Akwa ibom : The land of my birth

i'll be talking about my dear state, Akwa Ibom.
It is one of 36 states in Nigeria with the total population of over 5 million people.
It was carved out from the former Cross River State in 23rd September, 1987.
Akwa Ibom is described as a uni-cultural State because norms, taboos, customs and traditions remains the same in all the 31 local government area.
Here are pictures of some cultural performance by the beautiful people of Akwa ibom state :

It holds the position of the highest oil and gas producing state in Nigeria. We are generally addressed as calabar people.
Uyo being the capital of Akwa ibom has a large number of over 6000 inhabitants.
The hospitality shown by the people of Akwa Ibom can not be overlooked.
The land is rich in natural resources and it's welcoming to tourists and foreigners. Investments done in the state are productive as everybody's hands is on deck to make the state friendly to foreign investors.
The official language is English while our native languages include :
♠️ Ibibio
♠️ Annang
♠️ Eket
♠️ Mbo
♠️ Oron
Other minor groups include:
♠️Ibeno
♠️Itu Mbonuso
♠️Andonis

12 interesting facts about Akwa Ibom.

● The name Akwa Ibom was derived from the Qua Iboe river.

● The slogan of the state is " the land of promise" .
● People from Akwa ibom are called Akwa ibomites.
● The oldest local government in Nigeria is in Akwa ibom ( ikot ekpene).

● It is made up of 31 local government area.
● It is one of the cleanest state in Nigeria.
● They are tourist friendly.
● Akwa ibom is the home to different varieties of masquerades.

● It has two major seaports on the Atlantic ocean.
● It is the most peaceful state in Nigeria.
● Akwa ibom has one of the best road network in Nigeria.
● The current governor of Akwa ibom state is His excellency Deacon Udom Udom Gabriel Emmanuel.
● Our dialect is simple to learn. Example of the common ones include:
● Amesiere - Good morning
● Ameyong - welcome
● Di mi - come here
● Ufan mi - my friend
● Sosongho - thank you.
I hope you were able to learn a few of our dialects. Lol!

How to prepare our native food.
That was a brief summary of my beautiful state. Did I mention to you that, we have the best collection of mouth-watering dishes? Of course, I didn't, I omitted it so I will teach you how to prepare 3 different kinds of our local dishes. Pay great attention to the steps .
The 3 local dishes I will be explaining will be listed below, forgive me for the names, lol! You are free to pronounce them the way you want :
♠️ Efere Afang ( Afang soup)
♠️ Ekpang Nkukwo
♠️ Afia Efere ( White soup)
If noticed most of the dish are mainly soup, reason because I love eating soup. Lol!
The above soups could be eaten with either eba or fufu ( both are prepared from cassava), Semovita or wheat. Our local dishes are garnished with seafood like the oysters, periwinkle, shrimps and lots more.
I told you we have the best mouth-watering dishes.

♠️ Efere Afang

It is one of the nutritious vegetable soups prepared by the people of Akwa ibom. It has some medicinal values and often served at ceremonial occasions, though it also forms part of our everyday delicacy.
Star Contents:
The soup is made from the combination of 2 kinds of vegetables, Which are: the afang leaf (spinach leaf) and the water leaf.
♠️ Ingredients for Efere Afang
● Sliced Afang leaves.
● Sliced water leaves ( lamb's lettuce could also be used )
● Stock fish.
● Meat.
● Smoked fish.
● Palm oil.
● Periwinkle (optional).
● Ground fresh pepper.
● Salt.
● Seasoning cubes.
● Grounded crayfish.
● Sliced onions
♠️ Procedures
●Using a cooking pot, boil the meat and stock fish with the sliced onions and seasoning cubes in a very small quantity of water.
● When done, add the smoked fish and cook for about 3-6 more minutes.
● Add the palm oil, grounded crayfish and seasoning cubes. Cover the pot and let it simmer for a couple of 3-6 minutes.
● Once it starts boiling, add the afang leaves, stir and then add your water leaves and periwinkle, allow it to simmer for 8 - 10 minutes .
● When the afang leaves have softened and the water begins to dry up, taste for seasoning cubes, salt and pepper, if the taste is to your satisfaction. The afang soup is ready.
● Served with eba, semovita, fufu or pounded yam.

♠️ Ekpang Nkukwo

It is made of freshly grated cocoyam mixed with water yam, then wrapped in green leaves. It is rich in protein, vitamins and mineral salt. It is so special that it is reserved for certain occasions such as traditional marriages.
♠️ Ingredients for Ekpang Nkukwo
● Grated Cocoyam
● Grated Water yam
● A bunch of tender cocoyam leaves
● Pumpkin leaves
● Scent leaves
● Palm oil
● Crayfish
● Periwinkle
● Beef
● Dried fish
● Grounded pepper
● Seasoning cubes
● Salt
♠️ Procedures
● Rinse and cook the beef and dried fish.
● Mix the grated cocoyam and water yam together.
● Wash the tender cocoyam leaves and shred them. This will be used for wrapping the mixture of cocoyam and the water yam.
● Now rub a large quantity of palm Oil on the inside of the pot.
● Rinse and slice the scent leaves .
Now let's go to the cooking proper;
● Place the periwinkle at the bottom of the well oiled pot.
● Take a small quantity of the mixture of cocoyam and water yam and place it on the shredded cocoyam leaf.
● Wrap the mixture and place it on the periwinkle inside the pot.
● Repeat till the whole mixture is exhausted.
● Add pepper, crayfish and beef. Also add hot water to the level of the content of the pot.
● Allow it to cook for 25 minutes on a medium heat.
● Add the sliced scent leaves, more quantity of palm oil and seasoning cubes.
● Allow the content of the pot to simmer for more 10 minutes.
● Your ekpang is done.
● Stir and serve.

♠️ Afia Efere ( White soup)

It is called white soup because it is prepared without oil.
♠️Ingredients for Afia Efere.
● Goat meat
● Uyayak pod ( Aiden fruit)
● Grounded pepper
● Dry fish
● Stock fish
● Seasoning cubes
● Salt
● Pieces of yam mashed with mortar.
♠️ Procedures
● Parboil your goat meat and stock fish with seasoning cubes, pepper and salt.
● When you are done. Add the uyayak pod, crayfish, pepper and salt and stir, allow it to boil for about 10 - 15 minutes.
● Add the dry fish and the yam mash and stir to combine.
● Cover and cook for another 10 minutes.
● Once the soup thickens to your desire, add pepper and grounded crayfish.
● Allow it to simmer for 3 minutes.
● Your afia Efere is ready.

I hope you learnt something today about my beautiful state. I still remain Dr. Mfon.