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Kwara State

Capital	Ilorin
Land Area & Rank	32,500 sq km (10).
Year Created	May 27, 1967
Governor	Abdulfatah Ahmed, APC
Deputy Gov	Peter Kishira
L.G.A	16
House of Assembly	24
Major Areas/Towns	Ilorin (capital), Offa, Omu-Aran, Oro Ago, Kaiama
Local Dialects	Yoruba, Nupe, Baruba
Motto	“State of Harmony”
Population	2006 Census: Rank & Sex: 2,371,089 (30) Male: 1,220,581 Female: 1,150,508
Contact Phone	Gov. Office: 234 31 220085 SSG: 234 31 221362 Info: 234 31 221735
Liason Office	Abuja Liaison Office Plot 23, Jose Marti Crescent Asokoro P.M.B. 224, Abuja Tel: 09-5232107 Fax: 09-3146330 Lagos Liaison Office: 11, Idowu Martins Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. Tel: 01-6113022

Government

Local Government Areas

LGA	Headquarter
Asa	Afon
Baruten	Kosubasu
Edu	Lafiagi
Ekiti	Araromi-opin
Ifelodun	Share
Ilorin East	Oke-Oyi
Ilorin South	Fufu
Ilorin West	Ilorin
Irepodun	Omu-Aran
Isin	Owu Isin
Kaiama	Kaiama
Moro	Bodeshadu
Offa	Offa
Oke-Ero	Ilofa
Oyun	Ilemona
Patigi	Patigi

Hotels & Tourism

Important places: Esie stone images, Owu falls at Owa Kajola, the remains of Mango Park's wrecked boat . The “D” spring and Mango Park's Monument both at Jebba, Okuta-Ilorin, from where the state capital derived its name, Jebba Dam, university of Ilorin Zoo, Oke-Agbonna hills at share. Tsaragi and the adjoining towns look extremely beautiful and romantic when viewed from the Oke-Agbonna hills. On top of the hill is a cave stretching 24 kilometres without seeing the rays of the sun.

Important Events: Awon festival; held annually in mid October in memory of Awon goddess at Moro Local Government; at the festival, marriageable girls are given to their husbands enmasse. Patigi regatta is a water festival in patigi; it involves boat racing and swimming among others; Moremi festival, held every year in October at Offa. Onimoka festival at Offa to mark the begining of a new year.

Hotels

Circular Hotel Ltd
New Yidi Road,
Ilorin.
Tel: 234-31-220845, 220846

Kwara Hotels Ltd
9a, Ahmadu Bello Way
G.R.A, P.O.Box 1476
Ilorin
Tel: 234-31-221490-4, 220435, 223862

Unity Hotel Ltd
Murtala Mohammed Road
P.O.Box 143,
Ilorin
Tel: 234-31-2211610-11

White House Hotels
Km 5, Lagos Road
P.O Box 1273, Ilorin
Tel: 234-31-222770

Ilorin the capital is founded by a Yoruba hunter called Ojo Isekuse and the great grand father of Afonja who used to sharpen his tools at a stone in Bamidele compound. The act of sharpening the tool “Ilo lrin” in Yoruba dialect was constricted into Ilorin. The city started as small conurbations, which explains till this day the all race embracing status of the city. By 1759, Ilorin was a big community. Ilorin as an emirate was the consequence of the ambitious tendency of Afonja the then Are Ona Kankanfo (War General) stationed there by the Old Oyo Empire.

At the end of the Eighteen century, the central authority in Oyo was gradually waning; Afonja resolved to carve an empire for himself. By 1817 he fuelled the rebellion of Muslims in Ilorin which coincided with the arrival of Mallam Alimi; a Jihadist whom he had earlier invited. Ilorin was conquered. In a twist of invents, Mallam Alimi conspired against Afonja and killed him. By 1824 Alimi became the first ruler. And his son; Abdusalimi who succeeded him was later recognised by the Sokoto caliphate as the Emir.

