Tag: Akwa Ibom

It was President Ibrahim Babangida that actually said that Akwa Ibom State is founder of modern Nigeria. When did he make this statement? When he created Akwa Ibom state, carved out of Cross-River State. This was in September 23, 1987, after a long struggle of 4 decades.

How Modern Nigerian States Began?

Creating Akwa Ibom State was fair and right seeing that Ibibio people were among pioneer groups in the struggle for State Creation. They mounted this struggle using the Ibibio Union. Meanwhile, this Ibibio Union – a socio-cultural organisation founded in 1928 – later transited to a goal driven institution in 1948. The union was known, back then, for ability to unite the Ibibio people thereby giving them one voice to contribute to the development of society.

Record: Ibibio Union was Nigeria’s first ever socio-cultural group.

However, beginning from 1967 when the 12 state structures was established by the then Military ruler Gen. Yakubu Gowon, the mainland part of Calabar province in eastern Nigeria was only known as the South-eastern state.

This did not feel good to the people and so it led to the name change to Cross River State in 1976.

It was just one of the ways to calm their agitation but the Ibibios and their Annang, Ekid, Oro relatives still wanted a state of their own. As such, the struggle continued.

Buhari Rejected, Babangida Accepted

After the fall of the 2nd republic in 1983, paramount rulers of 10 local government areas of mainland Cross River State sent to the then military ruler Mohammudu Buhari demanding the creation of Akwa Ibom State. This it was fruitless pursuit.

Record: Ibibio Union was one of Africa’s first groups to send indigenes on foreign scholarship.

The Ibibio People, known for their undaunted nature, kept the pressure on. In the course of this struggle, another opportunity came in 1986, when Gen. Ibrahim Babangida set up a bureau to define the political direction of the country. The fathers of Akwa Ibom State submitted the memo again. This time, it won the favour of the President Babangida.

What Babangida Thinks of Akwa Ibom State and Modern Nigeria

When he visited his newly created State, this is what Babangida said;

 “I do not exaggerate when I say that all the states in the federation owe a huge historical debt to the people of Akwa Ibom State, because … the cradle of the movement of state creation is here. In this sense, it can be said that you are the founders of modern Nigeria.”

 

Akwa Ibom state is one of the most important states in South-South Nigeria. It has since grown into 31 local government areas with diverse peculiarities. It is also one of Africa’s largest producer-states of Oil.

For more on the story of Akwa Ibom State, click here.

 

Written by

Brownson Nseime,

Jabborro PR, Uyo

 

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The Ibibio people were known for many fantastic virtues in times past. These virtues historically distinguished them from other ancient ethnic groups in Nigeria. Observe that ethnic groups have specific traits which they are known for. The Igbos are industrious, Hausas are Language-conscious, and Yorubas are famously showy. And then you have the Ibibios with their qualities. Mr. Udom Inoyo identified 4 virtues of Ibibio people in his lecture at book launch of ‘Ibibio Nation: History & Culture’.

DILIGENCE AND TRUST

The Ibibio man is happy to do his job and earn his wages. He is content. He would rather earn the trust of his boss than perform eye-service.

At some point, they were so trustworthy and diligent that elite Nigerians freely granted them access to most protected parts of their homes: the kitchen and the bedroom. This has been their nature since ancient times.

REPUBLICAN NATURE

Ancient Ibibios were frank and very principled. Till date, Ibibio people have the adage “ndiagha ke ufok owo“; a common phrase meaning that one can express his mind without equivocation because his daily bread does not depend on any other.

An Ibibio person has a way of giving his sincere opinion on issues, even if it differs from the common.

LOVE FOR EDUCATION

The advent of colonialism influenced their love for education notably. Back then, the Ibibio people had increased passion for education and wanted to be like their bosses.

In the book ‘The Ibibio Union’ written by late eminent Jurist, Sir Justice Udoma, the union, established in 1927, invested in education immediately. They recorded excellent achievement in being one of the foremost African nationalist bodies to award scholarships to its indigenes to study in foreign countries. This body also worked with colonial education departments to establish Ibibio State College in Ikot Ekpene in 1946.

COURAGE AND EXEMPLARY LIVING

History does not leave out Ibibio women. They were deeply involved in the formation of modern Ibibio culture.

It was Ibibio women who led the famous riot of 1929 in Ikot Abasi. Although writers recorded this as the Aba women’s riot, an Ibibio woman, the exemplary Madam Adiaha-Edem, was the arrow-head. She was paternal grand-mother of Senator Udoma Udo Udoma.

Ibibio people are naturally unintimidated though they are also humble.

For more, please order the most recent book on Ibibio Nation by Oto-Obong Uwah here.

Watch Oto-Obong Uwah speak on the Ibibio Nation on YouTube.

Keywords: Qualities Ibibio People Known For.

