FOCUS ON AKWA IBOM CULTURE AND TOURISM

FOCUS ON AKWA IBOM CULTURE AND TOURISM




Akwa Ibom is a state in Nigeria. It is located in the coastal southern part of the country, lying between latitudes 4°32′N and 5°33′N, and longitudes 7°25′E and 8°25′E. The state is bordered on the east by Cross River State, on the west by Rivers State and Abia State, and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean and the southernmost tip of Cross River State.
Akwa Ibom is one of Nigeria’s 36 states, with a population of over 5 million people and more than 10 million people in diaspora. It was created in 1987 from the former Cross River State and is currently the highest oil- and gas-producing state in the country. The state’s capital is Uyo, with over 500,000 inhabitants. Akwa Ibom has an airport (Akwa Ibom International Airport) and two major seaports on the Atlantic Ocean with a proposed construction of a world-class seaport Ibaka Seaport at Oron. The state also boasts of a 30,000-seater ultramodern sports complex. Akwa Ibom state is home to the Ibom E-Library, a world-class information center. Along with English, the main spoken languages are Ibibio, Annang, Eket and Oron language.

The people are predominantly of the Christian faith. The main ethnic groups of the state are:

• Ibibio
• Annang
• Oron
• Eket
• Obolo

25 Most Beautiful Tourist Locations in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

 Here, we present you with 25 Most Beautiful  Tourist Locations in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Akwa Ibom State:

Akwa Ibom state is one of the 36 states in Nigeria. The name "Akwa Ibom" was named after the famous river "Qua Iboe". Akwa Ibom is situated in the Southern part of Nigeria. It lies between latitudes  4°321 and 5°331 North, and longitudes 7°251 and 8°251 East. Akwa Ibom state was carved out from the defunct Cross Rivers State (Akwa Cross). The state "Akwa Ibom" was created on the 23 September 1987 by Ibrahim Babangida Badamassi (IBB). 
The Capital of Akwa Abasi Ibom state is currently in Uyo. 

 
Akwa Ibom state is often referred to as  Land of Promise. The state is an oil producing states of the Niger Delta. The total population of the Akwa Ibom people is about 3,920,208 and a land area of 6,900 Sq km. With an ocean front which spans a distance of 129 kilometers from Ikot Abasi in the west to Oron in the east, Akwa Ibom presents a picture of captivating coastal, mangrove forest, beautiful sand beach resorts, and other interesting places one can visit. Some of such places includes the "10 Most beautiful Places in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria";

1. Ibom International Stadium

Whether you are on a visit to Akwa Ibom either for the first time or on a repeated visit, these places and structures featured in this piece can be a one stop for a tremendous historical experience. 

2. Le Meridien Ibom Golf Resort in Uyo L.G.A
 

Le Meridien, Uyo

Golf playing newlyweds will have most romantic experience at Le Meridien Ibom Golf Resort in Akwa Ibom State. Located in the midst of a flourishing palm forest vegetation, and full of romantic discoveries and adventure, it is a quiet get away for lovebirds on their honeymoon. The chefs serve some of the most delicious meals you can taste in the whole country. 
Visit: Le Meridien Ibom Golf Resort.

3. Ikot Ekpene Four Point Hotel By Sheraton; 

The hotel which is sited in Ikot Ekpene is about 20 minutes drive from Uyo, the state capital and about 45 minutes drive to the Akwa Ibom International Airport.

As the second Starwood Hotel in the state and the tenth in the country with Ibom Le’Meridien Hotel and Golf Resort being the first in the state, Four Points by Sheraton, Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria is equipped with the following;

14-storey oval-shaped Complex
146 rooms
14 suites
600-seater Banquet Hall
6 Meeting Rooms
1 Holding Room
Business Centre
100-Seater in-house Restaurant
Reception Bar
Terrace Bar
SPA center
Night clubs
Elegantly furnished restaurants
Swimming pool
Tennis court
Rooftop café

Photo Credit- Ibom tourism

Photo Credit- Ibom tourism

Photo Credit- Ibomtourism

Photo Credit- Ibom tourism

4. Ibeno Beach in Ibeno L.G.A.;This is a beautiful sand beach which stretches to James town on the Atlantic, providing recreational facilities with excellent opportunities for water sports. A couple of similar beaches are at  Eastern Obolo, Ikot Abasi, Abadia, Nwaniba, and Oron.

Ibom Tourism Crew

5. Ibom Plaza in Uyo L.G.A 

Ibom Plaza Fountain

The monument symbolizes the unity of the people of Akwa Ibom state and it is a delightful art-piece, skirted with a dazzling selection of uniquely beautiful flowers. Ibom Plaza has an open theater, double-rolled water fountain within the Plaza, and a shopping center. 
The unique thing about Ibom Plaza. Alone, it stands out as the first of its kind in the history of city modernisation in Nigeria.


       
6.The Presbyterian Church 
It was built by the famous missionary- Mary Slessor who stopped the killing of twins amongst the people of the region. Her tomb was also built on the spot where she was buried and the house she lived before her death situated around Ikot/Oron/Itu village in the state.
 

7. Lord Lugard's Residence in Ikot Abasi L.G.A.  

This place is a one-storey cottage where Lord Lugard lived during the amalgamation period, and it is located opposite the Amalgamation House. This was claimed to be the first administrative headquarters of the region before it was taken to Calabar.

