Ikot Ekpene

Ikot Ekpene, also known as The Raffia City, is a historic town in the south-southern state of Akwa Ibom, Nigeria. It is the political and cultural capital of the Annang ethnic group in Nigeria (Nair, 1972). The town is located on the A342 highway that parallels the coast, between Calabar to the southeast and Aba to the west, with the state capital, Uyo, on this road just to the east. Umuahia is the next major town to the north. The population of the Ikot Ekpene Local government area was estimated to be 180,500 in 2022.

Kannan Nair, the noted historian described the town as a cultural and political capital of the Annangs and the Ibibios. The Ibibios live to the east and most of the Annangs live to the south of the town.

Ikot Ekpene is known as a regional centre of commerce, with notable exports of palm products, especially palm oil, kernels, raffia products including raffia fibers and its wine, and ground crops of yams, cassava, taro, and corn. The population is made up primarily of the Annang people with a small number of Igbo traders and Hausa Suya vendors. Significant exports also include basket weaving, sculpture, and, most notably, raffia cane furniture (hence the colloquial name of the town).

Ikot Ekpene is also known for its technological innovations due to the emergence of FutureLabs an innovation hub dedicated to training young technical talents and helping entrepreneurs build tech startups in Ikot Ekpene in partnership with organizations like NITDA and JICA. The Raffia City Entrepreneurs Scheme committee was inaugurated by Hon. John Cleton Etim.

Ikot Ekpene is also the headquarters of some notable seminaries and the Catholic Diocese in the south-south region of Nigeria. The Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, and Ritman University is located in the city. The city houses the notable mini stadium at GRA road, Nteps Super Markets, Four Point by Sheraton Hotels etc.