CROSS RIVER STATE
AT A GLANCE
RELIGION:
T
he Traditional Efik society considers Abasi as the creator of the universe. Though one tradition
explains that Abasi's wife "Atai" persuaded him to let two of their children settle on earth, and
though they were not permitted to breed, they disobeyed and became the ancestors of the Efik clan,
While others believe that Abasi indeed created two people (a male and female) who were also forbidden to
re-produce, but due to their disobedience Abasi punished the earth with death. This different believes
places importance on paying tribute to the village ancestors, particularly those who acquired high rank,
since they can affect the fortunes of the living.Theearth deity Ala, is usually appeased through Ogbom
ceremony, which they believe increases harvest and make their women fruitful.
All those believes and practices are now things of the past as the current Cross River state is dominated by
Christians with about 82percent of the population practicing Christianity with high number of churches
established in the state.
Local Government Areas in the State
Cross River State Consist of 18 Local Government Areas and there include: Abi, Akamkpa, Akpabuyo,
Bekwarra, Biase, Boki, Calabar municipality, Calabar south, Etung, Ikom, Obanliku, Obudu, Odukpani,
Ogoja, Yarkur, Obubra, Calabar South and Yala.
Major Ethnic Groups ; are the Efik, Ejagham and Bekwarra. There are also the Yakurr, Agoi,
Bahumono. While the Mbembe are predominantly found in Obubra LGA, other several sub-dialectical
groups among others are the Etung, Nkim/Nkum. Ababajum, Nseke and Boki in both Ikom, Etung LGA's
and the Yala/ Yachukelle, Ekajuka, Mbune, Better, Bekwarra and Utugwanga people who are found in the
Ogoja, Yala, Obudu and Obanliku LGA's. The Yala are a subgroup of the Idoma nation.
EDUCATION:
O
ver the years the state has been
able to set its own educational
standard, basically because the
people of CrossRiver understand the
role education plays as a catalyst for
economic transformation and social-
political advancement, this has driven
their interest to acquire knowledge from
the basic formative level, through the
secondary and the tertiary level.
This has led to the conceptualization of
more than 230 pre- primary schools, 648
primary schools, and 145 post primary
schools, alongside tertiary institutions
like the University of Calabar, The
Cross River State University of Science
and Technology (CRUTECH). The
Ibrahim Babangida College of
Education in Obubra, Institute of
Technology and Management Ugep. The
Cross River State College of Education,
Akamkpa, and a number of teachers
training College also located in the state.
LANGUAGES
C
ommunicati on is quite easy in
Calabar as English Language is well
spoken by all in the state's residents.
The Efik dialect is the main language
spoken in Cross River State, with the Efik
community (who settled mainly in the
southern district of Cross River) whom are
commonly referred to as the greater
Calabar district. There include, Calabar
municipality, Calabar South, Bakkasi,
Biase, Akpabuyo, Odukpani, and Akamkpa
LGA's. Other languages include; Abanyom,
Agoi, Agwagwune, Alege, Bakpinka,
Bekwarra, Bete-bendi, Ejagham, Eki,
Ekajuk, Igede, Ito, Kukele, Legbo, Lenyima,
Lokaa, Mbe, Mbembe, Ndoe, Nkukoli
among others.