Edo Edo (), also romanized as Jedo, Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of Tokyo. Edo, formerly a (castle town) centered on Edo Castle located in Musashi Province, became the '' de facto'' capital of Japan from 1603 as the seat of the Tokugawa shogu ...

, officially known as Edo State, is a

state State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...

in the South-South geopolitical zone of the Federal Republic of

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

. As of 2024, the state was ranked as the 20th most populous state (5,250,000) in Nigeria. The estimated state population is around 4,777,000 in 2021. Edo State is the 21st largest state by landmass in Nigeria. The state's capital and largest city,

Benin City Benin City serves as the Capital city, capital and largest Metropolitan area, metropolitan centre of Edo State, situated in Nigeria, southern Nigeria. It ranks as the List of Nigerian cities by population, fourth-most populous city in Niger ...

, is the fourth largest city in Nigeria and the centre of the country's

rubber Rubber, also called India rubber, latex, Amazonian rubber, ''caucho'', or ''caoutchouc'', as initially produced, consists of polymers of the organic compound isoprene, with minor impurities of other organic compounds. Types of polyisoprene ...

industry. Created in 1991 from the former

Bendel State The Mid-Western Region was a division of Nigeria from 1963 to 1991, from 1976 being known as the Bendel state. It was formed in June 1963 from Benin and Delta provinces of the Western Region, and its capital was Benin City. It was renamed a pro ...

, it is also known as the heartbeat of the nation. Edo State borders

Kogi State Kogi State is a States of Nigeria, state in the North Central Nigeria, North Central region of Nigeria, bordered to the west by the states of Ekiti State, Ekiti and Kwara State, Kwara, to the north by the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, Fe ...

to the north for 133 km and across the

Niger River The Niger River ( ; ) is the main river of West Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in south-eastern Guinea near the Sierra Leone border. It runs in a crescent shape through Mali, Nige ...

for 81 km to the northeast,

Anambra State Anambra () is a States of Nigeria, state in Nigeria. It is located in the South East (Nigeria), South-eastern region of the country. The state was created on 27 August 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State and Ri ...

to the east for about four km across the

Delta State Delta is a States of Nigeria, state in the South South (Nigeria), South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named after the Niger Delta—a large part of which is in the state—the state was formed from the former Bendel State, on 27 August 1 ...

to the southeast and south for 350 km (218 miles), and

Ondo State Ondo () is a States of Nigeria, state in Points of the compass, southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State (Nigeria), Western State. Ondo borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast fo ...

to the west. The modern borders of Edo State encompass regions that were formerly the site of various empires and kingdoms of the second dynasty formed in the 11th century AD, the

Benin Empire The Kingdom of Benin, also known as Great Benin, is a traditional kingdom in southern Nigeria. It has no historical relation to the modern republic of Benin, which was known as Dahomey from the 17th century until 1975. The Kingdom of Benin's c ...

. The ancient city of

, the site of modern-day

, was home to some of the largest earthworks in the world. In 1897, the

British Empire The British Empire comprised the dominions, Crown colony, colonies, protectorates, League of Nations mandate, mandates, and other Dependent territory, territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It bega ...

conducted a

punitive expedition A punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a political entity or any group of people outside the borders of the punishing state or union. It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong beha ...

of the region, destroying most of the ancient city of

and incorporating the territory into what would become the

Southern Nigeria Protectorate Southern Nigeria was a British protectorate in the coastal areas of modern-day Nigeria formed in 1900 from the union of the Niger Coast Protectorate with territories chartered by the Royal Niger Company below Lokoja on the Niger River. The L ...

. Edo State is a diverse state that is predominantly inhabited by the Edoid people, including the Edo (or Bini), Esan, Ora, Akoko-Edo,Ijaw

Owan Owan is an ethnic group in the Northern part of Edo State, Nigeria. They are one of the Edoid peoples. Owan is currently made up of two Local Government Areas, namely: Owan East and Owan West, including so many clans; notable amongst them are: ...

and

Afemai people The Afemai people, also spelled Afenmai are a group of people living in the northern part of Edo State south geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Afemai people occupy six local government areas of Edo state: Etsako West, with headquarters in Auchi, Et ...

and

Igala people The Igala people are a ''West African'' ethnolinguistic group native to the region immediately south of the confluence of the Niger River, Niger and Benue River, Benue Rivers in Middle Belt, central Nigeria. The area inhabited primarily by the ...

among others. The most common Edoid language spoken is the

Edo language Edo (; English: , West African English: Help:IPA, /ˈedo/), also known as Bini, is the language spoken by the Edo people in Edo State, Nigeria. It was the primary language of the Benin Empire and its predecessor, Igodomigodo for thousands of y ...