 

Nseime Brownson writes from Jabborro PR, Uyo

Ibom Heritage, a project to preserve Akwa Ibom culture, has been unveiled. This took place in Ibom Hall, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, by the Advisor, Oto-Obong Uwah last Friday, March 25, 2022. Thousand of audience attended the unveiling both onsite and online.

Ibom Heritage is an idea of Mr. Oto-bong Uwah, an Accountant who is also passionate about culture and nation-building. According to him, it began when he set out to research the history of his Offot clan. He would then proceed to expand the study to a far wider Ibibio group scope.

About the Event

The event had in attendance many dignitaries some of Ibibio extraction and other Nigerian elite. Former Vice Chairman of Exxon Mobil Mr. Udom Inoyo, was present to deliver the inaugural lecture. There was also Prof. Effiong Johnson, who reviewed the book launched same day; His Eminence, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, the Oku Ibom Ibibio and Royal Father of the Day; Salihu Tanko Yakasai former aide to the Kano State Governor and Founding Curator of Global Shapers Community of the World Economic Forum; Mr. Segun Showunmi, Political Affairs Analyst; Mr. Unwana Effiong Esang, MD/CEO, Primera Microfinance Bank; Edidiong Ekwere, Dan D’ Humorous and others.

Highlights of the event included the lecture by Mr. Udom Inoyo, colourful theatre presentations, the book launch of ‘Ibibio Nation: History and Culture’, authored by Oto-Obong Uwah himself and the book review by Professor E. Johnson.

Mr. Udom Inoyo, in his keynote address and lecture, stirred the audience when he advocated against a culture of costly funerals.

“As a people, we must discourage costly burial ceremonies. Borrowing money or selling property to sponsor ‘befitting burials’ rather than investing in economic ventures is senseless”, he said.

Prof. Johnson Confirms Credibility of the Book

Speaking about the book in his review, Professor Johnson gave a resounding guarantee on the credibility of the book, emphasizing;

“I stake my honour to say that this book is what he (the author) has said it is. There is no Ibibio person here seated who will read this book that will fail to have a positive consciousness of who you are…” adding as he ended to a standing ovation;

“…this is one book that must find representation in your library”.

Ibom Heritage Advisor and author of the book, Mr. Oto-Obong Uwah in unveiling the Ibom Heritage project, presented a 3D video of the proposed centre. He stated, while the artist design played as video, that the building project would be a lifelong one and not necessarily one to be actualized immediately. He stressed that, at the moment, Ibom Heritage is focused on informing and educating people while the physical facility will be built in the next few years.

Watch the event on Facebook here.

Keywords: Ibom Heritage Unveiled in Akwa Ibom

Purchase the Book, click here.

There are more than 5 masquerades you should be afraid of in Akwa Ibom State, but in this article, I will talk about 5 of the scariest. Some of them are so horrible, women can’t survive a sight of them. Some are Ibibio cultural cults, while some are simply cultural plays. Meanwhile, please get this book; Ibibio Nation: History & Culture by Oto-Obong Uwah, click here.

Ekòng

This is by far the goriest to watch and you will never find a photograph of it online. It is reported that some years ago near Ibiono, a pregnant woman saw ekòng masquerade by accident and immediately suffered miscarriage. From a description of a member of the ekòng secret cult, the masquerade is bathed with corpses, torn flesh, fresh blood and other repugnant trappings.

Ekpo

The Ekpo is founded on the belief in life after death. And it is regarded as the soul of ancestors that return to the land of the living in masquerade form. It returns to participate with their kinsmen in communal festivals such as farming and rites of passage.

Ekpo is a cult.

To become part of this circle you must be initiated. Also, every activity of this sect is designed to pour fear, dread and caution on women and non-initiates.
Ekpo was known for instituting justice and performing judicial, administrative and religious duties during pre-colonial times.

Atӓt

This means wasp and the head of the masquerade is shaped like a basket. The body-worn costume is woven and the physique of the masquerade is dwarfy. The Atӓt masquerade is played as a festival in a few communities in the state. It is known for the security role it played in ancient Akwa Ibom before colonial times.

This Akwa Ibom masquerade is also known to possess supernatural powers as with the others. Only that it some times performs magical art to the amazement of admirers. Besides these, it was useful in instituting moral values amongst women and other members of old Ibibio society. The aim of the Atat masquerade was to maintain in the cultural society.

Utuèkpè

This means spider in Ibibio. As the name implies, this masquerade behaves like a spider during its display. It would scale heights on strings aided by other members of its troupe.

Nnabò

This is a cult with a very ferocious masquerade. The masquerader himself is made to undergo certain spiritual rites to be able to wear the costume and then be brought out for display. It is found mainly in the Annang areas of Akwa Ibom State.

Primary keywords – masquerade, akwa ibom, ekpo

Brownson Nseime writes from Jabborro PR, Uyo.