Kaduna (, جىِهَر كَدُنا; مدينة كدونا; , ; ) 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 northwest geopolitical zone 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, ...

. The state capital is its namesake, the city of Kaduna, which was the 8th largest city in the country as of 2006. Created in 1967 as North-Central State, which also encompassed the modern Katsina State, Kaduna State achieved its current borders in 1987. Kaduna State is the fourth largest and third most populous state in the country, Kaduna State is nicknamed the ''Centre of Learning'', owing to the presence of numerous educational

institutions An institution is a humanly devised structure of rules and norms that shape and constrain social behavior. All definitions of institutions generally entail that there is a level of persistence and continuity. Laws, rules, social conventions and ...

of importance within the state such as

Ahmadu Bello University The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is a public research university located in Zaria, Nigeria, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. It was opened in 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria. The university has four colleges, three schools, 18 faculties, ...

, Nigerian Defence Academy, Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna Polytechnic, etc. Modern Kaduna State is home to the sites of some of Africa's oldest civilizations, including the Nok civilization that prospered from to .Breunig, Peter. 2014. Nok: African Sculpture in Archaeological Context: p. 21.Fagg, Bernard. 1969. Recent work in west Africa: New light on the Nok culture. World Archaeology 1(1): 41–50. In the 9th century,

geographer A geographer is a physical scientist, social scientist or humanist whose area of study is geography, the study of Earth's natural environment and human society, including how society and nature interacts. The Greek prefix "geo" means "earth" a ...

and historian Ya'qubi documented the existence of the

Hausa Kingdoms Hausa Kingdoms, also known as Hausa Kingdom or Hausaland, was a collection of states ruled by the Hausa people, before the Fulani jihads. It was situated between the Niger River and Lake Chad (modern day northern Nigeria). Hausaland lay betwe ...

, which existed until the region was incorporated into the

Sokoto Caliphate The Sokoto Caliphate (, literally: Caliphate in the Lands of Sudan), also known as the Sultanate of Sokoto, was a Sunni Islam, Sunni Muslim caliphate in West Africa. It was founded by Usman dan Fodio in 1804 during the Fula jihads, Fulani jihads ...

in the early 1800s. During the colonial era, the city of Kaduna was made the capital of Northern Nigeria Protectorate by British leadership. The state economy is dependent on

agriculture Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created ...

, especially

cotton Cotton (), first recorded in ancient India, is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure ...

and groundnut production. In the modern era, Kaduna State has been the site of violent

ethnic 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 ...

and

religious Religion is a range of social- cultural systems, including designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relate humanity to supernatural ...

conflict, with the 2002 Miss World riots in the state capital over purported

blasphemy Blasphemy refers to an insult that shows contempt, disrespect or lack of Reverence (emotion), reverence concerning a deity, an object considered sacred, or something considered Sanctity of life, inviolable. Some religions, especially Abrahamic o ...

leading to around 250 deaths and the loss of homes for around 30,000.

Etymology

The most widespread etymology for the word ''Kaduna'' is that it is a corruption of the Hausa plural for crocodile, , as there used to be many crocodiles in the Kaduna River. Another version of the etymology of the name is a narrative linked to the Gbagyi word/name 'Odna' for the Kaduna River.

History

Zazzau, a traditional state which lies within the province's capital, is said to have been founded in 1536. It would later be renamed to Zaria after the younger sister of Queen Amina. The

Hausa people The Hausa (Endonym, autonyms for singular: Bahaushe (male, m), Bahaushiya (female, f); plural: Hausawa and general: Hausa; exonyms: Ausa; Ajami script, Ajami: ) are a native ethnic group in West Africa. They speak the Hausa language, which is the ...

of Zaria & the Ham people of Jaba, are said to be the old ancestral of the region's north & south respectively. 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 lived in the area became 'Northern Nigerians'- a construct which continues even today. By 1967 these people groups were again carved into 'North Central State'; this was the case until 1975 when 'Kaduna State' was formerly created by the then military leader, Gen.

Murtala Mohammed Murtala Ramat Muhammed (; 8 November 1938 – 13 February 1976) was a Nigerian military officer and the fourth head of state of Nigeria. He led the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup in overthrowing the military regime of Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi a ...