8. National Museum in Uyo L.G.A. 
This building houses some of the finest carvings, relics, artifacts, and other valuable antiquities such as masquerade costumes, traditional instruments, and pottery. It also contains an attractive, shaded waterfront garden where one can watch small boats drifting on the creeks.

9. Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Center in Uyo L.G.A

10. Ibom E-Library in Uyo

11. Ibom Internatinal Airport

12. 1st Qua Iboe Church at Iwochange In Ibeno; The first Qua lboe Church building at Ibeno, erected in 1912 at the point where the first missionary and the founder of the Qua lboe Church landed in 1887. The founder was  samuel Alaxander bill and he arrived in Ibeno in 1887.

13. Ikot Ekpene Plaza;

 Built and commissioned by the administration of the past Governor of the state. Governor Godswill Akpabio. it has become one of the most visited tour sites in Akwa Ibom. fortunately the plaza is right beside the Four Point hotel in Ikot Ekpene. A wonderful sight to behold at night. it has become one of the best honeymoon locations in Nigeria. 

14. Mesuem Park at Udo Udoma Avenue; The park ones neglected has become a very busy tourist location. it has such expanse of beautiful field that can host more than 10 wedding receptions at a time. it has become both a get away for lovers and for hosting birthday parties. It is a place worth visiting by any tourist.

15. Oron Beach; Not one of the Popular beach. but a quite beach for couples that love get aways at places where there is no much crowd.

16. Nwaniba beach along the lower Cross River valley. There is a golf course here.

17. Rafia City; Ikot Ekpene local government being the first local government in west Africa is known for its mastery in Raffia weaving and wood carving. It always a wonderful experience to take a tour and go see what stands them out.

Basket for storage

Rafia Bicycle

Rafia Make Up Box

18. Millennium Hospital at Uyo; 
Rated as one of the best hospitals in Africa and with state of the arts facilities. this hospital is a rare sight to behold. when coming into uyo, it stands as one of those facilities that gives you a rare imagination of what to expect.

19. Mary Slessor's house at Ikot Offiong, where the famous pioneer Scottish missionary devoted herself to humanitarian services.

20. THE ROYAL NIGER BOAT YARD

The boat yard is found after Lugard’s house, behind the administrative building of the former Royal Niger Company premises. It is a large  boat yard where merchant ships were built and repaired. There exist some old boats and canoes of all sizes in the yard which is an indication of the extensive businesses carried out in the area in the past. 

22. The Bridge of No Return; It is not only in Badagry that had the mystery bridge. In Ikot Abasi there was also a bridge of no return where any slave that passes never returns. At the bank of the Imo River estuary, a walking distance from the Amalgamation house and colonial offices is a jetty and a bridge designed to enable free movement to and from the river, to enable embankment into boats and canoes. This was the famous Bridge of No Return, a name given to it by the locals. Slaves were walked down this bridge to the canoes for onward movement to the slave ships that lay anchored at the middle of the high sea waiting for their human cargoes for onward journey through the Atlantic Ocean to the vast plantations in Europe and Americas. No slave that walks down the bridge ever returns and this inormed the name “Bridge of No Return”.

Also at this bridge are the slave dungeons made up of containers of cast concrete with two tiny holes at each end to enable occupants receive air. This is where the most stubborn slaves were kept before shipment for the purpose of weakening their resolve. The Dungeons have partitions, so that each cubicle holds one slave. Apart from the dungeons, there are warehouses for goods that were later turned into slave warehouses. This was where the slaves were kept in preparation for their shipment.

                DOWN SLOW
This was the last point of discharge of slaves into the waiting slave ships that eventually sailed them into slavery. It can be seen from the bank of the river lying closer to the shore-end of the river. The slave masters originally called the spot “Down Below” where slaves were lowered into huge ocean liners. The name was later corrupted by the locals to “Down Below”.
 

23; CENOTAPH OF THE WOMEN WAR OF1929

 the head tax mobilized themselves from all parts of the region, some coming in canoes singing and chanting. On landing at the colonial administrative office they started chanting war songs. To quell the riot, the British officials asked the colonial police to open fire on the singing unarmed women which led to the death of scores of women. To commemorate the bravery of these women who stood their ground and died for a just cause, a statue was erected in front of the Ikot Abasi Local Government secretariat which was then the administrative headquarters of the British colonial government. on every December 16, each year all Akwa Ibom women gather at the sight to commemorate the selfless sacrifice of these women. Women of Ikot Abasi, then a part of Opobo were actively involved in the famous women riot of 1929 over taxation and in protest againt colonial rule which culminated into the Aba Women riot of 1929. It was alleged that the protest was as a result of the new tax regime introduced by colonial officials in then Eastern Nigeria. Women protesting against their inclusion in the payment of tax.

24;THE SLAVE MASTERS LODGE AND SLAVE WAREHOUSES OF OKOPEDI, ITU

The Itu River was a renowned slave trade route and the old jetty still stands. There are a number of old prison-like warehouses where slaves were kept to await shipment via the Itu River. The main lodge was the residence of the white slave merchants who occupied the area. This is a one-story house, much complex and beautifully constructed.

25. Exxon mobil 9 hole Golf Course; Ibeno beach is not just the longest sand beach in west Africa, it is the only beach that has an adjoining Gold course.