ABOUT US
The History of Anam
Anam is an integral part of Oruk Anam Local Government Area. It existed as a County Council known as Annang County Council in the former Opobo Division. In 1976. General Muritala Mohammed created Ukanafun Local Government Area an d the former Annang County Council (now Anam) became part of the newly created. By1981, the County Council was constituted into a Local Government Area of its own. Its administrative headquarters as a Local Government was at Ikot Akpan Essien. As of then, Oruk, formerly Southern Annang County Council in Abak Division also existed as a separate Local Government Area.
Following the military take-over of government on 31st December, 1983, Anam Local Government Area was scrapped. Between 1984-1989, the defunct Anam and Oruk Local Government Areas were merged with Ukanafun Local Government Area. In 1989, the present Oruk Anam Local Government Area was created as an amalgamation of the two defunct Local Government Areas of Oruk and Anam with headquarters at Ikot Ibritam.
Anam is one of the Annang-speaking groups in Akwa Ibom State. It shares the same boundary with Rivers State, Ikot-Abasi, Mkpat-Enin and the Oruk Group of villages.
Anam is bounded in the North by Nung Ita in Nung Ita Clan, Ata Essien Obio Akpa in Obio Akpa Clan, Ikot Akpan Ibesit in Ibesit Clan and Ediene Atai in Ekparakwa Clan, all in Oruk. To the East, Anam is bounded by Ikot Ebak in Mkpat Enin LGA, Etok Nung Ukim, Ikot Ada Udo, Ikot Etefia all of Ikot Abasi LGA. To the West, Anam is bounded by Ikot Ekara, Ikot Obio Ekpe, Ikot Obio Akpan, Ikot Ubo in Edemaya Clan all of Ikot Abasi and Imo River which separates Akwa Ibom State from the Ogoni Nation of Rivers State to the South. It is the gateway between Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt, and Akwa Ibom State, through the Nigeria’s East-West road.
Anam is made up of two Clans – Abak-Midim and Ibesit-Nung Ikot Clans.
Abak-Midim Clan:
Abak/Midim is one of the nine Clans or Districts in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. It is one of the two Clans or Districts in the former Anam Local Government Area.
Abak Midim is one part of Anam. It is made up of the following wards:
Abak Midim 1, Ward 8
Abak Midim 2, Ward 9
Abak Midim 3, Ward 10
Abak Midim 4, Ward 11
The following 37 Communities form the subdivision of Anam:
Ediene Ikot Inyang
Eka Ediene
Enuekoro
Etuk Ediene
Ikot Adia
Ikot Akpakpan
Ikot Inuen
Ikot Akpan Etedue
Ikot Akpan Ntia
Ikot Akpan Essien
Ikot Akpan Otuk
Ikot Akpan Udo 1
Ikot Eda
Ikot Mbong
Ikot Obio Asan
Ikot Obio Atara
Ikot Obio Aduak
Ikot Oko
Ikot Osute
Ikot Otok
Ikot Otu
Ikot Owobo
Ikot Ukpo
Ikot Ukpong Obioese
Ikot Uso Etok
Ikot Utiat
Offot Ikot Abasi Esu
Otung Aya
Ikot Ukpong Eren
Ukpom
Ute Etok
Utu Ikot Iwara
Utu Ikot Obio Ekpe
Ikot Esenam
Ikot Itor
Manta
Ikot Obong
Ibesit Nung Ikot Clan:
Ibesit-Nung Ikot Clan is made up of the following Wards:
Ibesit-Nung Ikot 1, Ward 12
Ibesit-Nung Ikot 2, Ward 13.
Ibesit Nung Ikot is made up of the following Communities:
Anwa Udo
Eteben
Idung Ntuk Uma
Ikot Akama
Ikot Akpan Nsek
Ikot Akpan Udo
Ikot Iba
Ikot Idem
Ikot Ifot
Ikot Ikpene
Ikot Ndo
Ikot Oku
Ikot Omono
Ikot Oto
Ikot Owuk
Ikot Udo Offiong
Ikot Udoro
Ikot Ukpong Obio Kpong
Itung Ekpip
Ibesit Okpokoro
INEC Political Wards in Anam and Ward Centers:
Abak Midim I Ward 8, Government School, Ikot Ukpong Eren.
Abak Midim II Ward 9, Government School, Ikot Akpan Essien.
Abak Midim III Ward 10, Government School, Ikot Esenam.
Abak Midim IV Ward 11, Primary School, Ikot Osute.
Ibesit-Nung Ikot I Ward 12, Q.I.C. Secondary School, Ibesit.
Ibesit-Nung Ikot II Ward 13, Government School, Nung Ikot.
Akwa Ibom State created Political Wards in Anam:
Abak Midim I Ward 10, Government School, Ikot Ukpong Eren.
Abak Midim II Ward 11, Government School, Ikot Akpan Essien.
Abak Midim III Ward 12, Government School, Ikot Esenam.
Abak Midim IV Ward 13, Ikot Inuen.
Abak Midim IV Ward 14, Ikot Akpan Udo.
Ibesit-Nung Ikot I Ward 15, Q.I.C. Secondary School, Ibesit.
Ibesit-Nung Ikot II Ward 16, Government School, Nung Ikot.
Occupation of the People of Anam:
Anam has approximately one half of Oruk Anam’s 172,000 people according to the 2006 Census. The area is rich in arable farmland, which makes farming the occupation of about half of the populace. Others are involved in petty trading, artisanship, and civil service. The people practice rotational farm cultivation of five years.
