History, Origin, Culture and Traditions of Eket Town in Akwa Ibom State

 
Eket is among the 31 administrative regions within Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The term “Ekid” not only designates the region but also the native people and the dialect they speak. These inhabitants are a subgroup of the Ibibio ethnic community located in the southern reaches of Ibibio territory. While locals refer to themselves and their speech as “Ekid,” European colonists historically adapted the name into “Eket.”

Beyond its designation as a local government area, Eket is also one of the three political zones in Akwa Ibom State. The senatorial zones in the state include Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, and Eket.

The central town has evolved into a semi-urban industrial hub, merging formerly distinct rural settlements. According to the Akwa Ibom State Surveyor-General, the region spans roughly 176 square kilometers. Data from Nigeria’s 2006 census reported a population of 172,856, while a 2013 estimate by the state’s Economic Development Ministry placed the number at 218,438, with a density of 1,241 people per square kilometer.

##Historical Background
The Eket community belongs to the Ibibio ethnolinguistic group, considered one of the oldest in the coastal regions of southern Nigeria. Anthropologist M.D.W. Jeffreys proposed that early explorers, such as the Phoenician Hanno, may have encountered Ibibios during voyages along the West African coast. Oral traditions recount long-standing habitation along the Atlantic coast, further supported by ancient accounts referencing local pygmy tribes—"Nnung Amama Isim"—and volcanic activity believed to be eruptions from Mount Cameroon.

By the late 1400s, Portuguese explorers had reached this coastline, finding the Ekid people already well established. They named a major waterway “Rio de Conde,” later misnamed “Kwa Iboe River” by British colonists. The people recall the Portuguese as “Akpotoki.” Other colonial contacts followed—Dutch, British, French, and Germans—with Britain eventually annexing the region during the colonial era.

Treaties signed in 1884 between local chiefs and British envoys formally placed the area under British influence, just prior to the Berlin Conference. Ekid’s chiefs—such as Akpan Udoimuk and Uso Etukudo—were signatories. Christianity soon followed with Rev. Samuel Bill’s mission to nearby Ibeno in 1887, laying the groundwork for the Qua Iboe Church and its spread of literacy and faith across the region.

By 1894, a colonial administrative center called Qua Iboe District was established in Ekid, later becoming Eket Division in 1922. This division remained under Calabar Province until it was reassigned to Uyo Province in the 1950s. Ekid became a Local Government Area following federal reforms in 1976 and was later divided into Eket, Onna, Esit Eket, and Ibeno LGAs under the Babangida and Abacha regimes.

##Geographical Features and Infrastructure
A defining natural landmark is the Kwa Iboe River, which borders Onna and flows into the Atlantic. This waterway was vital for trade and governance in the colonial period. Modern infrastructure includes the East-West Highway, Mobil’s airstrip, Esuene Square, and the Qua Iboe Terminal. Part of the historic Stubb Creek Forest Reserve also lies within Ekid territory.

##Economy
With fertile land and abundant water bodies, farming and fishing dominate traditional livelihoods. Common crops include cassava, yam, plantains, and vegetables, while animal husbandry and snail farming are also widespread. The local economy was once boosted by palm produce trade initiatives, such as the ill-fated venture led by Prince Peter Eket Inyang Udoh during the interwar period.

Government-supported oil palm plantations emerged in the 1960s but declined during the civil war. Industrial activity increased post-war, especially after Mobil Producing Nigeria commenced operations. Service industries followed, including hospitality, retail, and telecommunications. Businesses like Qua River Hotels and Seastate Seafoods once flourished but have since closed.

The area boasts infrastructure such as paved roads, water systems, electricity, markets, and housing estates like Usua Amanam and Stevegrad Estate. Banks and small businesses also contribute significantly to the economy. Community infrastructure projects were initially supported by Mobil but later transitioned to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

##Demographics and Culture
The Ekid people speak a dialect of the Ibibio language family and have a complex social hierarchy. At the top are the “Amama” caste, known for public feasts, while the “Ekpenim Isong” govern communities. Law enforcement was historically managed by the “Ikan” class, accessible by merit rather than birth.

Surnames often reflect heritage and clan origin, such as Odungide, Etukudo, Edohoeket, and Udofia. Naming customs help identify the bearer’s roots.

##Education
Western education came early due to missionary and colonial influence. The first formal school opened in 1905, and by 1916, the Grace Bill Institute was established for girls. Secondary schools followed in the 1960s, and more were created in subsequent decades to serve a growing population. Today, private institutions abound, including Pegasus Schools and several nurseries and primary schools.

Heritage Polytechnic, a private institution licensed in 2010, provides higher education alongside a state-run nursing school.

##Healthcare
Immanuel General Hospital, founded in 1953 by Lutheran missionaries, remains the primary public hospital and was recently upgraded. Other facilities include a psychiatric hospital, polyclinic, and multiple health centers across communities. The region also benefits from numerous private clinics, dental and eye care providers.

##Climate
Eket has a tropical rainforest climate, with year-round rainfall and temperatures averaging 25.9°C. The region experiences over 3,600 mm of rain annually. Travel is best from January to May and November to December.

##Notable Figures

Paul Bassey – Renowned sports administrator

Samuel Bassey – Labor leader

Eme Ufot Ekaette – Senator

Nduese Essien – Lawmaker

Helen Esuene – Former Minister of Health

Uduokaha Esuene – Former military governor

Lemmy Jackson (Otu Udofa) – Noted music producer

Sunday Mbang – Methodist Church leader