Location
| History | Agriculture
| Mineral | Education
| Tourism | People
| Local Government Areas | Links
| Contact |
| Capital: |
Ilorin |
| Area: |
36,825
km˛ |
| Population: |
2,591,555
(2005 est.) |
| Language: |
Ebira, Nupe and Yoruba |
| Governor: |
Bukola
Saraki (PDP) |
| ISO
3166-2: |
NG-KW |
| Date
Created: |
27th
May 1967 |
| Population
Rank: |
Ranked
31st |
|
 |
Kwara State was created
on 27th 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. The capital of the State is Ilorin, which
lies 306km northeast of Lagos and 500km southwest of Abuja.
KWARA State shares common
boundaries with Niger and Sokoto States to the North, Oyo, Ondo
and Bendel States to the South, Benue, Plateau and Federal Capital
Territory to the East. It maintains an international boundary
with the Republic of Benin to the West. Because of its location
between the Northern and Southern parts of Nigeria, Kwara State
is referred to as the ‘gateway
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The territorial
unit now known as Kwara State emerged as one of the twelve
States created on May 27, 1967. It first assumed the name
‘West Central State’ before it was later changed to Kwara
which is the local name for the Niger river.
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Agriculture is the main stay of the economy and the principal
cash crops are: cotton, cocoa, coffee, kolanut, tobacco, benseed
and palm produce
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mineral resources abound in the state. Among these are limestone,
marble, feldspar, clay, kaolin, quartz and granite rocks
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Education received priority in the state. There are many
primary and secondary schools. Higher institutions in the
state include the federally owned University of Ilorin, Ilorin,
Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Federal Training Centre, Ilorin,
State College of Education, Ilorin and Oro, Kwara State Polytechnic,
Ilorin and the Schools of Nursing and Midwifery, Ilorin
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Owu Water Falls, Owa Kajola Natural * Wreckage of Mungo Park
Boat, Monuments Jebba * Owe Kajita Falls Physical * Owu Water
Falls, Owu Physical * Tomb of Past Emirs, Ilorin Monument
* Ubo Aiyegunle Lakes Physical
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The main
ethnic groups are Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani and Nupe. However
each of the Local Government Areas is endowed with a set of
languages including Hausa, Fulani, Nupe, Yoruba, Ebira, Bisanyan,
Bokobaru, Kambari, Ekiti and Kakanda.
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Asa, Baruten,
Edu, Ekiti, Ifelodun, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Irepodun,
Isin, Kaiama, Moro, Offa, Oke-Ero, Oyun, Pategi.
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www.kwarastate.gov.ng
Schools
on The Web:
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State
Liason Office:
11, Idowu Martins Street, P. O. Box 411, Victoria Island Lagos,
Block 9, Nouakchott Street, Zone 2, wuse Abuja
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