<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Related ethnic groups </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Efik, Anaang, Ejagham, Oron, Igbo, Ijaw </Td> </Tr> <P> The Ibibio people are from southern Nigeria . They are related to the Anaang and Efik peoples . During the colonial period in Nigeria, the Ibibio Union asked for recognition by the British as a sovereign nation (Noah, 1988). The Annang, Efik, Ekid, Oron and Ibeno share personal names, culture, and traditions with the Ibibio, and speak closely related varieties of Ibibio - Efik which are more or less mutually intelligible . </P> <P> The Ibibio people are reputed to be the earliest inhabitants of the south eastern Nigeria . It is estimated that they arrived at their present abode from very earliest times, about 7000 B.C. In spite of the historical account, it is not clear when the people known as Ibibio arrived the state . According to some scholars, they might have come from the central Benue valley, particularly, the Jukun influence in the old Calabar at some historical time period . Another pointer is the wide - spread use of the manila, a popular currency used by the Jukuns . Coupled with this is the Jukun southern drive to the coast which appears to have been recently compared with the formation of Akwa Ibom settlements in their present location . </P>

Who are the ibibio by edit a. udo
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