, 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 of about 6.3 million people (Nigerian census figure, 2006). 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 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 are often thought of as

. In 2019 Kaduna State celebrated its 100th anniversary, making it one of the oldest states in Nigeria. In 2021, Kaduna State was the site of several major attacks done by bandits involved in the Nigerian bandit conflict. On 24 February, at least 34 were killed in attacks in Kaduna and neighboring Katsina state. On 11 March, 39 students were kidnapped when gunmen attacked the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization. On 20 April, in another raid by bandits on Greenfield University students and staff, 22 were kidnapped and 6 of them were killed. On 5 July, a further 140 students were kidnapped from Bethel Baptist High School. Attacks have continued into 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Geography

The state is located in the Northern part of Nigeria's high plains. The

vegetation Vegetation is an assemblage of plants and the ground cover they provide. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular Taxon, taxa, life forms, structure, Spatial ecology, spatial extent, or any other specific Botany, botanic ...

cover is Sudan Savannah type, characterized by scattered short trees, shrubs and grasses. The soil is mostly loamy to sandy. A substantial amount of clay is found also. Its northern half became Katsina state in 1987. The state is bordered by seven states: Zamfara for 117 km (73 miles) and Katsina for 161 km (100 miles) to the north, Kano to the north-east for 255 km, Bauchi and Plateau to the east, Nasarawa and Abuja Federal Capital Territory (for 45 km) to the south, and Niger to the west. The Kaduna state is located between latitude 10°38'58" N and 10°25'36" N and to longitude 7°22'14" E and 7°32'00" E. The state was ranked number four by the total area of land and number three by population. The Kaduna River, a tributary of 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 ...

, flows through the state. There are rocky stones in Zaria and Kogoro Hill. Many communities are prone to seasonal flooding during the rainy season.

Climate

The rainy season in Kaduna is hot, humid, and cloudy, while the dry season is hot and partly cloudy. Throughout the year, the temperature rarely falls below 50 °F or rises above 102 °F, usually ranging between 55 °F and 95 °F.

Government

The current governor of Kaduna State is 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 Senator Uba Sani and his deputy is Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe. In the state there 14 ministries that operate with the state government to improve the state: Ministries of Kaduna State. Within each Ministry, there are multiple agencies with regulatory authority, such as the Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority which oversees waste, water, and other environmental quality issues. The governor of the state said he is trying to restore togetherness back in the state to make it hospitable for all Nigerians just as it has always been in the past. According to him, the city is now divided due to the frequent communal clashes that have been occurring in the last two decades.

Local government areas

Kaduna State consists of 23

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:

Economics

The Kaduna State economy was ranked 15th largest state in the 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 (groundnuts) for exporting and domestic extraction of Peanut oil. In the state, there is the National Institute of Leather and Technology, to improve modern technology and traditional method.

Media

In Kaduna State, there are many means of communication through mass media, broadcasting, internet communication and banking transactions. In Kaduna State, there are 21 radio stations and more than 4 television stations broadcasting. Many of them are owned by the state government or federal government, and a few are private. The following is a list of radio stations in Kaduna:

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 fieldwork. 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:

Religion

The main religions in Kaduna State are

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

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 ...

while some minority ethnic groups practi/ref> The Kaduna state is located between latitude 10°38'58" N and 10°25'36" N and to longitude 7°22'14" E and 7°32'00" E.ce traditional worshipping, mostly in the southern area of the state. The people of Kaduna are very religious, causing two religious crises in 2001 and 2002, the Miss World riots.

Languages

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

Southern Kaduna Southern Kaduna ( ; Jju language, Jju: ''Ka̱tak Ka̱duna'' ; ; formerly Southern Zaria) is an area of the Nok Culture region inhabited by various related ethnic groups who do not identify as Hausa people, Hausa, living south of Zazzau Emirat ...

Education

Kaduna is one of the largest centres of education in Nigeria. The slogan of the state is ''Center of Learning'' because of the presence of many institution like

(established 1962). There are many government schools, include primary schools and secondary schools. All secondary schools in Kaduna are owned by the state government, federal government or private organisations. there are many tertiary institutions in the state. The state also has colleges for transportation and agriculture.

Universities and institutes

, Zaria * Air Force Institute of Technology (Nigeria) * Federal College of Education, Zaria * Federal University of Applied Sciences Kachia (''formerly'' Nok University Kachia) * Greenfield University Kaduna * Kaduna Polytechnic (1968), Kaduna * Kaduna State University * National Open University of Nigeria, Kaduna Study Center * Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Palladan Zaria * Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna * Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria

Secondary schools and colleges

* Barewa College * Essence International School * Nigerian Military School

Transportation

Federal Highways are: * A2 north from

Abuja Abuja (; , ) is the capital city of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, strategically situated at the geographic midpoint of the country within the Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria), Federal Capital Territory (FCT). As the seat of the Federal G ...