, which is commonly spoken in Benin City.

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...

is the dominant religion in Edo State. It was first introduced to the region by Portuguese

missionaries A missionary is a member of a religious group who is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thomas Hale 'On Being a Miss ...

during the 15th century.

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

and traditional religions are also practised.

History

The Mid-Western Region was a division of

that came into being in 1963. It was formed in June 1963 from Benin and

Delta Delta commonly refers to: * Delta (letter) (Δ or δ), the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet * D (NATO phonetic alphabet: "Delta"), the fourth letter in the Latin alphabet * River delta, at a river mouth * Delta Air Lines, a major US carrier ...

provinces of the Western Region, and its capital was Benin City. In 1967 when a new 12-state structure was introduced, the region transmuted into Midwest State, remaining territorially intact. This nomenclature lasted until the territory was renamed

Bendel state The Mid-Western Region was a division of Nigeria from 1963 to 1991, from 1976 being known as the Bendel state. It was formed in June 1963 from Benin and Delta provinces of the Western Region, and its capital was Benin City. It was renamed a pro ...

in 1976. During the

Nigerian Civil War The Nigerian Civil War (6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970), also known as the Biafran War, Nigeria-Biafra War, or Biafra War, was fought between Nigeria and the Republic of Biafra, a Secession, secessionist state which had declared its independen ...

, the

Biafra Biafara Anglicisation (linguistics), anglicized as Biafra ( ), officially the Republic of Biafra, was a List of historical unrecognized states and dependencies, partially recognised state in West Africa that declared independence from Nigeria ...

n forces invaded the new Mid-Western state, en route to

Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...

, in an attempt to force a quick end to the war. While under

n occupation, the state was declared as the "

Republic of Benin Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It was formerly known as Dahomey. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north-west, and Niger to the north-east. The majority of its po ...

" as Nigerian forces were to retake the region. The republic collapsed a day after the declaration as Nigerian troops overtook Benin City. Edo State was established on 27 August 1991 when

was split into Edo and

s. The Edo people political organization is expressed in a three-tier age group system that cuts across kin groups and make age, rather than line-age affiliation, with criterion of authority. Benin city itself is organized on the basis of age-grades similar to those of the villages as well as on the basis of wards and chiefs, both hereditary and non-hereditary, serving the Oba in specialised functions. The Oba is the focal point of the Benin political system and institution is based squarely on that of divine kingship.

Geography

Climate

Edo state has a Tropical wet and dry or savanna climate with yearly temperature of 28.78 °C (83.8 °F) and it is -0.68% lower than Nigeria's averages. Edo typically receives about 183.49 millimeters (7.22 inches) of precipitation and has 265.91 rainy days (72.85% of the time) annually and at an elevation of 239.16 meters (784.65 feet) above sea level.

People

With

as capital, the population of the entire state is approximately 5 million. It is made up of four major

ethnic group An ethnicity or ethnic group is a group of people with shared attributes, which they collectively believe to have, and long-term endogamy. Ethnicities share attributes like language, culture, common sets of ancestry, traditions, society, re ...

s; namely

(Binis),

, Esan and

Afemai The Afemai people, also spelled Afenmai are a group of people living in the northern part of Edo State south geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Afemai people occupy six local government areas of Edo state: Etsako West, with headquarters in Auchi, Et ...

( Etsako &

Akoko Edo Akoko Edo is a Local Government Area in Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the town of Igarra. It has an area of 1,371 km and a population of 262,110 at the 2006 census. It consists of the Akoko people, who are split between Ondo a ...

