Seven important facts you should know about Ekiti, the fountain of knowledge

Ekiti is a state in the southwestern part of Nigeria. It was declared a state on October 1, 1996 alongside five others by the military under the dictatorship regime of General Sani Abacha. The state, carved out of the territory of old Ondo State, covers the former twelve local government areas that made up the Ekiti territory of the old Ondo State. For those who are not that conversant with the major attributes of Ekiti, here are 7 interesting facts you should know about that state:

• Education. When you are talking of education, Ekiti boasts of having the highest number of Professors among the states in Nigeria. Hardly can you see any family without a university degree holder. This is the reason why the state’s slogan is: ‘Fountain of Knowledge’.
• The land is popular for its forest resources, notably timber. Because of the favorable climatic conditions, the land enjoys luxuriant vegetation, thus, it has abundant resources of different species of timber. Food crops like yam, cassava, and also grains like rice and maize are grown in large qualities. Other notable crops like kola nut and varieties of fruits are also cultivated in commercial quantities.
• Ekiti land is buoyant in agricultural resources with cocoa as its leading cash crop. It was largely known that Ekiti land constituted well over 40% of the cocoa products of the famous old Western Region.
• Ekiti is also blessed with water resources, some of its major rivers are Ero, Osun, Ose, and Ogbese. More so a variety of tourist attractions abound in the state namely, Ikogosi Warm Spring, Ipole – Iloro Water Falls, Olosunta hills, Ikere, Fajuyi Memorial Park Ado – Ekiti and so on. The Ikogosi tourist centre is the most popular and the most developed. The warm spring is a unique natural feature, and supporting facilities are developed in the centre. The spring is at present being processed and packaged into bottled water for commercial purpose by a private company, UAC Nigeria.
• The spring water is said to have some therapeutic effects on some diseases like rheumatism and guinea-worm. People who have access to the spring use it for the battery of their vehicles instead of the normal battery water.
• Olosunta and Orole hills in southern Ikere-Ekiti are worshipped by the people of the area. Both deities are credited with some feats such as provision of children to barren women and protection of Ikere from warfare. They are believed to be responsible for the welfare of the town. Ikere Ekiti is usually described as the only unconquered town in Ekiti during the popular inter-tribal wars.
• Ekitis are highly principled people.