FCT at Sabon Wuse as the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria Expressway via Kaduna and Zaria to

Kano State Kano (Hausa language, Hausa: ) is one of the 36 States of Nigeria, states of Nigeria, located in the Northern Region, Nigeria, northern region of the country. According to the national census done in 2006, Kano State is the List of Nigerian st ...

as the Kaduna-Kano Rd or Zaria Rd at Gidan Mallam Idi (part of the African Unity Road or Trans-Sahara Highway or Trans African 2: TAH2), * A3 northeast from Nasarawa State at Barimaw as the Makurdi-Jos Rd to Plateau State at Jenta, * A11 east from A2 at Katabu to A236 at Pambeguwa, * A125 east from

Niger State Niger State is a state in the North Central (Nigeria), North Central region of Nigeria, bordered to the east by Kaduna State and the Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria), Federal Capital Territory, to the north by Kebbi State and Zamfara State, ...

at Gishiri to A2 north of Kaduna, * A126 northwest from A236 in Zaria as the Zaria-Funtua Rd to Katsina State at Gangara, * A235 southeast from A2 south of Kaduna via Doka, Gumel and Kafanchan to A3 at Nimbia Forest Reserve, * A236 southeast from A2 at Zaria as the Zaria-Pambeguwa Rd to Plateau State at Jengre as the Pambeguwa-Jengre Rd. Other major roads include: * the Dan Dume-Birnin Gwai Rd north from A125 via Malam Mudi to Katsina State at Ungwan Chitumu, * the Malam Mudi-Zaria Rd east to A2, * the Makarf-Gubuchi Rd southeast from A2 at Mai-Rijiya as the Ikara-Kargi Rd to Babinda on A236 as the Babinda-Nasari-Damau Rd, * south from A236 at Kubanni via Wuchichiri, Matari and Dan Jaba to A11 at Tama B, * the Tarau-Sabon Birni Rd north from A236 at Jaja to Bauchi State at Agaji, * the Lidin-Doka-Gidan Sarkin Rd south from A236 at Jaja via Lere and Doka to the Garun Kuama-Pari Rd via Mariri, Damakasuwa and Zaman Dabo to Samaru, * the Kagoro-Samaru-Pari Junction Rd continues south from Samaru to A235 at Kagoro, * the Kachia-Zonkwa Rd east from A235 at Gumel via Fadan Kamantan, and Zonkwa to Samaru to Manchok * the Jos-Kafanchan Rd east from Manchok to Plateau State, * west from A2 at Gidan Bahagu to Niger State at Gidan Wakili, * southwest from A2 at Dutsi Hill to Niger State near Rijana. Railways: the 1435 mm Lagos-Kano

Standard Gauge A standard-gauge railway is a railway with a track gauge of . The standard gauge is also called Stephenson gauge (after George Stephenson), international gauge, UIC gauge, uniform gauge, normal gauge in Europe, and SGR in East Africa. It is the ...

Line is complete from Abuja via Minna in Niger State to Rigasa Station in Kaduna (2016), replacing part of the 1067 mm Cape gauge Western Line which continues north via Kano to Nguru. Kaduna is also connected by the Linking Line to Kafanchan with the Cape Gauge Eastern Line north from Lafia in Nasarawa State to Jos in Plateau State. Airports: Kaduna International Airport (1982).

Architecture

Architecture includes the National Museum which was built in 1975 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 Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Murtala Square, Investment house, Kaduna central market, and Sultan Bello Mosque. The palace of empire of Zazzau is one of 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 An architectural style is a classification of buildings (and nonbuilding structures) based on a set of characteristics and features, including overall appearance, arrangement of the components, method of construction, building materials used, for ...

, 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 eight gates, Also the Emir's Palace of Zaria is an important traditional heritage. The palace has luxurious interiors. The St. Bartholomew's Church Zaria, built by the Church Missionary Society in 1929, still stands in Zaria, the church was built based on Hausa traditional architecture.

Modern architecture

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

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 (DFID) to install over 1.3 megawatts of solar power 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 runs a football club called Kaduna United F.C. The club participated in playing Nigerian Professional Football League but are under relegation. The state also hosts the Kaduna Marathon.

Entertainment and tourism

In Kaduna State an annual festival is organized by Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Kaduna State). The festival exposes folklore talent and through these process, to promote unity and encourage tourism and build culture in the State. It takes place every November or December. Cultural activities include

Eid al-Fitr Eid al-Fitr () is the first of the two main Islamic holidays, festivals in Islam, the other being Eid al-Adha. It falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims worldwide becaus ...

and Eid al-Adha performed by the Muslims in the state; the Tuk Ham; the Afan National Festival; the Christmas and Easter celebrations, by Christians, and 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.

