Kwara State
Kwara (Yoruba: Ìpínlẹ̀ Kwárà) is a state in Western Nigeria. Its capital is Ilorin. Kwara is located within the North Central geopolitical zone. The primary ethnic group is Yoruba, with significant Nupe, Bariba, and Fulani minorities.[4]
Kwara | |
---|---|
Flag | |
Nickname(s): State of Harmony | |
Location of the State of Kwara in Nigeria | |
Coordinates: 8°30′N 5°00′E | |
Country | Nigeria |
Geopolitical Zone | North Central |
Date created | 27 May 1967 |
Capital | Ilorin |
Number of LGAs | 16 |
Government | |
• Governor (List) | Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman (APC) |
• Deputy Governor | Kayode Alabi |
• Senators | |
• Legislature | Kwara State House of Assembly |
Area | |
• Total | 36,825 km2 (14,218 sq mi) |
Area rank | 9th of 36 |
Population (2006 census) | |
• Total | 2,365,353[1] |
• Rank | 30th of 36 |
GDP | |
• Year | 2007 |
• Total | $3.84 billion[2] |
• Per capita | $1,910[2] |
Time zone | UTC+01 (WAT) |
postal code | 240001 |
ISO 3166 code | NG-KW |
HDI (2018) | 0.567[3] medium · 20th of 37 |
Website | "Kwara State Government" |
History
Kwara State was created on 27 May 1967, when the Federal Military Government of General Yakubu Gowon broke the four regions that then constituted the Federation of Nigeria into 12 states. At its creation, the state was made up of the former Ilorin and Kabba provinces of the then Northern Region and was initially named the West Central State but later changed to "Kwara", a local name for the River Niger.
Kwara State has since 1976 reduced considerably in size as a result of further state creation exercises in Nigeria. On 13 February 1976, the Idah/Dekina part of the state was carved out and merged with a part of the then Benue/Plateau State to form Benue State.
On 27 August 1991, five local government areas, namely Oyi, Yagba, Okene, Okehi and Kogi were also excised to form part of the new Kogi State, while a sixth, Borgu Local Government Area, was merged with Niger State. The major populated local governments are Ilorin and Offa.
Kwara state has numerous mineral resources such as tourmaline, tantalite, and many mineral deposits in the northern part. Cocoa and Kolanut in the Southern parts Oke - Ero, Ekiti and Isin LGA.[5]
Population
As of 2006, the population of Kwarans was 2.37 million based on the Nigeria 2006 Census.[1] This population size constitutes about 1.69% of the Nation's total population having relied upon immigration for population growth and socioeconomic development.[6]
Residents of the state are sometimes referred to as Kwarans.[7]
Languages
Languages of Kwara State listed by LGA:[8]
LGA | Languages |
---|---|
Asa | Yoruba |
Baruten | Baatonum and Bokobaru |
Edu | Nupe |
Ekiti | Yoruba |
Ifelodun | Yoruba |
Ilorin East | Yoruba |
Ilorin South | Yoruba |
Ilorin West | Yoruba |
Isin | Yoruba |
Irepodun | Yoruba |
Kaiama | Bokobaru |
Moro | Yoruba |
Offa | Yoruba |
Oke Ero | Yoruba |
Oyun | Yoruba |
Pategi | Nupe |
Local Government Areas
Kwara State consists of sixteen Local Government Areas. They are:
Tourism
Important tourist attractions in Kwara State include Esie Museum, Owu waterfalls, Imoleboja Rock Shelter, Ogunjokoro, Kainji Lake National Parks and Agbonna Hill Awon Mass Wedding in Shao. There is also Sobi Hill amongst others which is the largest landform in Ilorin, the state capital. A huge natural reserve also divides the state into East and West.
Transport
The Nigerian Railway Corporation extends services from Lagos through the state to the northern part of the country. The Ilorin Airport is a major center for both domestic and international flights and has now been built up into a hub for transportation of cargoes.
Economy
Agriculture is the main source of the economy and the principal cash crops are: cotton, cocoa, coffee, Kolanut, tobacco, beniseed and palm produce. Kwara is home to Shonga Farms, a product of the Back-to-Farm project of one of its governments and made up of 13 commercial farmers. Mineral resources in the state are Petroleum , Gold, limestone, marble, feldspar, clay, kaolin, quartz and granite rocks.[9]
Industry
Industries in the state include Dangote Flour Mill, Lubcon Lubricant Company, Kam Industries Nigeria Ltd, Tuyil Pharmacy Nig Ltd, Padson Industries NiG Ltd,[10] Kwara Breweries, Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Industrial Limited, Ijagbo Global Soap and Detergent Industry, United Match Company, Tate and Lyle Company, Resinoplast Plastic Industry, Latbash interiors, LandB group, Phamatech Nigeria Limited, Kwara Textile and Kwara Furniture Company all in Ilorin. Others are Paper Manufacturing Industry, Jebba, Okin Foam and Okin Biscuits, Offa, Kay Plastic, Ganmo and Kwara Paper Converters Limited, Erin-ile. Others are Sugar Producing Company, Bacita, Kwara animal Feed Mall, Ilorin and the Agricultural Products Company.
