NIGERIA: Origin Names Of 36 States In Nigeria And Their Dates Foundation

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Last Updated on August 10, 2023 by ANE Wiki

Nigeria is a one of the country in the whole world that is bless with not just natural resources but with people, likewise lands(with fertility) and also talents.

Although, “History of Nigeria” has a lot of dark pages. Dramatic changes go far back to the British colonial rule. The tussle for the creation of states in Nigeria started from there as many people believed that they did not get enough land. Still, it`s a history of States in Nigeria.

Out of the resources that Nigeria was blessed with came out land which after being divided by some certain rulers/head of states during their regimes comprises 36 states that made up the whole country.
Wherefore; today, I shall be listing out the foundations and origins of each names of the state.

List of 36 states in Nigeria and the origin of their name.

1. Abia

NIGERIA: Throwback Origin Names Of 36 States In Nigeria And Their Dates Foundation

Abia State

Abia was founded in 27 August 1991 and was preceded from Imo State. Abia is an acronym derived from the name of the four main groups of people in the state as at the time it was formed in 1991: Aba Bende Isuikwuato Afikpo.

2. Adamawa

Adamawa State

Adamawa was founded in 27 August 1991 and was preceded from Gongola State(which was a former administrative division of Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from Adamawa and Sardauna Provinces of North State, together with the Wukari Division of the then Benue-Plateau State; it existed until 27 August 1991, when it was divided into two states – Adamawa and Taraba. The city of Yola was the capital of Gongola State. Gongola State was governed by an Executive Council).

Adamawa state was named after a warrior that conquered the region in the beginning of the 19th century. His name was Modibbo Adama Bin Ardo Hassan.

3. Akwa-ibom

Akwa Ibom State

Akwa Ibom was founded in 23 September 1987 and was preceded out of Cross River State. Akwa-Ibom is named after a river, the Qua Iboe (or Kwa Iboe) River.

4. Anambra

Anambra State

Anambra was founded in 27 August 1991 and was preceded from the (old) Anambra State.
Anambra State was derived from the name of the Oma Mbala (Omambala) River (in Ibo, the native name of the river is Ànyịm Ọma Mbala).

5. Bauchi

Bauchi State

Bauchi was founded in 3 February 1976, and was preceded out from North-Eastern State.
There are three versions of how Bauchi got its name. One version says ‘Bauchi’ is Hausa word meaning the southern flanks of Hausaland. Tribes living in the southern parts of the Hausaland were referred to as kasashen bauchi and the area they lived in later came to be known simply as Bauchi. According to the second version the state was named for Baushe, a famous hunter who settled there before the 19th century while the third states that ‘bauchi’ is Hausa word for slavery since it was a center for slave raiders.

6. Bayelsa

Bayelsa State

Bayelsa was founded in 1 October 1996 and was preceded out from Rivers State. Bayelsa was formed as a result of the clamour from the three LGAs in old Rivers (Brass LGA known as BALGA, Yenegoa LGA known as YELGA and Sagbama LGA – SALGA). The name came about from the combination of their acronyms. BA + YEL + SA = BAYELSA

7. Benue

Benue State

It is a word from the Batta language ‘Binuwe’ which means ‘Mother of Waters’. Benue was founded in 3 February 1976, and was preceded out from Benue-Plateau State.

8. Borno

Borno State

The name was derived from ‘Borno’, an alternative name of the Kanuris who form the predominant ethnic group in the state. Borno was founded in 3 February 1976, and was preceded from North-Eastern State.

9. Cross River

Cross River State

The state took its name from a River called Oyono or Cross River. Was founded in 27 May 1967 and was preceded from Eastern Region; known as South-Eastern State from 1967 to 1976.

10. Delta

Delta State

Delta state was founded in 27 August 1991 and was preceded from Bendel State. It was named for the delta of the River Niger formed as it enters the Atlantic Ocean.

11. Ebonyi

Ebonyi State

Ebonyi state was founded in 1 October 1996 and was preceded from Enugu State and Abia State. The state was named after the Aboine River that cuts through Abakaliki, the state capital.

12. Edo

Edo State

Edo was founded in 27 August 1991 and was preceded from Bendel State. Named after the Bini people who had always referred to themselves as Edo or Iduu.

13. Ekiti

Ekiti State

“Ekiti” is a term that is said to denote a settlement of many hills. Was founded in 1 October 1996 and was preceded from Ondo State.