In 1897, the Ilorin Emirate was conquered by the British soldiers. Kwara state, popularly known as the gateway between the North and South of the country was created in 1967 by the then Gen. Yakubu Gowon administration. The State is consisting of the former Ilorin and Kabba provinces. At inception, it was called west central state. This name was later changed to “Kwara” the Local name for River Niger. In 1976, three Igala divisions; Idah, Dekina and Ankpa were excised from Kwara and merged with Benue State. Also in 1991 Kogi state was carved out of the State; while Borgu Local Government Area was as well merged with Niger State. Kwara state is a heterogeneous state, comprising the Yorubas, Nupes and Fulanis.

Boundaries/Neighbours:

In the North is Niger State; in the South are Osun and Ekiti states, in the East is Kogi state and in the West is Oyo state. It has international boundary with Republic of Benin along the North-West border.

Topography:

The topography is mainly plain lands. The prominent land forms are Sobi Hill in Ilorin and Owu falls in Owakajola in Ifelodun Local Government Area. The major rivers are River Niger and River Osin. The vegetation is rain forest in parts of Irepodun, Ekiti and Oyun; and Wooded Savannah in other parts of the state.

Climate:

Two main climates are experienced in the state: Dry and wet seasons with an intervening cold and dry harmattan from December to January. The annual rainfall ranges between 1,000 and 1,500mm; while average temperature is between 300C and 370C.

Education:

The state has 1,242 primary schools which includes 162 privately owned as at October 2000; pupils enrollment of 350,667; and a total of 13,174 teachers. The state has 278 secondary schools of which 41 are privately owned with a total of 135,615 student enrollment and 7,394 teachers. At the tertiary level; the state has a federal university (University of Ilorin), two polytechnics; one federal at Offa and the other state owned at Ilorin. Federal Training Centre; Ilorin, School of Nursing and Midwifery; Ilorin, three colleges of Education at Ilorin, Oro and Lafiagi and College of Arabic and Islamic Studies; Ilorin.

Economy:

The economy of the state is Agro based. Notwithstanding some percentage of the labour force are engaged in various services and cottage industries like; Pottery, weaving, bead work and carving. Industrial production in the state includes: a confectionery industry; makers of “Okin” biscuilt and a Brewery; Noble beer. Others are, Sugar Company at Bacita and Animal Feed Mills at Ilorin.

Agriculture:

Principal agricultural produce in the state includes (Cash crops) cotton, cocoa, coffee, kolanuts, tobacco, sugarcane, leaves, beniseed, plantain, palm produce, and cashew. (Food crops): yam, millet, cassava, groundnuts and maize. In 2004, the state government invited the displaced Zimbabwean white farmers into the state. This has enhanced the agricultural revolution in the state.

Mineral/Natural Resources:

These include: marble, pink granite, kaolin, gold, gravel, clay, feldspar, mica, precious stone, quartz and talc.

Famous Natives:

Muhammed Gambari, Monarch (Emir of Ilorin). Ibrahim Gambari, Political Scientist/diplomat. Rasidi Yekini, footballer. Olusola Saraki, politician. Tunde Idiagbon, army gen. rtd. Samuel Adedoyin, businessman. Akinloye Oyebanji, Journalist. Yinka Quadri, actor. Lola Afolayan (Mrs), actress. Sheu Gafar, administrator. Ayinla Kollinton, musician. Ladi (The African Tiger) wrestler. Abdulkarim Adisa, army gen. rtd. Timothy Oyeyipo, Justice. Samuel Afolayan, Naval officer. Abdul Mutalib Ambali, Justice. Emmanuel Adesoye, Industrialist (Okin Biscuit) Mohammed Lawale, politician. Rasak Lawal, accountant/politican. Fasal Herb, businessman. Mike Owolabi, banker.Dupe Dadal (Ms), banker. Sheu Muhammed Kamaldeen, teacher/clergy. Abdulahi Muhammed, administrator. Saka Nuhu, physician. Oba Abdulraheem, academician. A. G. F. Abdulrazaq, lawyer. Amuda Aluko, doctor. Alfa Belgore, justice. Mustapha Akanbi, justice/ administrator. Khadir Apaokagi, clergy.nbsp;