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.

Location

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

History

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.

Agriculture

Agriculture is the main stay of the economy and the principal cash crops are: cotton, cocoa, coffee, kolanut, tobacco, benseed and palm produce

Mineral Resources

mineral resources abound in the state. Among these are limestone, marble, feldspar, clay, kaolin, quartz and granite rocks

Education

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

Tourism

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

People

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.

Local Government Areas

Asa, Baruten, Edu, Ekiti, Ifelodun, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Irepodun, Isin, Kaiama, Moro, Offa, Oke-Ero, Oyun, Pategi.

Links

www.kwarastate.gov.ng

Schools on The Web:

Contact

State Liason Office:
11, Idowu Martins Street, P. O. Box 411, Victoria Island Lagos, Block 9, Nouakchott Street, Zone 2, wuse Abuja