Abakaliki

Abakaliki is the capital of Ebonyi State in southeastern Nigeria. It was founded in the early 20th century as a British administrative centre for the region. The town's name derives from the original Igbo Abakaliki, meaning "difficult place." In 1996, when Ebonyi State was carved out of Enugu State, Abakaliki was chosen as the capital of the new state.

The Abakaliki area is rich in hills that yield salt, which made it a centre of salt production in Nigeria. In the 1940s, Abakaliki Province was established as an administrative district, and the town grew steadily as an agricultural and commercial hub.

Today Abakaliki remains important as a political and economic centre of Ebonyi State. It hosts Ebonyi State University and major salt markets. The city has a large Igbo population and maintains strong traditional customs.