti, Ikole,
Ayede, Isan, Iye Ayede, Ire, Ijero, Ayetoro, Ipoti, Igogo, Ise, Itapa, Otun, Usi Ekiti, Ido, Emure, Iyin, Igede, Ilawe, Ode, Oye, Omuo, Ilupeju, Ikoro,Iloro, Ijurin, Ikun, Iye, Ijesa-Isu, Ayedun, Aisegba, Osin, Okemesi, Iworoko, Ifaki Ekiti, Osan, Erinmope, Asin-Ekiti, Orin, Ilogbo Ekiti, Osi, Igbole, Ora, Aye, Ikogosi Erio, Igbara-Odo, Ogotun, Erijiyan Ekiti, Iludun, Ilemeso, Itapaji, Ipao Ekiti, Oke Ako Ekiti, Irele Ekiti, Imojo, Ire Ekiti, Eda Oniyo, Gogo Ekiti, Odooro Ekiti, Ijan Ekiti, Epe Ekiti, Ilasa-Ekiti, Iropora-Ekiti

The complete list of towns (in alphabetical order) is as follows:

Aaye-Ekiti

Aaye-Oja Ekiti

Ado-Ekiti

Afao-Ekiti

Afolu-Ekiti

Agbado-Ekiti

Aisegba-Ekiti

Aiyebode-Ekiti

Aiyede-Ekiti

Aiyegbaju-Ekiti

Aiyegunle-Ekiti

Aiyetoro-Ekiti

Ajaye-Ekiti

Ajebandele-Ekiti

Alafe-Ekiti

Ara-Ijero Ekiti

Ara-lkole Ekiti

Aramoko-Ekiti

Araromi-Iyin Ekiti

Araromi-Oke Ekiti

Araromi-Ekiti

Araromi-Ijero Ekiti

Araromi-Obo Ekiti

Are-Ekiti

Asin-Ekiti

Asole-Ekiti

Awo-Ekiti

Bolorunduro-Ekiti

Eda-Ekiti

Eda-Oniyo Ekiti

Efon-Alaaye

Egbe-Ekiti

Emure-Ekiti

Epe-Ekiti

Eporo-Ekiti

Erijiyan-Ekiti

Erinmope-Ekiti

Erio-Ekiti

Esinmu-Ekiti

Esun-Ekiti

Esure-Ekiti

Ewu-Ekiti

Eyio-Ekiti

Ido-Ekiti

Ido-Ile Ekiti

Ifaki-Ekiti

Ifishin-Ekiti

Igbara-Odo Ekiti

Igbeja-Ekiti

Igbemo-Ekiti

Igbo-Aso Ekiti

Igbogun-Ekiti

Igbole-Ekiti

Igbonna-Ekiti

Igede-Ekiti

Igirigiri-Ekiti

Igogo-Ekiti

Ijan-Ekiti

Ijelu-Ekiti

Ijero-Ekiti

Ijesa-Modu Ekiti

Ijesa-Isu Ekiti

Ijesa-Iye Ekiti

Ijuomoba-Ekiti

Ijurin-Ekiti

Ika-Ekiti

Ikere-Ekiti

Ikogosi-Ekiti

Ikole-Ekiti

Ikoro-Ekiti

Ikosun-Ekiti

Ikota-Ekiti

Ikoyi-Ekiti

Ikun-Ekiti

Ikunri-Ekiti

Ilafon-Ekiti

Ilasa-Ekiti

Ilawe-Ekiti

Ilemoso-Ekiti

Ileona-Ekiti

Ilepu-Ekiti

Ilero-Ekiti

Ilogbo-Ekiti

Ilogun-Ekiti

Iloro-Ekiti

Iludun-Ekiti

Ilukuno-Ekiti

Ilupeju-Ekiti

Ilure-Ekiti

Ipao-Ekiti

Imesi-Ekiti

Imojo-Ekiti

Ipere-Ekiti

Ipole-Iloro Ekiti

Iporo-Ekiti

Ipoti-Ekiti

Irare-Ekiti

Ire-Ekiti

Irele-Ekiti

Iro-Aiyeteju Ekiti

Iro-Ekiti

Iroko-Ekiti

Iropora-Ekiti

Isa-Ekiti

Isaba-Ekiti

Isaoye-Ekiti

Ise-Ekiti

Isinbode-Ekiti

Itaji-Ekiti

Itapa-Ekiti

Itapaji-Ekiti

Itawure-Ekiti

Iworoko-Ekiti

Iyemero-Ekiti

Iyin-Ekiti

Ode-Ekiti

Odo-Oro Ekiti

Odo-Aiyedun Ekiti

Odo-Ekiti

Odofin-Ekiti

Odo-Ora Ekiti

Odo-Owa Ekiti

Ogbese-Ekiti

Ogbese-Ise Ekiti

Ogotun-Ekiti

Oke-Aiyedun Ekiti

Oke-Ako Ekiti

Oke-Ijebu Ekiti

Okemesi-Ekiti

Oke-Ora Ekiti

Oke-Oro-Ekiti

Oloje-Ekiti

Omuo-Ekiti

Ootunja-Ekiti

Ora-Ekiti

Oran-Igbemo Ekiti

Orin-Odo Ekiti

Orin-Ekiti

Orun-Ekiti (Ise/Orun LGA)

