Location
| History | Agriculture
| Mineral | Education
| Tourism | People
| Local Government Areas | Links
| Contact |
| Capital: |
Lokoja |
| Area: |
29,833
km˛ |
| Population: |
3,595,789
(2005 est.) |
| Language: |
Yoruba,
Nupe, Ebira |
| Governor: |
Ibrahim
Idris (PDP) |
| ISO
3166-2: |
NG-KO |
| Date
Created: |
17th
August 1991 |
| Population
Rank: |
Ranked
24th |
|
 |
Kogi is a state in the north-central zone of Nigeria. It is
popularly called the confluence state due to the fact that
the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue occurs there. Its
capital is Lokoja. There are three main ethnic groups in Kogi:
Igala, Ebira, and Okun; with the Igalas being the largest
ethnic group in the state. There are many mineral resources
in Kogi, including iron, petroleum and tin.
Kogi
State is the most centrally located of all the states of the
federation. It comprises the Igala, Ebira, Kabba, Yoruba and
Kogi divisions of the former Kabba province. It shares common
boundaries with Niger, Kwara, Nassarawa and The Federal Capital
Territory to the north.
To the East, the state is bounded by Benue and Enugu states,
to the south by Enugu and Anambra States, and to the west
by Ondo, Ekiti and Edo states. Lokoja, the Niger/Benue confluence
town is the state capital. Ethnically, Yoruba, Nupe and Bassa
forming the main ethnic groups.
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Kogi State
was cared out of Benue and Kwara States on August 27, 1991
by the Federal Military Government. Kogi State is the most
centrally located of all the states of the federation. It
comprises the Igala, Ebira, Kabba, Yoruba and Kogi divisions
of the former Kabba province. It shares common boundaries
with Niger, Kwara, Nassarawa and The Federal Capital Territory
to the north. To the east, the state is bounded by Benue and
Enugu states, to the south by Enugu and Anambra States, and
to the west by Ondo, Ekiti and Edo states. Lokoja, the Niger/Benue
confluence town is the state capital. Ethnically, Yoruba,
Nupe and Bassa forming the main ethnic groups.
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The majority
of the people of the state are farmers.
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The state
is richly blessed with mineral resources such as coal which
is found in Okaba, Ogboyaga and Koton-Karte.
Limestone and marble deposits are found in Ajaokuta, Jakura,
Ososo, Osara, while Cassiterite, columbite and tantalite are
found in Egbe. Gold is also found in Isanlu in East Yagba
Local Government Area while Iron Ore can be found at Itakpe,
Okene.
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Education is the state's main social industry.
Each of the 20 local governments in the state has primary
institutions. Institutions of higher learning in the state
include College of Agriculture, Osara, College of Agriculture,
Kabba, Federal Polytechnic, Idah; Federal Advanced Teachers
College, Okene; School of Health Technology, Idah; College
of Education, Ankpa; School of Nursing, Obangede and School
of Midwifery Egbe and Kogi State University Ayingba and Kogi
State Polytechnic, Lokoja both of them, state owned insitutions.
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The proximity
of the state to the new federal capital territory (Abuja) and
its rich mineral and agricultural resources, would certainly
turn the state into a leading commercial centre in Nigeria in
the near future. Tourist attractions such as Lord Lugard's residence
and office can be seen in Lokoja.
There
are also the spot where the Royal Niger Company flag was lowered
in 1890, the iron of liberty - the spot where slaves were
freed in 1860.
The biggest
European cemetery in Nigeria containing the remains of the
European soldiers of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF)
stationed in Lokoja until 1926 and those of European missionaries.
Some of the tomb stones in the cemeteries date as far back
as 1867.
There
is also the World War cenotaph-this is a war memorial erected
in memory of the soldiers who died during the two world wars.
There is a list of names of some soldiers who distinguished
themselves in the wars on a table.
Niger-Benue
confluence - This forms a beautiful scenery visible either
from a boat travelling southward on the river or from the
top of Mount Patti.
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Hausa and Yorubas
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There are twenty
local government areas in the state. They include Adavi, Ajaokuta,
Ijumu, Bassa, Dekina, Idah, Ankpa, East Yagba and Kogi. Others
are Ofu, Okehi, Okene, Olamaboro, and West Yagba, Olale Igalometa,
Ibaji, Ogori/ Mongongo, Mopamuro.
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www.kogistateofnigeria.org
Schools
on The Web:
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State
Liason Office:
Plot 1224 Bishop Oluwole Street, PMB 73814 Victoria Island,
Lagos. Plot 117 Asokoro Extension Abuja
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