Anam is also blessed with abundance of raffia palms in its riverine areas. This provides occupation to palm wine tappers, some of who also build local refineries from where they refine the palm wine into the local gin called kai kai. This gin is widely consumed both privately and also used during ceremonies like traditional wedding and other functions. The traditional priests also use the local gin for prayers and pouring of libation to the gods.
The people of Anam are very industrious and law abiding citizens. Consequently, Anam is the most peaceful subdivision of Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Anam Diet and Cuisine:
The staple diets of Anam people are cassava fofo with vegetable soup, cocoyam, plantain, asa iwa, oto mboro, etc. Yam fofo with white soup and rice are also consumed by the Anam people on a daily basis but these two meals form special delicacies that are usually served during ceremonies and special occasions.
Customs, Traditions, Arts and Culture of Anam:
Respect for elders as well as regard for in-laws and grandchildren are cardinal customs of Anam people. Ekpo masquerade, Ekong, Abang, Asian Ubaikpa, Ntok odio odio, ojor, utuhekpe, ekong, anwana mbok, akan, etc., are traditional dances of the Anam people. Wrestling, nsa isong, story-telling, proverbs and parables are popular pastimes in Anam. Annual festivals and dances are used to cement inter-communal bonds in Anam.
The Anam people uses “okoro” to delineate land boundaries and fresh palm frond is used as a mark of injunction over a piece of property or land, much like the west use hazard tapes to cordon off an area to show a “no go area.”
The Traditional Rulers Councils is sometimes used to resolve civil misunderstandings between the people. The smallest money denomination is used to seek redress for an injustice meted out on one’s personality. Oath taking (Mbiam) is used to settle disputes.
Religion of Anam People:
Anam people are predominantly Christians. However, there are pockets of African traditional religion practitioners that still subsist.
Mineral Deposits in Anam:
The area is also rich in crude oil, with several oil wells located in Ikot Inuen, Ikot Otu, Eka Ediene, Ikot Otok, lkot Usoetuk, Ikot Itor and Ute Etok. Anam also has deposits of sand stones and clay
Cash Crops in Anam:
Anam is blessed with timber located in virgin forests in the area. It also has other agro-allied resources like palm oil, palm kernel, banana, plantain, cassava, fruits and vegetables.
Tourist Sites in Anam:
The Imo River which separates Akwa Ibom State from Rivers State on the East-West Road is a significant tourist site in Anam. The bridge head and the banks of the river attract tourists to the adjoining villages of Ikot Osute, Ute Etok and Ikot Ukpong.
Major Markets in Anam:
Urua Agwak: Located at Ikot Osute on the East-West Road, Urua Agwak is a very big market that attracts traders from Rivers State, Abia, Imo and other states in the country to do business in the market. It sells every editaha and obo market days.
Urua Offiong Eshiet: Urua Offiong Eshiet is located at Ibesit Okpokoro along Ikot Ekara – Ukanafun Road. The market is a very large market that attracts lots of traders in and around Akwa Ibom State. It sells every week on offiong market day.
Market Days Observed by the Anam People
Anam people reckon each week to be made up of eight market days, viz: Obo, Uruabom, Offiong, Edet, Editaha, Atim, Akenyong and Aderebo.
Public Institutions in Anam:
Secondary Schools:
The area has no tertiary institution as at year 2022. However, there are a number of public Secondary Schools established in Anam. These are:
Q.I.C. Secondary School, Ibesit founded in 1972.
Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Esenam founded in 1980.
Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Inuen founded in 1980.
Eastern Midim Secondary School, Ikot Owobo/Ikot Otok founded in 1980.
Otop Christian High School, Ikot Ukpong Eren founded in 1980.
Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Osute founded in 1982.
Urban High School, Ikot Akpan Essiet, founded 1996 as a community sponsored Secondary School. It was taken over by the Akw Ibom State Government in 2017
Health Institutions:
Anam also some Health Institutions which include:
Redeemer Cottage Hospital, Ibesit.
Primary Health Centre, Ikot Akpan Essien
Health Centre, Ikot Esenam
Health Centre, Ikot Udoro
Health Centre, Ikot Otok
Judiciary Institutions in Anam
Abak Midim District Court, Ikot Akpan Essien.
Ibesit Nung Ikot District Court, Obo Mbaba.
Major Roads in Anam
Trunk A Roads:
East – West Road popularly called Horicon Road.
Anam Highway.
Trunk B Roads:
Ibesit – Ikot Ebak Road
Iota Akpan Essien – Ikot Ukpong Eren – Ikot Mbong Road (popularly called “Anam-Mkpat Enin Road”).
Ikot Akpan Essien – Ikot Otok – Otung Aya – Ikot Ada Udo – Ikot Usop Road.
Ikot Esenam – Ikot Adia – Ikot Uso Etok Road.
Ikot Esenam – Ikot Obiosan – Manta Road.
Ibesit Okpokoro – Idung Ntuk Umah – Ikot Iba – Ikot Akpan Nsek – Warife Road.
Ibesit Okpokoro – Idung Ntuk Umah – Ikot Akpan Udo – Ikot Ndo Road.
Nung Ikot – Obio Akpa Road.
Ikot Owuk – Ikot Obioruk – Ikot Essien Road.
Mboho Anam
Anam has a formidable socio-cultural organization called Mboho Anam. The pioneer president of the organization was Late Apostle Unangekong.
Objectives
The objectives of Mboho Anam include to foster unity, promote peace, love and respect among the Anam people. Mboho Anam is also dedicated to the development of Anam and its people. To this end, the organization has awarded several scholarships to deserving indigent students in Tertiary Institutions.