). However, the State has a high presence of residents from across the country and the world because of its cosmopolitan tendencies.

has a history of being one of the foremost destinations of

Europeans Europeans are the focus of European ethnology, the field of anthropology related to the various ethnic groups that reside in the states of Europe. Groups may be defined by common ancestry, language, faith, historical continuity, etc. There are ...

during their exploration of

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

continent many centuries ago. Some of these flash points have remained enviable tourists' attraction sites for the state. The people are known for having several Edo traditional food.

Demographics

The main ethnic groups in Edo State are Édo, Etsako, Esan, Owan, and Akoko Edo. Some of the groups can trace their origin to Benin City, hence their dialects vary with their distance from Benin City. The Edo speaking people occupy seven out of the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state and constitute 57.54% of the total population. Others are as follows: Esan (14.14%), Igala in Esan South East LGA 3%, Etsako (12.19%), Owan (7.43%), Ijaw (6%) and Akoko Edo (5.70%). There are also Igarra speaking communities in Akoko Edo, Itsekiri communities in Ikpoba-Okha, and

Ijaw Ijaw may refer to: *Ijaw people The Ijaw people, also known as the Izon people, are an ethnic group found in the Niger Delta region in Nigeria, with primary Population, population clusters in Bayelsa State, Bayelsa, Delta State, Delta, and River ...

Izons and Urhobos in Ovia North East and South West Local Government Areas, especially in the borderlands. Also, Ika speaking communities exist in Igbanke (Ika) in Orhionmwon LGA.

Governors

Local government areas

Edo State consists of eighteen (18)

local government areas A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a state, province, division, or territory. The ph ...

. They are: *

Akoko-Edo Akoko Edo is a Local Government Area in Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the town of Igarra. It has an area of 1,371 km and a population of 262,110 at the 2006 census. It consists of the Akoko people, who are split between Ondo an ...

Egor Egor is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Uselu. Egor is one of the Local Government Areas that are part of the larger metropolitan area of Benin City. It has an area of 93 km and a populati ...

Esan Central Esan Central Local Government Area is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its administrative headquarters is located in the town of Irrua. The postal code of the area is 310. It has an area of 253 km2 and a population density of ...

* Esan North-East * Esan South-East *

Esan West Esan people, Esan West is a Local Government Areas of Nigeria, Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Ekpoma. It has an area of 502 km and Esan West (Ekpoma) has an estimated population of over 1 ...

* Etsako Central * Etsako East *

Etsako West Etsako West is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Auchi. Etsako West is made up of six clans: Uzairue, Auchi, South Ibie, Anwain, Jagbe and Aviele. The major towns in this LGA includes: Auchi, J ...

Igueben Igueben is a local government area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are located in the town of Igueben, which has an area of and a population of 69,639 according to the 2006 census. The postal code is 310. History Igueben was founded aro ...

Ikpoba-Okha Ikpoba Okha is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the town of Idogbo, along Benin/ Abraka Road. The LGA is made up of several towns and villages such as Evbuomodu, Uwusan, Obazagbon, Agedo, Evbumufi, Etiosa, Obad ...

Oredo Oredo is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarter is in Benin City. Its capital city is Benin City which also is the capital city of Edo State, Nigeria. Benin City is also the capital city of the Benin Empire. The Oba of B ...

Orhionmwon Orhionmwon is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarter is in the town of Abudu. It has an area of 2,382 km2 and a population of 206,717 at the 2006 census. The postal code of the area is 301. Orhionmwon local governmen ...

Ovia North-East Ovia North-East is a Local Government Areas of Nigeria, Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Okada (Nigeria), Okada. The local government area is one of the two in Edo state named after the Ovia River, O ...

* Ovia South-West * Owan East * Owan West *

Uhunmwonde Uhunmwonde is one of the Local Government Areas of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the town of Ehor. It has an area of 2,033km and a population of 121,749 at the 2006 census. The villages in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area includes; ...

Edo State House Of Assembly (Fifth Assembly) Division List, 2023

Edo State House Of Assembly Division List 2023, consists of twenty-four (24) divisions: *

1 * Ovia South-West *

I * Etsako East *

* Esan South-East *

* Oredo West * Esan North-East I *

* Etsako West I * Owan East * Orhionmwon II * Etsako Central * Owan West *

* Esan North-East II * Akoko-Edo II *

Ovia North-East II ''Ovia'' is a genus of spiders in the family Wolf spider, Lycosidae. It was first described in 2017 by Sankaran, Malamel and Sebastian. Species , the World Spider Catalog accepted five species: *''Ovia alboannulata'' (Yin, Peng, Xie, Bao & Wang, ...

