Ekiti State is in Southwest region of Nigeria, declared a state on 1 October 1996 alongside five other states in the country by the then military government under head of state, General Sani Abacha. As one of the newest states of the Nigerian federation, it was carved out of the territory of old Ondo State, and covers the former 12 local government areas that made up the Ekiti Zone of old Ondo State. On creation, it had 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs), having had an additional four carved out of the old ones. Ekiti State is one of the 36 states (inc. Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria)) that constitute Nigeria.
A look at the political development brings to the forefront that Ekiti is the most politically turbulent state behind OYO state in Nigeria as itis blessed with various politicians of various caliber and personality.
However, inspite of these political achievements in the state, there is little to write home about development of the states resources lying so fallow over the span of almost 25 years untapped and unused for investment.
Ekiti land is naturally endowed with numerous natural resources. The state is potentially rich in mineral deposits. These include granite, kaolinite, columbite, charnockite, iron ore, baryte, aquamarine, gemstone, phosphate, limestone, tourmaline, gold among others. They are largely deposited in different towns and villages of Ijero, Ekiti West, Ado - Ekiti, Ikole, Ikere, Ise-Ekiti and other Local Government Areas.
it remains shameful that a state with these resources have failed to tap into its development by exploring theses resources from its raw materials into a finished state.In looking at some of these resources and its uses. iam quick to pinpoint the large benefits of this resources.
1)Uses. Kaolinite is the most abundant clay mineral, and is used for pottery and ceramics. It is also very important in the production of paper, and is used in pharmaceuticals as an ingredient in some medications such as stomach soothers.
2)Columbite-tantalite group is a mineral used widely in technology. Electronics, automotive systems and health products like the pacemaker need this mineral to operate. It is mined in Africa and has earned the name of Coltan over the last few years
3)Charnockite is used in Construction and Medical Industry
Rocks are used for various purposes starting from construction of roads, bridges, buildings to pot in kitchen, as a gem stone or just for decorating your garden. However, some rocks have rare properties.
4)Iron Ore is perhaps as important to civilization today as gold historically has been. It is used in all sorts of construction from vehicles to buildings.
5)Barite is the primary ore of barium, which is used to make a wide variety of barium compounds. Some of these are used for x-ray shielding. Barite has the ability to block x-ray and gamma-ray emissions. Barite is used to make high-density concrete to block x-ray emissions in hospitals, power plants, and laboratories
These untapped minerals are enough to turn the fortunes of the state economically and around,but it is unfortunate wen you discover that bad leadership has stifled the growth of the state and left its land resources moribund.
if these resources were tapped, there would be an improved foreign direct investment in the state as foreign investors would partner with the state government.
Also there would be massive unemployment for t he youths and increased GDP for the state economically.
Instead, we have years of politcal aggression, hatred, politicization of every effort and counter efforts by various administrations.IT now depends on an incoming leader who would shelve the political wars from oppositions and join together so that these various resources canbe tapped and the state can move out ofits current status of being impoverished investment wise and underdeveloped.
The Land 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 Springs; Arinta Water Falls; Olosunta and Orole hills of Ikere; Fajuyi Memorial Park of 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.

Moreover, the 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. The land is also known for its forest resources, notably timber. Because of the favourable climatic conditions, the land enjoys luxuriant vegetation, thus, it has abundant resources of different species of timber. Food crops such as yam, cassava, and also grains like rice and maize are grown in large quantities. Other notable crops such as kola nut and varieties of fruits are also cultivated in commercial quantities

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