Anambra State
Encyclopedia : A : AN : ANA : Anambra State
| Anambra State State nickname: Home for All | ||
| Location | ||
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| Statistics | ||
| Governor (List) | Peter Obi (APGA) | |
| Date Created | 27 August 1991 | |
| Capital | Awka | |
| Area | 4,844 km² Ranked N/A | |
| Population 1991 Census 2005 estimate | Ranked N/A N/A 7,821,858 | |
| ISO 3166-2 | NG-AN | |
Location and Overview
Anambra is a state in south-central Nigeria. It has one of the highest population densities in Africa.Infact,the stretch of about 60KM between surroundings of Onitsha to Uli town contains a cluster of numerous thickly populated villages and small towns giving the area an estimated density of 750-1500 persons living within every square kilometer of the area.Most of the population being overwhelmingly rural. However, over the last two decades the rural Urban exodus have strained the meagre urban services to a breaking point. This pattern of human migration have posed serious problems to undue pressure on the state's resources, fragile infrastructure, environmental sanitation,erosion control and social services. This pressure is especially evident in its huge commercial city of Onitsha. Portable water, electricity and decent housing for the residents of Onitsha have become a luxury. The state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State to the north. Most of the population of Anambra are members of the Igbo ethnic group.
Politics
The state governor since 2003 has been Dr. Chris Ngige but was removed in May 2006 when a court of appeals ruling in Enugu asserted that his election victory in 2003 was rigged. Current governor is Mr Peter Obi. The state has experienced political turmoil for the past several years, which included an attempted coup against the government in 2003.
History
Old Anambra State was created in 1976 from part of East Central State, and its capital was Enugu. A further re-organisation in 1991 divided Anambra into two states, Anambra and Enugu. The capital of Anambra is Awka.
Cities and administrative divisions
The main towns of Anambra state are Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, Obosi, Ihiala, Aguata, Uli, Abagana, Ogidi, Otu-ocha, Nmiata-Anam, Awkuzu, Ichida and Atani. There are 21 local government areas in the state: Aguata, Awka North, Anambra, Anambra West, Anaocha, Awka South, Ayamelum, Dunukofia, Ekwusigo, Idemili South and Idemili North. Others are Ihiala, Njikoka were the biafran war ended, Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Ogbaru, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Orumba North, Orumba South, and Oyi.
Education and Infrastructure
Awka, the state capital is also the centre of Nigeria's metalwork and carving industries. Educationally, there are the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, the Anambra State University formerly known as Anambra State University of Science and Technology (ASUTECH) Uli, the Federal Polytechnic in Oko, Nwafor Orizu University of Education, Nsugbe formerly known as the legendary Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe.The College of Agriculture,Igbariam. Now incoporated into the Agricultural sciences campus of the state university. Literacy rate in the state is comparatively high, and abundant qualified personnel can be found in virtually all areas of endeavour. Hundreds of excellent primary and secondary schools exist in the cities and towns of the state. Primary and secondary school enrollment in the state is one of the highest in the country.Consequently,Anambra state has about the largest number of JAMB candidates seeking the limited tertiary higher education spaces in Nigeria's colleges.
Miscellenia & societal issues
In November 2004, Anambra suffered a colossal 40 billion naira ($300 million dollars) loss in burnt Government House edifice, the state judiciary complex, the state house of assembly, buildings housing the state secretariat, the women development center and other privately owned public buildings to hired arsonists believed to have acted in collaboration with the Federal Police force guarding Government establishments in the state. Anambra state is a very exciting place to visit for those who want to feel the vibrancy and energy of the true Africa.
Natives
Anambra state is also the home state of many prominent Nigerians including:
- Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, The First President of Nigeria
- Prof. Chinua Achebe, Critically acclaimed author
- Nwafor Orizu, First Senate President of Nigeria.
- Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, Second Republic Vice President of Nigeria
- Lady Janet Mmokwelu, The first Nigerian female legislator
- Gen. Emeka Ojukwu, The President of the defunct Republic of Biafra
- Chief Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, The first Nigerian millonaire
- P.N. Okeke-Ojiudu, Nigerian Politician and Businessman
- Sir Louis Mbanefo, The first Nigerian lawyer
- Dr. Pius Okigbo, Distinguished economist
- Christopher Okigbo, Poet
- Prof. Ben Enweonwu, Artist
- Philip Njoku Emeagwali, Computer scientist
- Dr Chuba Okadigbo, Former Senate President of Nigeria
- Dr Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, Second Republic Speaker House of Representatives
- Professor Charles C. Soludo, Governor of CBN / Chairman of Board of Directors
- Professor Ben Nwabueze,Renowned constitutional Lawyer,Former Minister of Education,Nigeria.
See also
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| Abia | Abuja Federal Capital Territory | Adamawa | Akwa Ibom | Anambra | Bauchi | Bayelsa | Benue | Borno | Cross River | Delta | Ebonyi | Edo | Ekiti | Enugu | Gombe | Imo | Jigawa | Kaduna | Kano | Katsina | Kebbi | Kogi | Kwara | Lagos | Nassarawa | Niger | Ogun | Ondo | Osun | Oyo | Plateau | Rivers | Sokoto | Taraba | Yobe | Zamfara | |
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