* Oredo East * Ovia North-East I * Etsako West II

Edo State Judiciary

The Judiciary is the third arm of Government in the State, vested with the power to interpret the laws and resolve disputes in both civil and criminal matters in the State. The State Judiciary is headed by a Chief Judge. On 19 May 2023, Former Edo State Governor,

Godwin Obaseki Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki (born 1 July 1957) is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as the governor of Edo State from 2016 to 2024. Obaseki was elected governor under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2016 wh ...

swore in Hon. Justice Daniel Iyobosa Okungbowa as Acting Chief Judge of Edo State, following the retirement of Justice Joe Acha.

Politics

Monday Okpebholo is the current governor of Edo State and was sworn into office on 12 November 2024. His deputy is Dennis Idahosa. The

Edo State House of Assembly The Edo State House of Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Nigerian state of Edo. Chapter V, Part II of the Constitution of Nigeria, adopted in 1999, defines the role of the House of Assembly. The House of Assembly is composed of 24 me ...

is the legislative body. After the 2023 elections, the 24-member assembly consisted of fifteen representatives of the centre-right People's Democratic Party, eight members of the centre

All Progressives Congress The All Progressives Congress (APC) is one of the two major contemporary political parties in Nigeria, along with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Founded on 6 February 2013 from a merger of Nigeria's three largest opposition parties, t ...

and one member of the centre-left Labour Party.

Electoral system

The electoral system of each state is selected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two -third of the State local government Areas. If no candidate passes threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government Areas.

Languages

English is the official language of the state. The major tribal languages spoken in the state are

, Etuno, Etsako, Esan, Ake-Ievbu and Okpamheri. Edo State is home to several ethnicities, they are the

Okpe Okpe is a kingdom in Delta State, Nigeria. Today, it is also the name of a local government area. It is one of the many kingdoms that make up Urhobo nation. Its capital is Orerokpe. The kingdom plays host to the Osubi Airport (also known as Wa ...

, Esan,

Afenmai Afenmai (Afemai), Yekhee, or Iyekhe, is an Edoid language spoken in Edo State, Nigeria by the Afenmai people. Not all speakers recognize the name ''Yekhee''; some use the district name ''Etsako''. Previously the name used by British colonial ad ...

Akoko The Akoko are a large Yoruba cultural sub-group in the Northeastern part of Yorubaland. The area spans from Ondo State to Edo State in southwest Nigeria. The Akokos as a subgroup make up 20.3% of the population of Ondo State, and 5.7% of th ...

Igbanke Igbanke is a community located in Orhionmwon, Edo State. Igbanke belongs to the igbanke speaking Ika group with a significant number in the Ika South and North East LGAs of Delta State. Igbanke was carved into Edo State during the creatio ...

, Emai. The Etsako/Afemai people of Edo state have the highest population of Muslims. They live in Six local government areas within the state and their major occupation is farming. Areal view of the ancient city of Benin

Languages of Edo State listed by LGA:

Religion

Christianity constitute 90% of the population and it constitute the major religions practiced in Edo State, although a minority of the population adhere to indigenous religions. The Catholic Church comprises the Archdiocese of Benin Cit

(1884 as Upper Niger) with 84 parishes under Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubez

(2011) and three suffragan dioceses of Auch

2002) with 56 parishes under Bishop Gabriel Ghiakhomo Duni

2002), Issele-Uk

1973) with 94 parishes under Bishop Michael Odogwu Elu

2003), and Urom

(2005) with 18 parishes under Bishop Donatus Aihmiosion Ogu

(2014). The

Anglican Province of Bendel The Bendel Province is one of the fourteen ecclesiastical provinces of the Church of Nigeria. It comprises thirteen dioceses, each one headed by a bishop and it was created in 2002, when the current division into provinces was adopted. His headqua ...