Infrastructure
- Hygiene and Sanitation
The Government of Nigeria is increasingly aware of problems emanating from poor environmental sanitation and Kwara state is working on improving its environment and sanitation.[11] On September 22, 2020, Kwara state governor, officially commenced the 'Clean Kwara' Campaign to end open defecation and promote good hygiene in the state.[12] The state government is working to fix all the roads and waterways to ensure free water flow,[13] putting in efforts to ensure water sanitation,[14] building toilets and making clean water accessible.[14] This is also to promote Sustainable Development Goals 3 & 6 (general access to safe and affordable drinking water and access to adequate and equitable sanitation, hygiene for all, and end open defecation by 2030)[12]
Education
Kwara has a federal university, the University of Ilorin, a state university, Kwara State University,[15] two polytechnics, Kwara State Polytechnic and Federal Polytechnic Offa, three colleges: the college of education, Ilorin, Kwara State College of education, Oro, School of Health technology, Offa, Kwara State College of Nursing, Òkè ode and college of Nursing, Ilorin. It is also home to four Private universities; Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Crown Hill University, Eiye N'korin, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin and Summit University, Offa. There is also a navy school, Nigerian Navy School of Health Science Irra Road Offa and aviation college, International Aviation College, Ilorin.[16]
Sports
Sporting activities are managed by the State Sports Council. The importance attached to sports led to the construction of a stadium complex. The facilities available at the stadium complex are mainbowl, indoor sports hall, hostel, recreational press center as well as an Olympic size swimming pool. The state is actively represented both in football and basketball. The state is the home to the Kwara United Football Club, ABS FC and Kwara Falcons Basketball Club.
Notable people from Kwara State
- AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, politician
- David Abioye, cleric
- Cornelius Adebayo, politician
- Femi Adebayo, actor and film producer
- Tunde Adebimpe, musician
- Kemi Adesoye, screenwriter
- Abdulfatah Ahmed, banker and politician
- Simon Ajibola, politician
- Mustapha Akanbi, lawyer
- Sheik Adam Abdullah Al-Ilory, Islamic scholar
- Sarah Alade, former CBN governor
- Lola Ashiru, architect and politician
- Adamu Atta, politician
- Kunle Afolayan, actor, film director and producer
- Ayeloyun, musician
- Joseph Ayo Babalola, cleric
- David Bamigboye, soldier
- Theophilus Bamigboye, soldier and politician
- Salihu Modibbo Alfa Belgore, jurist and former Chief Justice of Nigeria
- Oga Bello, actor and producer (real name Adebayo Salami)
- Ibrahim Gambari, diplomat
- Yusuf Gobir, administrator
- Ola Ibrahim, naval officer
- Tunde Idiagbon, soldier
- Ahmed Mohammed Inuwa, politician
- Farooq Kperogi, journalist
- Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi, politician
- Lágbájá, musician
- Salaudeen Latinwo, soldier
- Mohammed Lawal, naval officer
- Lai Mohammed, lawyer and politician
- Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, politician
- David Oyedepo, cleric
- Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, musician
- Bukola Saraki, politician
- Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki, politician
- Olusola Saraki, politician
- Toyin Saraki, healthcare philanthropist
- Bola Shagaya, businessman
- Tony Tetuila, musician
- Rashidi Yekini, soccer player
See also
- Kwara State Executive Council
References
- "2006 PHC Priority Tables – NATIONAL POPULATION COMMISSION". population.gov.ng. Archived from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
- "C-GIDD (Canback Global Income Distribution Database)". Canback Dangel. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
- "About Kwara State". Kwara State Government.
- "Kwara State". Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission. 2019-01-09. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
- "Nigeria 2006 Census Figures". Nigeria master web. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
- "No plans to impose fresh taxes on Kwarans". The Nation News. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
- "Nigeria". Ethnologue (22 ed.). Retrieved 2020-01-10.
- Atulegwu, David (2020-09-08). "List of Natural Mineral Resources Found in Kwara State". Nigerian Infopedia. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
- "Padson Industries". Padson Industries.
- Adedibu, Afolabi A. (1986-03-01). "Solid waste management and a new environmental edict: a case study from Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria". Environmentalist. 6 (1): 63–68. doi:10.1007/BF02240232. ISSN 1573-2991.
- Olesin, Abdullahi (2020-09-22). "Nigeria: Abdulrazaq Launches Clean Kwara Campaign, to End Open Defecation". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
- "Environmental Sanitation: Govt assures of a clean Kwara, to supply waste receptacle containers – RoyalFM 95.1MHz, Ilorin". Retrieved 2020-09-22.
- Alhaji (2019-11-19). "Nigeria inaugurates water plants in Kwara State". Construction Review Online. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
- "Exclusive: How Kwara North lost KWASU VC slot". The Informant247 News. 2020-04-03. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
- "Welcome to International Aviation College, Ilorin". aviation.africhoice.website.