Festivals

and Eid al-Adha: This celebration is scheduled on the 1st of Shawwal and the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah respectively according to the

Islamic Calendar The Hijri calendar (), also known in English as the Islamic calendar, is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to determine the proper days of Islamic holidays and rituals, such as the Ramad ...

for three days usually in Kaduna, Usually, Muslims all over the world celebrate the end of the Ramadan fasting period and the conclusion of the hajj (pilgrimage) rites. Most of the emirates in Kaduna State and other parts of the northern Emirates celebrate it with a colourful Hausa traditional dressing, horse decoration and Durbar. * Christmas celebrations: This takes place in every 25/26 December in Kaduna State to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by Christians all over the state. *

Easter Easter, also called Pascha ( Aramaic: פַּסְחָא , ''paskha''; Greek: πάσχα, ''páskha'') or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in t ...

celebrations: It takes place every March/April to remember the death and resurrection of

Jesus Christ Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...

by all Christians in Kaduna State. * Afan National Festival: This is a celebration on every 1 January, in Kagoro. The festival has assumed an international standard with the sons and daughters of Agworok land coming together to discuss issues that required their attention and to show their extreme cultural heritage. * Kalankuwa Cultural Festival: It is a purely cultural festival that is celebrated in northern part of the state. It is a celebration to give thanks for good farm crops and to celebrate the season. It is celebrated in November/December. Young men and women come together in a peaceful manner to entertain themselves. It is celebrated in Bomo Village, Samara, in Sabon Gari local government area. Other small festivals include the following: * Batadon Festival * Ayet Atyap annual cultural festival * Durbar Festival * Kaduna State Festival of Arts and Culture * Kafanchan Day * Kalankuwa Cultural Festival * Moro’a Cultural Festival * Ninzo Cultural Festival * Zunzuk Dance * Tuk-Ham Festival * Unum-Akulu Festival Kamuku National Park kaduna State Nigeria

Kamuku National Park kaduna State Nigeria

Tourism

* Kamuku National Park * Matsiriga Waterfalls * Kajuru Castle * Arewa House * Murtala Square

Notable people

* Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab * Bashir Abubakar * Katung Aduwak * Martin Luther Agwai * Gwamna Awan * Amina Mohammed Baloni * Harrison Bungwon * Bala Ade Dauke * Joe El * Maiwada Galadima * Ahmad Abubakar Gumi * Chris Delvan Gwamna * Shehu Idris * Toure Kazah-Toure * Matthew Hassan Kukah * Danjuma Laah * Zamani Lekwot * Audu Maikori * Ahmed Makarfi * Jonathan Gyet Maude * Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa * Christopher Gwabin Musa * Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai (born February 1960) Nigerian Politician and former Kaduna State Governor from 2015 to 2023. * Namadi Sambo (born 1954) Nigerian politician and former Vice President of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015. * Tagwai Sambo * Shehu Sani * Uba Sani (born 1970) Nigerian politician and Governor of Kaduna State since 2023. * Ishaya Shekari * Aisha Ahmad Suleiman * Sheikh Dahiru Usman * Patrick Yakowa * Andrew Yakubu * Mukhtar Ramalan Yero (born 1968) Nigerian politician, deputy Governor of Kaduna State (2010–2012) and Governor of Kaduna State (2012–2015). * Luka Yusuf * Ibrahim Zakzaky * Muhammad Auwal Albani Zaria ( Sept. 1960 to Feb. 2014) Nigerian Islamic scholar.

Gallery

File:Kaduna River in kaduna state Nigeria.jpg, River Kaduna File:Water fall in Kafancha Kaduna State.jpg, Waterfalls in Kafanchan File:Matsirga Waterfalls, Madakiya.jpg, Matsirga waterfalls Kaduna File:Kamuku National Park kaduna State Nigeria.jpg, Kamuku National Park Kaduna File:Ahmadu bello university senate.jpg, ABU senatorial building File:Ten Storey Kaduna5.jpg, Ten Storey Building in Ahmadu Bello way Kaduna File:Flower of kaduna 02.jpg, Major planted flower File:Kajuru Castle.jpg, Kajuru Castle File:Night mode Transportation.jpg, Night mode transportation in Kaduna city File:Bus at badarawa bus stop.jpg, Kaduna city bus File:Ahmadu Bello way.jpg, Ahmadu Bello way in the city of Kaduna File:Green car2.jpg, Green car in Kaduna city

Politics

The state government is led by a democratical elected governor who works closely with members of the state's house of assembly. The capital city of the state is Kaduna

Electoral system

The governor 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.

References

Sources

*
Nigeria Exchange

External links

Kaduna State Media Corporation

Official State Government website
{{Portal bar, Nigeria Local Government Areas in Kaduna State States of Nigeria States and territories established in 1967 1967 establishments in Nigeria