(2002) in the

Church of Nigeria The Church of Nigeria is the Anglicanism, Anglican Church body, church in Nigeria. It is the second-largest Province (Anglican), province in the Anglican Communion, as measured by baptised membership (not by attendance), after the Church of Englan ...

under Archbishop Cyril Odutemu (2020) includes the Diocese of Akoko-Edo (2007) led by Bishop Jolly Ehigiator Oyekpen until he died 2022, the Diocese of Benin (1962) led by Bishop Peter Imasuen (2004), the Diocese of Esan (2000) led by Bishop

Gabriel Elabor In the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), Gabriel ( ) is an archangel with the power to announce God's will to mankind, as the messenger of God. He is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and the Quran. Many Chris ...

(2020), the Diocese of Etsako (2007) led by Bishop Felix Unuokhe Olorunfemi, the Diocese of Oleh (1999) led by Bishop John Usiwoma Aruakpor (2012), and the Diocese of Sabongidda-Ora (1993) led by Bishop Augustine Ohilebo (2004).

Economy

Tourist attractions in Edo State include the Emotan Statue in Benin City, Ise Lake and River Niger Beach in Agenebode, Etsako-East; Mike Akhigbe Square at

fugar Etsako Central is one of the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the town of Fugar. It is represented in the Edo state house of assembly by Hon. Ahmed Waziri Oshomah of the APC It has an area of 659.7 km ...

, Ambrose Alli Square,

Ekpoma Ekpoma is a town in Edo State, Nigeria. It is the administrative headquarters of the Esan West Local Government Area. Ekpoma lies on the geographical coordinate of latitude . The town has an official Post Office, and it is home to the Ambrose ...

, River Niger Beaches at Ilushi, BFFM Building at

Ewu Ewu is a Nigerian town situated in Esan Central Local Government Area in the Edo State of Nigeria. The city, an Esan tribe, lies on 200 feet in the plateau region of central Edo State, 100 kilometres north of Benin City, the capital of Edo S ...

, Obiemen lake in Agua Irrua, Igun Bronze Caster at Igun Street in Benin City, College of Agriculture and Aqua Culture Technology, Agenebode, Okpekpe with its hills and scenes and the Usomege Hills at Apana-Uzairue, Somorika hills in

, where a government-run tourist center at

Ososo Ososo is a town situated in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, in Edo State, Nigeria. With an average altitude of 1236 feet above sea level, it has a very temperate climate similar to that of Jos, Plateau State. The highest peak is a very large ...

is set among spectacular scenery. The state produces crude oil, and other mineral resources like limestone and quarry. The state has a cement factory at

Okpella Okpella is a clan situated along Benin-Abuja federal high way. Going by the last National Census figures, it has the population of 20,652 and is one of the three main towns that make up Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. It is made ...

and a Flour Mill at Ewu which is moribund.

Human trafficking

Mineral resources

The following are the mineral resources found in Edo State *

Bitumen Bitumen ( , ) is an immensely viscosity, viscous constituent of petroleum. Depending on its exact composition, it can be a sticky, black liquid or an apparently solid mass that behaves as a liquid over very large time scales. In American Engl ...

Clay Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolinite, ). Most pure clay minerals are white or light-coloured, but natural clays show a variety of colours from impuriti ...

* Dolomite *

Phosphate Phosphates are the naturally occurring form of the element phosphorus. In chemistry, a phosphate is an anion, salt, functional group or ester derived from a phosphoric acid. It most commonly means orthophosphate, a derivative of orthop ...

* Glass-sand *

Gold Gold is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol Au (from Latin ) and atomic number 79. In its pure form, it is a brightness, bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. Chemically, gold is a transition metal ...

* Gypsium *

Iron-ore Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, or deep purple to rusty red. The iron is usually found in the f ...

Lignite Lignite (derived from Latin ''lignum'' meaning 'wood'), often referred to as brown coal, is a soft, brown, combustible sedimentary rock formed from naturally compressed peat. It has a carbon content around 25–35% and is considered the lowest ...

Limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...

Marble Marble is a metamorphic rock consisting of carbonate minerals (most commonly calcite (CaCO3) or Dolomite (mineral), dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) that have recrystallized under the influence of heat and pressure. It has a crystalline texture, and is ty ...

