Kaduna State


Kaduna State is the 18th state of Federal Republic of Nigeria located in the northwest zone of the country. It takes its name for the capital of Kaduna, hence it is usually referred to as Kaduna State to distinguish the two. It is ranked 4th by land area and 3rd by population in Nigeria. The state capital was the former capital city of the British protectorate of Northern Nigeria region after Zungeru and Lokoja. Other major urban areas include Zaria, Kagoro, Kafanchan, Kachia, Nok, Makarfi, Birnin Gwari and Zonkwa.

Etymology

The word Kaduna is said to be a corruption of the Hausa word '"Kada' for “crocodile and the plural is "Kadduna" for crocodiles, as there were previously many crocodiles in the river Kaduna.” Another version of the etymology of the name is a narrative linked to the Gbagyi word/name 'Odna' for River Kaduna. in the coat of arm of the state there is a symbol of crocodile, and majority of emblem related to the state use crocodile as a symbol. The state football club Kaduna United F.C. use The Crocodiles as a nickname.

History

It is indicative that the name, Kaduna, was taken up by Lord Frederick Lugard and his colonial colleagues when they moved the capital of the then Northern Region from Zungeru to Kaduna city in 1916. This move of the colonial office to Kaduna city started in 1912-1918/20 with the initial effort having been made in 1902 from Jebba to Zungeru.
At the start of British colonial rule in northern Nigeria the people groups who live in the area became 'Northern Nigerians'- a construct which continues even today. By 1967 these people groups again were carved into 'North Central State'; this was the case until 1975 that 'Kaduna State' was formerly created by the then military leader, Gen. Murtala Mohammed, with all distinct identities amalgamated into one state without a referendum. The state hence is the successor of the old Northern Region of Nigeria, which had its capital at Kaduna which is now the state capital to about 6.3 million people.
In 1967, the old Northern Region was divided into six states in the north, leaving Kaduna as the capital of North-Central State, whose name was changed to Kaduna State in 1976. Meanwhile, Kaduna State was further divided in 1987, creating Katsina State. Under the governance of Kaduna are the ancient cities of Zaria, Kafanchan, and Nok, the area where Africa's earliest civilization is recorded to have been excavated. The most intriguing aspect of this area is that the colonial construction and its post-colonial successor called 'Nigeria' hardly documented the history or the method of how Kaduna state's people groups encompassed in these constructs define and identify themselves as such the people groups who populate the area have lived in near oblivion or obscurity as they often are thought of as Hausa people. In 2019 Kaduna State celebrate 100 years anniversary, making it one of the oldest state in Nigeria.
Zazzau is said to have been founded since 1536 and later was renamed after the prominent Queen Zaria known as Amina, the Hausa people of Zaria are said to be the old ancestral of the region.

Geography

The state is located at the Northern part of Nigeria's High Plains. The vegetation cover is Sudan Savannah type, characterized by scattered short trees, shrubs and grasses. The soil is mostly loamy to sandy type. A substantial amount of clay is found also. Its northern half became Katsina state in 1987. The state is bordered by seven states. The state was ranked number four by total area of land and number three by population. The Kaduna River, a tributary of River Niger, flows through the state. There are rocky stones in Zaria and Kogoro Hill, a Hill that a lot of legendary stories are told about it.

Government

The current governor of Kaduna state legally under the control of Kaduna State Executives, Kaduna State House of Assembly and Kaduna State Judiciary the current elected governor of the state is Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai and his deputy Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe In the state there 14 ministries that operate with the state government to improve the state, they are Ministries of Kaduna State.

Local Government Areas

Kaduna State consists of twenty-three Local Government Areas. They are:
s/nLocal Government AreaZoneTotal AreaPolitical ChairmanPopulation Density
1Birnin Gwari
2Chikun
3Giwa
4Igabi
5Ikara
6Jaba
7Jema'a
8Kachia
9Kaduna North
10Kaduna South
11Kagarko
12Kajuru
13Kaura
14Kauru
15Kubau
16Kudan
17Lere
18Makarf
19Sabon Gari
20Sanga
21Soba
22Zangon Kataf
23Zaria

Economics

The Kaduna State economy was ranked 15th largest state in Nigerian economy from 2002 to 2008, and it made up 3.3% of Nigerian GDP. While agriculture contributed 30% of SGDP in Kaduna. Kaduna state cultivate cotton and peanuts for exporting and domestic extraction of Peanut oil. In the state there is National Institute of Leather and Technology, to improve modern technology and traditional method.

Media

In Kaduna State there are many means of communucation through mass media, broadcasting, internet communication and banking transaction, in Kaduna State there are a 21 radio stations and more than 4 television broadcasting, many of them are own by the state government or federal government and few are private, the following are list of radio stations in Kaduna.
s/nName FrequencyMotto
1Brila FM88.9
2Kada 2 FM, Kaduna 89.9
3Rockside FM, Kafanchan 89.9
4Capital Sounds FM, Kaduna 90.9
5Liberty Radio Kaduna91.7
6Karama FM, Kaduna 92.1
7Freedom Radio FM, Kaduna92.9
8Vision FM Kaduna92.5
9FCE Zaria FM.93.7
10Queen FM, Zaria 94.1
11Supreme FM, Kaduna 96.1
12Alheri Radio FM, Kaduna97.7
13ASU FM 98.5
14Invicta FM, Kaduna98.9
15Human Right Radio Kaduna99.9
16BU Samaru FM,Zaria.101.1
17Teachers Radio 102.5
18Spider FM 102.7
19Liberty Radio Kaduna103.1
20Ray Power FM Kaduna106.5
21Demographics106.5

