The Origin And Meaning of Nigerian State Names
Abia
Abia is an acronym derived from the name of the four main groups of the people in the state as at the time it was formed in 1991: Aba, Bende, Isuikwuato & Afikpo.
Adamawa
This state was named after a warrior that conquered the region in the beginning of the 19th century. His name was Modibbo Adama Bin Ardo Hassan.
Akwa-Ibom
Akwa Ibom is named after a river, the Qua Iboe (or Kwa Iboe) River.
Anambra
It was derived from the name of the Oma Mbala
(Omambala) River (in Igbo, the native name of the river is Ànyịm Ọma Mbala).
Bauchi
There are three versions of how Bauchi got its name. One version says ‘Bauchi’ is Hausa word meaning the southern flanks of Hausaland. Tribes living in the southern parts of the Hausaland were referred to as “kasashen bauchi” and the area they lived in later came to be known simply as Bauchi.
Bauchi. According to the second version, the state was named after Baushe, a famous hunter who settled there before the 19th century while the third states that ‘bauchi’ is Hausa word for slavery since it was a center for slave traders.
Bayelsa
Bayelsa was formed as a result of the clamour from the three LGAs in old Rivers (Brass LGA known as BALGA, Yenagoa LGA known as YELGA and Sagbama LGA – SALGA). The name came about from the combination of their acronymns.
BA + YEL + SA = BAYELSA
Benue
It is a word from the Batta language ‘Binuwe’ which means ‘Mother of Waters’.
Borno
The name was derived from ‘Borno’, an alternative name of the Kanuris who form the predominant ethnic group in the state.
Cross River
The state took its name from a River called Oyono or Cross River.
Delta
It was named after the delta of the River Niger formed as it enters the Atlantic Ocean.
Ebonyi
The state was named after the Aboine River that cuts through Abakaliki, the state capital.
Edo
Named after the Bini people who had always referred to themselves as Edo or Iduu.
Ekiti
‘Ekiti’ is a term that is said to denote a settlement of many hills.
Enugu
Enugu derived its name from two local words “enu” & “ugwu” which means ‘top of the hill’.
Gombe
Named after the dialect of Fulani language (Fulfulde) spoken in the area ‘Gombe’.
Imo
This state is named after the Imo River (Mmiri Imo).
Jigawa
The state was named after its distinctively golden-coloured soil, Jigawa.
Kaduna
The state after the crocodiles in Kaduna River. “Kadduna” is Hausa plural word for crocodiles.
Kano
The state was named after a blacksmith of the Gaya tribe who settled in the area while sourcing for ironstone. His name was Kano.
Katsina
Katsina was named after the wife of the local ruler known as Janzama. Her name was Katsina.
Kebbi
Legend has it that Kebbi was named after the Ka’abba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Kogi
The name Kogi was said to have been derived from ‘kogi’, (hausa word for river). This is to represent the fact that the two biggest Rivers in Nigeria, River Niger and River Benue form a confluence in the state.
Kwara
This was named after the River Niger which forms the Northern border of the state. The Nupes used to call the river, Kwara.
Lagos
The name is a Portuguese word for lakes. The Portuguese were the first settlers from Europe to reach Lagos in 1472. The name was inspired by the lagoons and rivers in Lagos.
Nasarawa
It was so named by the founder of Nasarawa kingdom, Makama Dogo. Nasarawa means Victorious.
Niger
Niger Named after the popular River Niger.
Ogun
Named after the Ogun River.
Ondo
This was named after the settlers of the old Ondo Kingdom. Ondo is a word for settlers.
Osun
Like a number of other Nigerian states, it was also named after a river; River Osun.
Oyo
It was named after the Old Oyo empire.
Plateau
The state was named for the Jos Plateau.
Rivers
A state with many water bodies, Rivers State was named for many of the rivers present in the area.
Sokoto
Named after the defunct Sokoto Caliphate. Sokoto is the anglicized version of the Arabic word ‘suk’ which means ‘market’ or ‘place of commerce’.
Taraba
The state was named after the Taraba River.
Yobe
The state was named after Komadugu Yobe (Waube or Ouobe) or River Yobe (or River of Yo).
Zamfara
Zamfarawa is one of the subdialects of Eastern Hausa linguistic group.