* Oil/Gas

Education

Notable tertiary learning institutions in Edo state include: *

Ambrose Alli University Ambrose Alli University (AAU) is a state-owned university in Edo State, Nigeria. It was established in 1981 by the governor of Bendel State (now Edo and Delta States), Ambrose Folorunsho Alli. Initially known as Bendel State University, subs ...

Auchi Polytechnic Auchi Polytechnic is a Federal Polytechnic in Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria. It is one of the first four Polytechnics established in Nigeria. It has over 10,000 students enrolled in business, technology, environmental and arts courses. It is locat ...

Benson Idahosa University Benson Idahosa University (BIU) is a private, Christian university in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Previously named Christian Faith University (CFU), it was renamed in honor of Archbishop Benson Idahosa, a Charismatic Pentecostal minister ...

* College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi * Edo State Polytechnic Usen * College of Education, Ekiadolor * Edo Technical College * Edo University, Iyahmo(formerly Edo University, Uzairue) * Igbinedion University, Okada * Kings Polytechnic * Mudiame University,

Irrua Irrua is a town in Edo state and the administrative seat of the Esan Central local government area in Edo State Nigeria. Irrua was established by decree 92 of 1993 (Appendix I) to provide tertiary services to people of Edo State and beyond. ...

Glorious Vision University Glorious Vision University (GVU), formerly Samuel Adegboyega University (SAU) is a faith-based University located in Ogwa, Edo State, Nigeria, West Africa. It was founded by The Apostolic Church Nigeria, LAWNA (Lagos, Western and Northern Areas) ...

Ogwa Ogwa is a town in Esan West Local Government Area in Edo State, Nigeria. It is among the constituent communities of Esanland. The people of Ogwa speak the Esan language. The language of the Esan people shares the same name as the name of the lan ...

* Shaka Polytechnic * University of Benin * Wellspring University

Healthcare

List of Edo State Medical zones and associated local government areas.

Transport

Federal Highways are * A2 north from Warri to Delta State via Benin City to Okene in Kogi State, * A121 (part of TAH8: Trans-African Highway 8 Lagos-Mombasa) west from A2 in Benin City via Okokpon and Ugbogui to Ondo State at Ofosu, * A122 north from Benin City via Odighi to Ondo State at Sobe, * A232 (part of TAH8) east from Benin City via Iguomo, Ugoneki, Ugomoson, Abudu and Ossiomo and Ogan to Agbor (Delta State). Other major roads include * the Siuko Rd northwest from Benin City via Ogheghe and Okoro to Okokpon, * the Ekiadoro-Olumoye-Uhen Rd north from A121 at Ekiadoro to Ondo State at Ogbesse, * the Auchi-Ekpessa Rd to Federal Rd Uwhosi to Kogi State at Lankpeshi, * the Auchi-Agenebode Rd east from A2 at Auchi via Ivioghe as the Ayoguri-Agenebode Rd, * north from Fugar to Kogi State, * the Uromi Igbanke Rd south to A232 at Agbor to Delta State, * the Sakpoba Rd northeast from Ugbeka to Agbor in Delta State, * the Warri-Sakpoba Rd southwest from Otefe to A2 at Ogharefe Junction in Delta State. Airports: Benin City is served by Benin Airport with flights to Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt.

Notable people

Oba of Benin The Oba of Benin is the traditional ruler and the custodian of the culture of the Edo people and all Edoid people. The then Kingdom of Benin (not to be confused with the modern-day and unrelated Republic of Benin, which was then known as Daho ...

* Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, co-founder of Access Bank Plc and founder of Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG) * Admiral Mike Akhigbe, former vice president of the

Federal Republic of Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

. * Professor Ambrose Alli, former governor of the defunct Bendel State. He created the Bendel State university now named after him. * Jacob U. Egharevba, Bini historian and traditional chief * Erhabor Emokpae, pioneer of modern arts in Nigeria * Chief

Anthony Enahoro Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro (22 July 1923 – 15 December 2010) was one of Nigeria's foremost anti-colonial and pro-democracy activists. He was born the eldest of ten children in Uromi, present-day Edo State of Nigeria. His Esan parents ...