Ethnic groups

Kaduna State is populated by about 59 to 63 different ethnic groups, if not more, with the exactitude of the number requiring further verification through genuine field work . The question as in the last paragraph with the Hausa and Fulani as the dominant ethnic groups followed by at least 60 others. These groups include:
S/nEthnic groupOriginarea
1Hausa
2Fulani
3Adara
4Akurmi
5Anghan
6Amo
7Aruruma
8Atachaat
9Atyab
10Ayu
11Bajju
12Bakulu
13Bhazar
14Bur
15Binawa
16Dingi
17Fantswam
18Fulfulde
19Gbagyi Southern Kaduna
20Gure
21Gwandara
22Gwong
23Ham
24Jangi
25Kaibi
26Kahugu
27Kanufi
28Kanuri
29Kigono
30Kinugu
31Kitimi
32Kiwafa
33Kiwollo
34koro
35kuvoi
34Kuturmi
35Mada Mada must have migrated during colonial rule
36MargiBorno
37Nandu
38Nduyah
39Numana
40Nindem
41Ningeshe
42Ninkyop
42Ninzo
43Nyenkpa
44Oegworok
45Pikal
46Pitti
47Ribang
48Rishuwa
49Rumada
50Ruruma
51Rumayya
52Shemawa
53Sholio
54Siyawa
55Takad,
56Tarri
57Tsam
58Tuku

Religion

The main religions in the area of Kaduna State are Christianity and Islam. while some minority ethnics practice traditional worshiping, mostly in the southern area of the state, the people living in kaduna state has a firm strong faith on the both side, as such cause two religious crisis in the state in 2001 and 2002 called Miss World riots.

Christianity

Available records show that Christian mission activities in the area began formally in the 1900s with the establishment of Sudan Interior Mission in the Ham town of Har Kwain, hence today these people groups are Mainly Christians. Culturally, the people groups of the then southern Zaria who are now Southern Kaduna, with some exception it must be acknowledged, share a lot in the cultural practices of marriage rites, naming, burial, farming, social organisations, kinship, etc. Until full scale research is undertaken, the diversity of Kaduna state remains blurred as some ethnic groups are so small in population that they are often overshadowed by the larger groups who live near them. There are several churches across the state this include Roman Catholic Diocese of Zaria, Roman Catholic Diocese of Zaria, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, Roman Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan and Megachurch.

Islam

The Muslims have their central mosque in Kaduna metropolis known as Sultan Bello Mosque.The Jama’t Izalat al Bid’a Wa Iqamat as Sunna and Jamatu Nasril Islam main branch is located in Kaduna metropolis. Also, the prominent Tijaniyyah leader Sheikh Dahiru Usman is in Kaduna, Furthermore,The Nigerian Islamic Movement mover known as Ibrahim Zakzaky has his main branch in Zaria Kaduna State.

Languages

Other languages in Kaduna State are Bacama, Firan, Sambe. Almost all of these languages are spoken in Southern Kaduna.

Education

Kaduna is one of the largest centres of education in Nigeria, the slogan of the state is Center of Learning because of the present of many institution like; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. There are many government school, include primary schools and secondary schools, all secondary schols in kaduna is own by either the state government, federal government or private organisation. there are many tertiary institution in the state. Zaria has the Ahmadu Bello University established. The state also has colleges for transportation and agriculture.

Universities and Institutes

The National Museum which was built in with archaeological and ethnographic exhibitions, the Kajuru Castle, Lugard Hall, Zaria walls and Gates and Nok settlements. in the state there are many architectural buildings like Ten storey, Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Murtala Square, Investment house, kaduna central market, Sultan Bello Mosque and so on. The palace of emire of Zazzau is one the oldest traditional buildings in Kaduna state.

Traditional Architecture

In Kaduna State there are a lot of ethnic groups, which lead to the variation of culture and architectural style, this include the city wall of Zaria. The walls constructed during the reigns of Queen Amina of Zazzau protected the city and they are between 14 and 16 km long, and are closed by 8 gates, Also the Emir's Palace of Zaria is an important traditional heritage. The palace's interior is populated by many luxurious fashion interiors. The St. Bartholomew's Church Zaria, built by the Church Missionary Society in 1929 still stands strong like a rock in Zaria, the church was build base on Hausa traditional architecture.

Modern Architecture

Modern architecture is present in the state as a result of civilization and development, majority of these architectural buildings were build by federal government or state government, while the residential ones are majority build by individuals, these buildings include, Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Ten storey building, Investment house, federal secretary, Ranchers Bees Stadium, Murtala square and so on.

Health

Kaduna State has over 1,000 primary healthcare facilities to cater to every resident - even in the most remote village or ward of the state. To further improve on healthcare delivery, in 2016, the Kaduna State Government partnered with the UK Department For International Development to install over 1.3 Mega Watts of Solar Systems in primary healthcare facilities across the state.

Sports

In Kaduna State many sports are played, such as football, golf, swimming, traditional wrestling and handball. The Kaduna State government run a football club called Kaduna United F.C., the club participate in playing Nigerian Professional Football League but are under relegation.

Entertainment and Tourism

In Kaduna State an annual festival is organized by Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the festival exposes folklore talent and through these process, to promote unity and encourage tourism and build culture in the State, it takes place in November or December of every year, Cultural activities include: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha perform by the Muslims in the state, the Tuk Ham, the Afan the Christmas and Easter Celebrations as well as the Kallan-Kowa celebrations.Kaduna has a museum and a park, the Kofar Gamji park and Zoo. Lord Lugard's Residence, is also a tourist attraction and it currently houses the state assembly.

Entertainments

Annual Festivals include

Notable people