Kogi State

Kogi is a state in the central region (Middle-Belt) of Nigeria.[4] It is popularly called the Confluence State because of the confluence of River Niger and River Benue at its capital, Lokoja, which is the first administrative capital of modern-day Nigeria.

For the Amerindian tribe, see Kogi people. For other uses, see Kogi (disambiguation).
Kogi
State
Flag
Seal
Nickname(s): 
The Confluence State
Location of Kogi State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 7°30′N 6°42′E
Country Nigeria
Date created27 August 1991
CapitalLokoja
Government
 • GovernorYahaya Bello (APC)
 • Deputy GovernorEdward David Onoja
 • SenatorsIsah Jibrin
Yakubu Oseni
Smart Adeyemi
Area
 • Total29,833 km2 (11,519 sq mi)
Area rank13th of 36
Population
 (2006 census)
 • Total3,314,043[1]
 • Rank24th of 36
Demonym(s)Kogite
GDP (PPP)
 • Year2007
 • Total$4.64  Billion[2]
 • Per capita$200[2]
Time zoneUTC+01 (WAT)
postal code
260001
ISO 3166 codeNG-KO
HDI (2018)0.558[3]
medium · 23rd of 37

Agriculture is the main part of the state economy with fishing in the riverine areas like Lokoja, Idah, Ibaji, Ogugu, etc., and the state also has coal, petroleum, limestone, steel and other mineral industries.

The main ethnic groups are Igala, Ebira, Bassa Nge and Okun.

Geography

Adjacent States

Kogi state is the only state in Nigeria which shares a boundary with ten other states.

History and people

The state was created in 1991 from parts of Kwara State and Benue State. Igala is the majority ethnic group in the state. The state as presently constituted, comprises the people of the Kabba Province of Northern Nigeria. One of the first Qadi in the Kogi State was Faruk Imam.[5]

There are three main ethnic groups and languages in Kogi: Igala, Ebira, and Okun (a Yoruba Group) with other such as Bassa Nge, a people of Nupe extraction in Lokoja and Bassa Local Government Area, Bassa-Komo of Bassa Local Government Area, Gwari, Kakanda, Oworo people(A Yoruba Group), Ogori,Igbo, Magongo, and Idoma.

The name Nigeria, was coined in Lokoja by Flora Shaw in the hill of Mount Patti, the future wife of Baron Lugard, a British colonial administrator, while gazing out at the river Niger .

Local Government Areas
See also: List of villages in Kogi State

Kogi State consists of twenty-one (21) local government areas. Which are:

Tourism
Kogi -Lokoja Confluence

Tourist attractions in Kogi State include the colonial relics (such as Lord Lugard House), Mount Patti, World War Cenotaph, the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue, Ogidi (An African town with formations of Igneous Rock mountains and a traditional art & craft industry) and natural land features hills and terrains that serve as hiking trails .

Being a 2-hour drive from Abuja some tourists come for day trips.

Transport and communications

Kogi State connects the Federal Capital Territory with 22 Southern States. Being in close proximity to the federal capital territory, Abuja International Airport serves as the national and international gateway for air travelers from and to the state. Good telecommunications services are available in the state.

Agriculture and resources

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy. There are many Farm produce from the state notably coffee, cocoa, palm oil, cashews, groundnuts, maize, cassava, yam, rice and melon.

Mineral resources include coal, limestone, iron, petroleum and tin. The state is home to the largest iron and steel industry in Nigeria known as Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and one of the largest cement factories in Africa, the Obajana Cement Factory.

Education

Kogi state is home to the Federal University (Lokoja), Kogi State University Anyigba, Federal Polytechnic Idah, Kogi State Polytechnic (Lokoja), Federal College of Education (Okene), College of Education (Ankpa), College of Agriculture Kabba, Kogi state college of education, technical (Kabba) and the Private Salem University, Lokoja. There are a college of nursing and midwifery in Anyigba and Obangede, School of health tech in Idah and ECWA School of Nursing in Egbe.

Sports

Kogi State has produced sprinters such as Sunday Bada and other sportsmen, who have contributed to the growth of sports worldwide. Kogi United and Babanawa F.C. are football teams based in the state. Other sports, such as swimming, handball, and table tennis are actively promoted in the state. The Kogi state Sports Council had a track record of Directors and great personnel team Who at one time or the other had worked with the vision of putting the State fully on the world map. Among them are personalities like Mr. Francis Umoru, Mr. Mohammed Emeje, Mr. Benjamin O. Ameje, Mr. A. Ogido, Mr. Joel J. Abu and others.

Among other sportsmen produce by the state is Shola Ameobi, an Ayetoro Gbede born Ijumu, English footballer, currently playing for Bolton Wanderers as a striker, late Sunday Bada 400 Metres Olympic Champion from Ogidi in Ijumu Local Govt. of the state.

Senate

Three Senators have always represented Kogi state since the return of democracy in 1999 at Senate with Kogi East, Kogi West and Kogi Central producing one each.

Notable people
  • Halima Abubakar, Nollywood Actress.
  • Segun Adaju, entrepreneur, CEO Consistent Energy Limited and President, Renewable Energy Association Nigeria (REAN).
  • Folashade Yemi-Esan, head of the civil service of the federation.
  • Smart Adeyemi, Senator representing Kogi West senatorial district.
  • S. A. Ajayi, A Nigeria founding father, former minister of forestry, minister of education, member house of Rep, Oluwole of Ijumu Land, Balogun-Bajito of Ogidi-Ijumu Maiyegun of OKoro Gbede.
  • Tolulope Arotile (1995–2020), Nigerian Air Force female helicopter pilot.
  • Abubakar Audu, first civilian and two-term governor of the state (1992-1993 & 1999-2003).
  • Yahaya Bello, Governor of Kogi State (2016 till date).
  • Joseph Benjamin, Actor.
  • Darey - Darey Art Alade.
  • Ibrahim Idris, former governor of the state (2003-2011).
  • Joseph Makoju, former GM NEPA.
  • Jaywon, Musician.
  • Mercy Johnson, Nollywood Actress.
  • Dino Melaye, former Senator from Kogi West.
  • Bayo Ojo, a former Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
  • Edward David Onoja, former Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello 2016 - 2019. Deputy Governor of Kogi State (2019 till date).
  • Praiz, Songwriter, Artiste.
  • Idris Wada, former governor of the state (2011-2016).

References
  1. "2006 PHC Priority Tables – NATIONAL POPULATION COMMISSION". population.gov.ng. Archived from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  2. "C-GIDD (Canback Global Income Distribution Database)". Canback Dangel. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
  3. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-08-18. Retrieved 2011-02-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Kogi State
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