, anti-colonial and pro-democracy activist and politician * Dele Giwa, Nigerian journalist, editor and founder of Newswatch magazine. * Abel Guobadia, educator and former Nigerian ambassador to the Republic of Korea, former Chairman

Independent National Electoral Commission Independent National Electoral Commission may refer to: *Independent National Electoral Commission (Burundi) *Independent National Electoral Commission (Democratic Republic of the Congo) *Independent National Electoral Commission (Guinea) The Inde ...

(INEC) * Pa Michael Imoudu, labour leader and founder of the Nigeria state, * Benjamin Justice Soghie a Nigerian-American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and spiritual leader * Gen.

George Agbazika Innih George Agbazika Innih (September 25, 1938 – August 14, 2002) was a Nigerian Army general and statesman. He was the military governor of Bendel and Kwara States. Early years George Agbazika Innih was born on September 25, 1938, at Agenebode, ...

, one-time military governor of Bendel and

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* Professor

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, novelist and first African to win the

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* Maymunah Kadiri, mental health advocate * Ruth Kadiri, movie producer and actress * Senator Albert Legogie, former deputy senate president in the defunct Third Republic and a pioneer member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). * Major-General Abdul Rahman Mamudu former Commander

Nigerian Army The Nigerian Army (NA) is the land force of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is the largest component of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The President of Nigeria is the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Army, and its professional head is the Chie ...

Signals Corps and military administrator

Gongola State Gongola State is a former administrative division of Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the Adamawa and Sardauna Provinces of North State, together with the Wukari Division of the then Benue-Plateau State. It existed until 27 Aug ...

John Momoh John Momoh is a Nigerian broadcast journalist and the Chairman and CEO of Channels TV, an independent and multiple award-winning 24-hour news and media television channel based in Lagos. He is widely recognized in Nigeria as a transformative indu ...

, Nigerian broadcast journalist and CEO of

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* Prince

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, former Minister of Information and Culture *

, former chairman of the State's economic team and Former Governor of the State *Dr

Samuel Ogbemudia Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia (17 September 1932 – 9 March 2017) was a Nigerian army officer and politician. He was military Governor (1967–1975) of the Mid-West State, later renamed Bendel State, part of which in turn later became Edo State. ...

, former governor of the midwest region of Nigeria and later Bendel state * Monday Okpebholo, former Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District and Present Governor of the State * Oluwole Omofemi, artist, curator, painter of the last commissioned painting of Queen Elizabeth II before her demise. *

Adams Oshiomhole Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole (born 4 April 1952) is a Nigerian politician who has served as the senator representing the Edo North senatorial district since 2023. He is a former national chairman of the All Progressive Congress. He previously served ...

, past president of the

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and former governor of Edo State *Professor Osayuki Godwin Oshodin, former vice chancellor of University of Benin *Pastor

Chris Oyakhilome Christian Oyakhilome (born 7 December 1963), known as Pastor Chris, is a Nigerian pastor, author, televangelist, and president of LoveWorld Incorporated, a Christian ministry based in Lagos. He is the founder of Christ Embassy, a large congr ...

, founder of the Believers Loveworld Nation * John Odigie Oyegun, First Governor of Edo state and former national chairman of the ruling APC *Chief Julius Momo Udochi, first Nigerian ambassador to the

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* Odia Ofeimun, poet and former president of the

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*General Godwin Abbe, former Nigerian Minister for Interior and Defence *

Archbishop John Edokpolo John Enoyogiere Edokpolo (9 October 1918 – 17 June 1996) was a Nigerian businessman in the rubber industry and founder of Edokpolo Grammar Schools in Benin City, Nigeria. Edokpolo was also a property developer who created a number of reside ...

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, musician *Archbishop

Benson Idahosa Benson Andrew Idahosa (11 September 1938 – 12 March 1998), was a Charismatic Pentecostal preacher. He founded Church of God Mission International. Archbishop Benson Idahosa was popularly referred to as the father of Pentecostalism in Nigeria. ...

, Pentecostal Church Leader *

Sonny Okosun Sonny Okosun (1 January 1947 – 24 May 2008) was a Nigerian musician, who was known as the leader of the Ozzidi band. He named his band Ozzidi after a renowned Ijaw languages, Ijaw river god, but to Okosun the meaning was "there is a message". ...

