Ibeno: History
Ibeno Local Government Area was created out of the defunct Uquo-Ibeno Local Government Area on December 4, 1996, by the Federal government instrument.
Before the creation of Ibeno Local Government Area, the people of Ibeno and Eket people shared a Local Government Area – Eket, Ibeno Edoh, Uquo Ibeno. Ibeno Local Government Area has thus graduated from being part of Eket Local Government area to part of Ibeno-Edor with headquarters at Inua-Eyet Ikot Ibeno (now defunct) to being part of Uquo Ibeno with headquarters at Uquo (now headquarters of Esit Eket Local Government Area) to being a distinct and separate local government area, Ibeno Local Government Area with headquarters at Upenekang.
One major historical event in Ibeno was the arrival of the Rev. Samuel Bill at Ibeno in December 1887 at the request of Ibeno chiefs to establish a Christian Mission in the area. Through the establishment of the Qua Iboe Mission, Christianity and western education were brought to Ibeno, and from there Christianity and education spread to Eket, Etinan and other parts of Ibibio and Igbo lands and beyond.
Before the creation of Akwa Ibom State from the Old Cross River State, Ibeno, Eket, Onna and Uquo (Esit Eket) was one administrative area.
Subsequently, Eket and Onna was made distinctive Local Government Areas, while Ibeno and Uquo(Esit Eket) formed uquo- Ibeno Local Government Area with headquarters at Ibeno.
On December, 4th 1996, Ibeno Local Government Area was created from the defunct Uquo-Ibeno Local Government Area.