Ikono

Ikono is a Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, located in the South South of Nigeria. It is bounded at the North, by Ini Local Government Area, South by Abak and Uyo Local Government Areas, East by Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area and West by Ikot Ekpene, Essien Udim and Obot Akara Local Government Areas. It was created as a local government in september 1996. It has a landmass of 407.16 km2. It is no doubt one of the four largest LGA in Akwa Ibom, and also known as the cradle of the Ibibio people [Ntippe Ibibio]. It occupies the northern fringe of Akwa-Ibom State next to Ini local Government which occupies the northern most fringe of the state. It is predominantly inhabited by the Ibibios, the largest ethnic groups in the state. Some popular sub-groups within Ikono include Ukpom, Nung Ukim and Ediene.

Population
Source: 2006 National Census

History and population
Ikono is one of the four largest Local Government Areas in the state, the others being oruk Anam, Ibiono-Ibom, Essien Udim. It came into existence in September, 1996 when it was carved out of Itu Local Government Area. The people of Ikono are great farmers, who cultivate both cash and food crops, palm tree, kolanut trees, cassava, maize, melon. They are also traders and among the peculiar cuisines of the people is a soup called "efere nsana" which is often prepared during festivities like marriage, burials, civic receptions. The people of Ikono trace their roots to a place called "Ibom" in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, from where they migrated and spread to other parts today's Ibibio land. Demographic suggestions made with much inclined on the 2016 census data, opines that Ikono has a population of about 185,000 people, with both genders each fairly counting a proximate half of the total figure.

Sub-cultural groups
Ibibio is made up of six sub-cultural groups.

These include:


 * 1) Eastern Ibibio or Ibibio Proper.
 * 2) Western Ibibio or Annang.
 * 3) Northern Ibibio or Enyong.
 * 4) Southern Ibibio or Eket.
 * 5) Delta Ibibio or Andoni-lbeno.
 * 6) Riverine Ibibio or Efik.

Economy
The economy of Ikono LGA is largely blazed by the civil service. Ikono LGA has stores of mineral assets like salt, sand and rock. Also, there are convincing indicators for unrefined petroleum. Agriculture is likewise a significant financial action in Ikono LGA with yields. For example, oil palm, kola nut, cocoa, melon, maize, cassava, and plantain filled in genuinely huge amounts inside the space.Exchange additionally prospers in Ikono LGA with the space facilitating various business sectors like the Obo daily market. Further more, the Fiongaran market situated a few kilometres away from the boundary community at the northern terrain has over the years been a major economic contributor. The people of Ikono in mild passivity participate in fishing, cottage craft [at Mbiabong Ikon, Mbiabong Ukan and other places] and lumbering.

Politics
The political clime of the pre-democratic Ikono was overtly marshalled into the records by factors from the Ikono middle clan. The colonial administrators had a lot to do with such characters as Chief Ikpembe of Ibiaku Ntok Okpo and Chief Nyah Okoibu of Nung Ukim. By the end of the third republic, the merits of democracy, mixed with what many consider to be a state-authourity influenced schism, gradually favoured for more inclusiveness which has paved way for the people of the south to emerge as political front liners. The dominance of the south has been nevertheless toned into fairness, with the dominant political party PDP since 1999, running a quasi-zoning template with an equivalent power sharing formula. Presently, the executive head is an Ikono-middle man. The legislative arm is operated with the councillor elements. The Judiciary is also stamped with customary recognitions. The traditional hierarchies and monarchial stakes have been equally maintained with all permeable constitutional rights sustained to run concurrently with the democratic government structures.

Landscape and drainage
Ikono has a unique topography, diversely featuring valleys, cliffs, spurs, plains and ravines. A notable ravine called "adik" by the locales, curves round through the north eastern belts of mbiabong Ikon 1,Nung ukim, mbioku Ikot Abasi and stretches through the communities lining over into the nearby local governments.

This geographic stretch ditches many streams of freshwater into the Akon river.

At the southern end of Nung udoe Itak, exists another of such ravine bounding with the prestigious Immaculate conception secondary school.

The Ukpom valley provides an essential tracking of the Ukpom stream, called "Idim Ukpom". This freshwater stream is believed to be a continuum of other streams flowing from the tail reliefs of Mbiafun Nkwongo and Nung ukim communities.

All of these set out for an effective drainage system of Ikono.

Tourism
Mountain hiking has recently become popular around the contours, ridges, natural depressions and valleys of Ikono. Tourists from nearby local governments are regular visitors for this reason.

The Ukpom stream, creeping just under a major trunk c road, is another site of attraction. This nevertheless only pulls very little economic perks.

Infrastructures
Being civil service driven, Ikono has in time past drawn a faint attention from the state quarters. However, her historical essence earned her a few more infrastructures than her levelled counterparts. One of such infrastructures is the Akwa Ibom state college of science and technology.

This academic landmark is believed to have been wooed in by one of her sons, Hon. Moses Essien while as the then serving commissioner of education.

Other educational infrastructures include the famous Ikono people's High school whose present site was commissioned in 2006 by President Olusegun Obasanjo. These two notably have positive socio-economic effects as it receives envoys of students from within Akwa Ibom and even nearby states.

The space is also adequately furnished with not less than 150 government approved primary and secondary schools.

Ikono also has good road networks reticulating through to offer swift navigability.

Alongside myriads of lightweight primary health centres, the Primary health base at Ibiaku Ntok Okpo complements the well equipped Ikono general hospital to offer quality and accessible health services to the populace.