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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
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Contact Phone |
Gov. Office: 234 31 220085
SSG: 234 31 221362
Info: 234 31 221735
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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
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Government |
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Local Government Areas |
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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 |
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
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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;
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