Kwara is a state in the North Central part of Nigeria. Its capital is the city of Ilorin and the state has 16 Local government areas.
Cities
[edit]
- 1 Ilorin – the state capital
- 2 Afon
- 3 Ajasse Ipo
- 4 Aran-Orin
- 5 Babaloma
- 6 Erin-Ile
- 7 Ilala
- 8 Ifelodun
- 9 Ijara Isin
- 10 Kaiama
- 11 Lafiagi
- 12 Moro
- 13 Offa
- 14 Okanle
- 15 Omupo
- 16 Oro-ago
- 17 Pategi
Understand
[edit]A majority of the inhabitants speak Yoruba. The major ethnic group in this state is the Yorubas, with Fulani, Nupe and Bariba forming the minorities. The capital of the state is Ilorin. The state is known for its natural resources such as petroleum, gold, limestone, marble, feldspar, clay, kaolin, quartz and granite rocks.
Kwara is split between the West Sudanian savanna in the east and the Guinean forest–savanna mosaic ecoregion in the rest of the state. Important geographic features include rivers with the Niger flowing along the northern border into Lake Jeba before continuing as the border while the Awun, Asa, Aluko, and Oyun rivers flow through the interior.
Economically, Kwara State is largely based on agriculture, mainly of coffee, cotton, groundnut, cocoa, oil palm, and kola nut crops. Other key industries are services, especially in the city of Ilorin, and the livestock herding and ranching of cattle, goats, and sheep.
Get in
[edit]The city of Ilorin serves as a gateway between the northern and southern part of Nigeria.
By plane
[edit]You can fly in from other Nigerian cities (Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna).
The Ilorin international airport is also used for domestic flights to other cities within the country and international flights to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah.
By train
[edit]Rail services in Nigeria are still very slow and unreliable but several routes have reappeared. Nigerian Railway Corporation have daily services from Ilorin via Ibadan, and an overnight service from Kano via Kaduna a few times per week. A new higher speed railway is under construction and is expected to be completed in the 2020s, resulting in increased speeds and frequency.
By bus
[edit]Several bus companies like Young Legacy, Mufsuf Motors, Kasmag line, Okin Express offers daily services from almost all major cities (Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Kaduna, Kabba, Lokoja, Sokoto, Kano, Makurdi, etc.) around the country. While buses usually are quite comfortable, journey times are very long.
There are also independent transporters under the aegis of the national union of road transport workers (NURTW) and road transport employees association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in various parks, such as Post Office, Offa garage, and Maraba who travel to various towns within and outside the state.
Get around
[edit]You can move around the state by using either a bus, car, taxi or bike. Their taxis are relatively cheap and they are usually painted green.
See
[edit]Important tourist attractions in Kwara State include Esie Museum, Imoleboja Rock Shelter, Ogunjokoro, Dangote Flour Mill, and Agbonna Hill Awon Mass Wedding in Shao. Owu waterfalls is one of the highest and most spectacular waterfalls in west Africa. Sobi Hill is the largest landform in Ilorin, the state capital. Ero Omola waterfall is also a tourist attraction.
- 1 Esie Museum, 5VWQ+G6X, Esie 251104, Kwara.
- 2 University of Ilorin, 1515, P.M.B, Ilorin, ☏ +234 805 087 8080.
Do
[edit]In the far northwest of the state is the Borgu section of the Kainji National Park, a large national park that contains populations of grey heron, kob, hippopotamus, African bush elephant, olive baboon, and roan antelope along with some of the last remaining West African lions on Earth.
In the far southwest, a small part of the Old Oyo National Park contains crowned eagle, martial eagle, African buffalo, oribi, and patas monkey populations.
The people of Kwara are fond of parties. You will always see a party every weekend. You should try to attend one.