Osain-Ekiti

Osi-Ekiti

Osin-Ikole Ekiti

Osun-Ekiti

Otun-Ekiti

Owode-Ekiti

Owosi-Ekiti

Oye-Ekiti

Temidire-Ekiti

Temidire-Ikole Ekiti

Usi-Ekiti

Usin-Ekiti

Local government areas

Ekiti State consists of sixteen Local Government Areas. They are:

Current list of Local Government Area Chairmen.^[7]

Proposed 18 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Ekiti State

The Ekiti State Government in 2014, prior to the exit of the immediate past Governor Fayemi, was to create additional 18 LCDAs based on the recommendations of the White Paper Committee set up by the government. This has, however, been cancelled by Governor Ayo Fayose.

Demographics

Ekitis are culturally homogeneous and they 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 dialects of the Yoruba language spoken by 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 Oke-Ako, Irele, Omuo speak a similar dialect to that of Ijesas of Osun State. However, part of the uniqueness of the Ekitis is that wherever is your own part of the state, you will understand well, when the other Ekiti^[3] man/woman speaks, in spite 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 Isapa soup or vegetable soup.

Not all parts of Ekiti are today part of Ekiti state. Historical Ekiti includes Akure as documented by Samuel Johnson, and also parts of Ekiti LGA in Kwara State. Indeed, Ijeshaland being part of Ekiti Parapo is also in Osun State.

Natural resources

Ekiti land is naturally endowed with numerous natural resources. The state is potentially rich in mineral deposits. These include granite, kaolinite, columbite, channockete, iron ore, baryte, aquamine, gemstone, phosphate, limestone, gold among others. They are largely deposited in different towns and villages of Ijero, Ekiti West, Ado - Ekiti, Ikole, Ikere, Ise-Ekiti and other Local Government Areas.

The Land is also blessed with water resources, some of its major rivers are Ero, Osun, Ose, and Ogbese. More so, a variety of tourist attractions abound in the state namely, Ikogosi Warm Springs; Arinta Water Falls; Olosunta and Orole hills of Ikere; Fajuyi Memorial Park of Ado - Ekiti and so on. The Ikogosi tourist centre is the most popular and the most developed. The warm spring is a unique natural feature, and supporting facilities are developed in the centre. The spring is at present, being processed and packaged into bottled water for commercial purpose by a private company - UAC Nigeria.

Moreover, the land is buoyant in agricultural resources with cocoa as its leading cash crop. It was largely known that Ekiti land constituted well over 40% of the cocoa products of the famous old Western Region. The land is also known for its forest resources, notably timber. Because of the favourable climatic conditions, the land enjoys luxuriant vegetation, thus, it has abundant resources of different species of timber. Food crops such as yam, cassava, and also grains like rice and maize are grown in large qualities. Other notable crops such as kola nut and varieties of fruits are also cultivated in commercial quantities.

Notable Ekiti indigenes

• 
  Segun Oni: Politician and Ex-Governor, Ekiti


• 
  Ayo Fayose: Ex-Governor


• 
  Bolaji Aluko: Professor


• 
  Gbenga Aluko: Senator


• 
  Babafemi Ojudu: Senator, Current Special Adviser to President


• 
  Femi Falana: Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Activist


• 
  Falz: Musician


• 
  Sade Adu, musician


• 
  Afe Babalola: Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Philanthropist


• 
  Niyi Adebayo: Former Governor, First Executive Governor of Ekiti State


• 
  Kayode Fayemi: State Governor, Former Minister of Solid Minerals Development


• 
  Adekunle Fajuyi: First & Former Governor, Western Region


• 
  Robert Adeyinka Adebayo: Former Governor, Western Region


• 
  Alhaji Abdul Azeez Kolawole Adeyemo: Prominent Politician


• 
  Bamidele Olumilua: Former Governor, Old Ondo State


• 
  Oluyemi Kayode: Sprinter and Sports


• 
  Bunmi Famosaya, Mni :Former Head of Service, Ekiti State.


• 
  Senator Abiodun Olujimi: A senator of the Federal Republic Nigeria representing Ekiti South constituency and deputy minority whip

References

Sources

• Adesina Adetola. Ekiti Kete: The Value, The Virtue and The Vision. 2008.
  ISBN 978-978-086-696-9
  


• Samuel Johnson. The History of the Yoruba, 1921

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ekiti State.

• Ekiti247.com


• Ekiti.com


• Ekitinigeria.net


• saharareporters.com


• ekitistate.gov.ng