Location
| History | Agriculture
| Mineral | Education
| Tourism | People
| Local Government Areas | Links
| Contact |
| Capital: |
Maiduguri |
| Area: |
70,898
km˛ |
| Population: |
4,588,668
(2005 est.) |
| Number
of Languages: |
Hausa
& Fulani (28) |
| Governor: |
Ali
Modu Sheriff (ANPP) |
| ISO
3166-2: |
NG-BO |
| Date
Created: |
3
February 1976 |
| Population
Rank: |
Ranked
12th |
|
 |
Borno
State is a state in north-eastern Nigeria. Its capital is
Maiduguri (sometimes known as 'Yerwa').
The state
was formed in 1976 by the split of the North-Eastern State.
Until 1991 it contained what is now Yobe State.
The state
is dominated by the Kanuri ethnic group, and is an example
of the endurance of traditional political institutions in
some areas of Africa. There, the emirs of the former Kanem-Bornu
Empire have played a part in the politics of this area for
nearly 1000 years.
Borno State occupies the greater part of the Chad Basin and
is located in the North-Eastern corner of Nigeria.
The State
shares borders with the Republics of Niger to the North, Chad
to the North-East and Cameroun to the East.
Within
Nigeria, Borno State shares boundaries with Adamawa State
to the South, Gombe State to the West and Yobe State to the
North-West.
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Borno
tradition has it that the people originally migrated from Kanem
under the leadership of their Seifawa rulers who build their
capital at Gazargamo in the centre of the Komadugu Yobe valley.
This town remained the centre of Borno culture and supremacy
for well over 300 years. The most famous among the rulers of
this period was Mai Idris Alooma. As a result of persistent
Fulani onslaughts and the inability of the Seifawa rulers to
repel the attacks, Gazargamo was burnt down forcing the people
to move further eastwards to Kafela where they again settled
and built a capital. Even then, the attacks did not cease and
the Seifawa rulers were forced to negotiate an alliance with
Muhammed Al-Amina Ibn Mohammed El-Kanemi, a scholar with vast
military skills based in Ngala. He surceeded in securing the
States and in effect the Seifawa dynasty, with the help of his
Shuwa allies.
The succeeding
power intrigues between the Seifawa and El-Kanemi resulted
in the destruction of both Kafela and Kukawa, El-Kanemi's
town and the execution of the last Seifawa ruler in 1846.
El-Kanemi's son, Umar, then succeeded to the Seifawa Kingship
and consolidated the capital of Borno at kukawa, making Borno
in the process, once more a State and one that caught the
attention of European States.
The beginning
of the 20th century however marked the decline of the glorious
Borno empire with Rebeh Fadel Allah, a Cchadian war monger
defeating Borno in 1893 and unleashing a seven year reign
of terror on the empire. Rabeh so much exhausted Borno of
her human and economic resources that the British met with
little resistance in their conquest of Borno in 1902. Borno
was occupied and diviced between Britain and Germany; thus
the origin of the two Borno Emirates i.e. Borno and Dikwa
Emirates.
The Emirates
of Biu, Fika and Bade though distinct in language, hage a
lot of cultural similarities with Borno and also trace their
genealogy to the Komadugu Yobe valley. Yamtarawala, the legendary
founder of the Biu dynasty is said to have contested the Mais-ship
at Gazargamo but lost to Mai Mohamed. The establishment of
the Chiefdoms of Gwoza, Uba, Askira and Shani originated in
this century. The family history of the Chief of Shani starts
with Bila Wati, the first of a long line of succession. Askira
and Uba became independent Chiefdoms as a result of boundary
adjustments between Adamawa and Borno in 1921. Gwoza which
is the most cosmopolitan of the Chiefdoms is linked with Haman
Yaji who was a famous warrior for some; the notorious marauder
for others; and, for the rest, opponent of colonial imperial
advances.
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Agriculture and
livestock farming which are the main stay of the state's economy
have vast developmental potentials. The State is rich in millet,
rice, cassava, date palms, fruits vegetables, sorghum, wheat,
sweet potatoes, cowpeas, sugar cane, groundnut, cotton, gum
arabic and many others.
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These are Diatomite,
Potassium/Sodium, Clay, Limestone and Uranium. Also crude
oil is explored in the Chad Basin Area.
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The University
of Maiduguri (www.unimaid.org),
Ramat Polytechnic, Borno College of Education, Borno College
of Science and Technology, Borno College of Legal and Islamic
Studies (BOCOLIS) and College of Agriculture. Borno State
also boasts of Advanced Teachers' Colleges, Secondary Schools,
Teachers' Colleges, Vocational Training Centres, Primary Schools
and the Federal Staff Training Centre, Maiduguri.
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Laffy falls, Kuya
L.G.A. Natural * Chad Basin National Eco-Tourism Park * Abba
Kari Zoo, Maiduguri- Eco-Tourism * Gwoza Hills Natural * Sambisa
Game Reserve Wildlife/Eco- Tourism * Kyarimi Amusement Resort/Man-made
Park
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There are 27 Local
Government Areas in the State. These are Shani, Kwanga-Kusar,
Hawul, Biu, Askira/Uba, Dumboa, Gwoza, Konduga, Bama, Kaga,
Magumeri, Gubio, Mobbar, Kukawa, Nganzai, Monguno, Marte,
Ngala, Dikwa, Mafa, Maiduguri, Jere, Abadan, Chibok, Guzamala,
Kale/ Balge and Bayo.
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www.bornonigeria.com
Schools
on The Web:
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State
Liason Office:
Plot 1227, Bishop Oluwole Street, PMB 12009,Victoria Island
Lagos. Behind ECOWAS, Asokoro district, Abuja
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