, musician * Augustine Eguavoen, former professional Nigerian footballer and coach * *

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, artist * Festus Ezeli, basketball player formerly with the

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* Modupe Ozolua, body enhancement and reconstructive surgery *Chief Tony Anenih, chairman of board of trustees (PDP) Once Minister of Work. * Gabriel Igbinedion, international business mogul, Bini high chief, and owner of ITV * Raymond Dokpesi, owner of Africa's largest private television network and politician *

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, film director, screenwriter and producer * Suyi Davies Okungbowa, fantasy and speculative fiction author *Osaze

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, professional footballer * Chris Aire-Iluobe, jeweler and timepiece designer * Francis Edo-Osagie, businessman *

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Welterweight Champion. * Yakubu Ayegbeni, former professional footballer * Rema, musician * Philip Shaibu (b. 1969), lawmaker, politician businessman, and former deputy governor of Edo State * Eghosa Asemota Agbonifo, politician, coordinator of Michael Agbonifo shoe a child foundation *Prof T. M. Yesufu, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, economist. * Odion Jude Ighalo, professional footballer. *

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, professional footballer. * Aisha Yesufu, socio-political activist. * Yvonne Jegede actress, film producer, model, and

television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

personality * Zakariyau Oseni, professor of Arabic and a scholar of

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, guardian of

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and literature, an imam and poet. * Mike Ozekhome, legal practitioner and a human rights activist. *

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, chief of staff to President

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in 2014. *

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, former inspector general of police *

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, former professional footballer *

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(1945–2011), former Nollywood veteran actor and producer *Admiral

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, former chief of staff in the General

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administration. * Helen Paul, stand-up comedian and actress and popularly known as Tatafo *

, film director and Nollywood producer *Hon. Joe Edionwele, politician and member of the 8th and 9th National Assembly, Nigeria representing Edo Central Senatorial District *

Lucky Igbinedion Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion (born 13 May 1957) is a Nigerian politician who served as the governor of Edo State from 1999 to 2007. Early life Igbinedion was born on 13 May 1957. He is the eldest son of Gabriel Igbinedion. He holds a BSc in ma ...

politician and former governor of Edo State. * Oserheimen Osunbor, a lawyer and former governor * Osagie Ehanire medical doctor and politician *

Skales Raoul John Njeng-Njeng (born 1 April 1991), better known as Skales (an acronym for "Seek Knowledge Acquire Large Entrepreneurial Skills"), is a Nigerian rapper, singer and songwriter. In 2000, he started writing rap songs in Kaduna. Between 2 ...

rapper, singer and songwriter. *

Nancy Isime Nancy Isime (born 17 December 1991) is a Nigerians, Nigerian actress, Model (person), model, and Media Personality, media personality. Early life and background Nancy Isime was born in Edo State to Nigerian parents of Esan people, Esan descent. ...

actress, model and media personality. *

Adesua Etomi Tolulope Adesua Etomi-Wellington (born 22 February 1988) commonly known as Adesua Etomi is a Nigerians, Nigerian actress and entrepreneur. She debuted her film career with ''Knocking on Heaven's Door (2014 film), Knocking On Heaven's Door'' ( ...

, actress * Olumide Akpata, Former president of the Nigerian Bar Association * Queen Blessing Ebigieson, actress *

BB02 Jesse Adesotu Woghiren (born June 7), known professionally as THE BB02, is an American-Nigerian artist, songwriter, record label executive. He is the founder, CEO and head of Bigmanity music group. Early life and education The BB02 was born in ...

, musician * Loretta Ogboro-Okor * Peter Akpatason, politician * Maleke Moye Idowu, comedian * Victor Boniface, Professional Nigerian footballer who plays as a Striker for

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Club Bayern Bayern Leverkusen * Lilian Imuetinyan Salami, Former Vice chancellor of the University of Benin * Asuerinme Ighodalo, a Nigerian Lawyer and Politician. Former PDP Governorship Candidate of the September 2024 polls,

References

Works cited

External links

*
Edo State Open Data Portal

Edo State Civil Service Commission
{{Portal bar, Nigeria States of Nigeria States and territories established in 1991 1991 establishments in Nigeria