Delta State
| Delta State State nickname: The Big Heart | ||
| Location | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Statistics | ||
| Governor (List) | Emmanuel Uduaghan (PDP) | |
| Date Created | 27 August 1991 | |
| Capital | Asaba | |
| Area | 17,698 km² Ranked 23rd | |
| Population 1991 Census 2005 estimate | Ranked 9th 2,570,181 6,710,214 | |
| GDP (PPP) -Total -Per Capita | 2007 (estimate) $16.75 billion[1] $3,990[1] | |
| ISO 3166-2 | NG-DE | |
Delta State is a state in Nigeria,comprising mainly Igbo (Anioma people), Urhobo,Isoko,Ijaw and Itsekiri. The whole ethnic-groups that comprise the Delta are administratively grouped into three senatorial districts namely Delta North, Delta South and Delta Central for easy administrative purposes. The delta north is Igbo region, the delta central and delta south is made up of Urhobo, Ijaw, Isoko,Itsekiri.
Delta is an oil producing state of Nigeria situated in the region known as the Niger Delta, South-South Geo-political zone with a population of 4098291 (Males: 2674306 Females: 2024085 (see Federal Republic of Nigeria, Official gazette, No. 24, vol. 94, 2007.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the former Federal Minister of Finance and world Bank Managing Director is from this state, while the State's Governor is Emmanuel Uduaghan, a member of the People's Democratic Party. The capital city is Asaba located at the northern end of the state with an estimated area of 762 km2 while Warri is economic nerve of the state and also the most populated. The state has a total land area of 16,842 km2.
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Geography
The state borders Edo State, Ondo State , Imo State,Rivers State, Anambra State and Bayelsa State. In the south west and south it has approximately 122 kilometres of coastline bounded by the Bight of Benin on the Atlantic ocean.
History
Delta State was carved out of the former Bendel State in 1991 The state was created following agitations for the creation of separate distinct states by the urhobos and Anioma regions. The then Military President, Gen Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd) created the state using the name "Delta" advanced by Niger Delta region as "Asaba" another name advanced by the people of Anioma for the capital of the proposed "Anioma state." Delta state was once integrated in the Mid Western state from 1963 to 1976 and later Bendel state, from 1976 to 1991. The name "Bendel" (Ben-Del) meant Benin-Delta to reflect the integration of Benin and Delta provinces.
Demographics
Delta State is ethnically diverse with peoples and numerous languages spoken in the state. These groups are known to inter-marry. Most inhabitants of the state practice Christianity or traditional faiths.
Local Government Areas
Delta State is made up of twenty-five Local Government Areas. They are as follows:
Mineral, Natural Resources
There are various solid mineral deposits within state - industrial clay, silica, lignite, kaolin, tar sand, decorative rocks, etc. These are raw materials for industries such as brick making, ceramics, bottle manufacturing, glass manufacturing, chemical/insulators production, chalk manufacturing and sanitary wares, decorative stone cutting and quarrying.
Higher Educational Institutions
- Federal University of Petroleum Resource Effurun
- Delta State University (Abraka Campus,Oleh Campus,Anwai Campus)
- Delta state Polytechnic(Otefe-Oghara Campus,Ozoro Campus,Ogwashi-Uku Campus)
- College of Education(Agbor Campus,Warri Campus)
- Federal College of Education Technical Asaba
- College of Physical Education, Mosogar
- Petroleum Training Institution,Effurun
- Western Delta University,Oghara
- Novena University,Ogume
Sports
Delta State is known to have produced several sportsmen and women of great stature, many of whom have captained the national football teams of the nation at different times notably Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, Sunday Olise, Austin Jay Jay Okocha,Wilson Oruma,Duke udi,Sodje Efetobore,Victor Ikpeba,Jonathan Akpoborire,Nduka Ugbade, Peter Nnalue etc. Team Delta are the current winners of the National Sports Festival tagged "KADA 2009" held in Kaduna State, Nigeria with 108 Gold and a number of Silver and Bronze medals.
References
- ^ a b "C-GIDD (Canback Global Income Distribution Database)". Canback Dangel. http://www.cgidd.com. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
External links
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Coordinates: 5°30′N 6°00′E / 5.5°N 6°E