Eket

Eket is a historic coastal city in Akwa Ibom State, southeastern Nigeria. The Ekid people, an Ibibio subgroup, have inhabited this Atlantic shoreline for centuries before European contact. Their livelihood revolved around fishing and agriculture along the Qua Iboe River. Portuguese explorers arrived in the late 15th century, finding a well-established community with rich oral traditions and a hierarchical social structure governed by the Ekpo society.

In 1884, Eket chiefs signed a treaty of friendship with British representatives, placing the territory under colonial influence. The Qua Iboe District was established in 1894 with Eket as its headquarters, and by 1916 it became a separate administrative division. The arrival of the Qua Iboe Mission in 1887, led by Reverend Samuel Bill, introduced Christianity and Western education, gradually transforming the social and intellectual landscape of the town.

Today, Eket stands as a major economic hub, particularly following the oil boom initiated by Mobil in the late 1960s. The city boasts an airstrip, stadium, and modern road networks. Although the original Eket Local Government Area was split into smaller units in 1989 and 1996, the city remains the second largest in Akwa Ibom State and continues to play a vital role in Nigeria's petroleum industry.