14. Enugu

Enugu State

Enugu derived its name from two local words enu ugwu which means ‘top of the hill’. Enugu was founded in 27 August 1991 and was preceded from the (old) Anambra State

15. Gombe

Gombe State

Gombe was founded in 1 October 1996 and was preceded from Bauchi State. Gombe was named after the dialect of Fulani language (Fulfulde)spoken in the area ‘Gombe’.

16. Imo

Imo State

This state is named after the Imo River (Imo Mmiri). Imo was founded in 3 February 1976 and was preceded from East Central State

17. Jigawa

Jigawa State

Jigawa was founded in 27 August 1991 and was preceded from Kano State. The state was named after its distinctively golden-coloured soil, Jigawa.

18. Kaduna

Kaduna State

Kaduna was founded in 27 May 1967 and was preceded from Northern Region; known as North-Central State from 1967 to 1976. The state was named after the crocodiles in Kaduna River. Kadunas is Hausa plural word for crocodiles.

19. Kano

Kano State

Kano was founded in 27 May 1967 and was preceded from Northern Region. The state was named after a blacksmith of the Gaya tribe who settled in the area while sourcing for ironstone. His name is Kano.

20. Katsina

Katsina State

Katsina was named after the wife of the local ruler known as Janzama. Her name was Katsina. Katsina was foounded in 23 September 1987 and was preceded from Kaduna State.

21. Kebbi

Kebbi State

Legend has it that Kebbi was named after the Ka’abba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Kebbi was founded in 27 August 1991 and was preceded from Sokoto State.

22. Kogi

Kogi State

The name Kogi was said to have be derived from ‘kogin’, hausa for river. This is to represent the fact that the two biggest Rivers in Nigeria, River Niger and River Benue form a confluence in the state. Kogi was founded in 27 August 1991 and was preceded from Kwara State; Benue State.

23. Kwara

Kwara State

This was named after the River Niger which forms the Northern border of the state. The Nupes used to call the river Kwara. Kwara was founded in 27 May 1967 and was preceded from Northern Region; known as West Central State from 1967 to 1976.

24. Lagos

Lagos State

The name is a Portuguese word for lakes. The Portuguese were the first set of Europeans to reach Lagos in 1472. The name was inspired by the lagoons and rivers in Lagos. Lagos was founded in 27 May 1967 and was preceded out from Federal Territory of Lagos and Colony Province.

25. Nassarawa

Nasarawa State

Nasarawa was founded in 1 October 1996 and was preceded from Plateau State. It was so named by the founder of Nasarawa kingdom, Makama Dogo. Nasarawa means Victorious.

26. Niger

Niger State

Niger state was founded in 3 February 1976 and was preceded from North-Western State. Named after the popular River Niger.

27. Ogun

Ogun State

Named after the Ogun River. Ogun state was founded in 3 February 1976 and was preceded from Western State.

28. Ondo

Ondo State

This was named after the settlers of the old Ondo Kingdom. Ondo is a word for settlers. Ondo was founded in 3 February 1976 and preceded out from Western State.

29. Osun

Osun State

Like a number of other Nigerian states, it was also named after a river; River Osun. Osun was founded in 27 August 1991 and was preceded from Oyo State.

30. Oyo

Oyo State

It was named after the Old Oyo empire. Oyo was founded in 3rd of February 1976 and was preceded from Western State.

31. Plateau

Plateau State

Plateau was founded in 3rd of February 1976 and was preceded from Benue-Plateau State. The state was named for the Jos Plateau.

32. Rivers

Rivers

A state with many water bodies, Rivers State was named for many of the rivers. Rivers was founded in 27th of May 1967 and was preceded out from Eastern Region.

33. Sokoto

Sokoto State

Sokoto was founded in 3 February 1976 and was preceded out from North-Western State. Named after the defunct Sokoto Caliphate. Sokoto is the anglicized version of the Arabic word ‘suk’ which means ‘market’ or ‘place of commerce’.

34. Taraba

Taraba State

The state was named after the Taraba River. Taraba was founded in 27th of August 1991 and was preceded out from Gongola State.

35. Yobe

Yobe State

The state was named after Komadugu Yobe (Waube or Ouobe) or River Yobe (or River of Yo). Yobe was founded in 27 August 1991 and was preceded out from Borno State.

36. Zamfara

Zamfara State

Zamfarawa is one of the subdialects of Eastern Hausa linguistic group. Zamfara was founded in 1st of October 1996 and was preceded out from Sokoto State.