Skip to content
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • About US
CampusTimesNG

CampusTimesNG

Complete Campus Updates Just For You

  • Home
  • Admission
  • Institutions
  • Scholarship
  • Jamb CBT
  • Study Abroad
  • Career
  • NYSC
  • O’level
  • Toggle search form
  • Making it abroad with a Social Science or Arts degree without pivoting to Tech Career
  • Federal College Of Education Zaria Courses
    Federal College Of Education Zaria Courses, Cut Off mark & Requirements Institutions
  • List of courses offered in University of Ghana
    Approved List of Courses Offered In University of Ghana Study Abroad
  • Best Private University In Nigeria
    Best Private University In Nigeria Institutions
  • Get Started Selling on Konga Nigeria Today! General
  • AFIT Post UTME 2021/2022 Screening
    Air Force Institute Of Technology, AFIT Post UTME 2025/2026 Screening Date Is Out! See Cut Off Mark Admission
  • Interswitch
    What Exactly Is Interswitch Used For? General
  • Shell Nigeria Postgraduate Internship
    SPDC-JV University Scholarship Scheme For Nigerians Scholarship

Origin Of Thirty-Six (36) Nigerian State Names

Posted on July 17, 2025 By CampusTimesNG 2 Comments on Origin Of Thirty-Six (36) Nigerian State Names

At a point in time, you probably may have asked a friend or some one about the origin of your state name or the origin of Nigerian state names.

Regardless of which one you want to know, listed below are the meaning and origin of all the Thirty-Six (36) Nigerian State names.

Origin Of Nigerian State Names

1. 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, Isuikuato & Afikpo.

2. ADAMAWA

This State was named after a warrior that conquered the region in the begining of 19th century. His name was Modibbo Adama Bin Ardo Hassan.

3. AkWA IBOM

Akwa Ibom is named after a river, the Qua iboe (or Kwa Iboe) River.

4. ANAMBRA

It was derived from the name of the Oma Mbala. (Omambala) river (in igbo, the native name of the river is??ny?m ?ma Mbala).

5. 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 Hausaland were refered 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’s ‘bauchi’ is Hausa word for slavery, since it was a center for slave traders.

6. BAYELSA

Bayelsa was formed as a result of clamour from the three LGA’s 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.

7. BENUE

It is a word from the Batta language ‘Binuwe’ which means ‘Mother of Waters’.

8. BORNO

The name was derived from ‘Borno’, an alternative name of the Kanuris who form the predominant ethnic group in the state.

9. CROSS RIVER

The state took its name from a River called Oyono or Cross River.

10. DELTA

It was named after the delta of the River Niger formed as it enters the Atlantic Ocean.

11. EBONYI

The state was named after the Aboine River that cut through Abakaliki, the State capital.

12. EDO

Named after the Bini people who had always referred to themselves as Edo or Iduu.

13. EKITI

‘Ekiti’ is a term that is said to denote a settlement of many hills.

14. ENUGU

Enugu derived it name from two local words “enu & ugwu” which means ‘top of the hill’.

15. GOMBE

Named after the dialect of Fulani language (Fulfulde) spoken in the area ‘Gombe’.

16. IMO

This state is named after the imo River (Mmiri imo).

17. JIGAWA

The state was named after its distinctively golden-coloured soil, Jigawa.

18. KADUNA

The state was named after the crocodile River. “Kadduna is Hausa plural word for crocodiles.

19. KANO

The state was named after a blacksmith of the Gaya tribe who settled in the area while sourcing for iron stone. His name was Kano.

20. KASTINA

Kastina was named after the wife of the local ruler known as Janzama. Her name was Kastina.

21. KEBBI

Legend has it that Kebbi was named after the Ka’abba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

22. 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 river in Nigeria. River Niger and River Benue form a confluence in the state.

23. KWARA

This was named after the River Niger which was forms the Northern Border of the state. The Nupes used to call the river ‘kwara’.

24. LAGOS

The name is a Portuguese word for Lakes. The Portuguese were the first settlers from europe to reach Lagoa in 1472. The name was inspired by the Lagoons and rivers in Lagos.

25. NASARAWA

It was so named by the founder Nasarawa kingdom, Makama Dogo. Nasarawa means victorious.

26. NIGER

Niger Named after the popular river Niger.

27. OGUN

Named after the Ogun River.

28. ONDO

It was named after the settlers of the old Ondo kingdom. Ondo is a word for settlers.

29. OSUN

Like a number of other states in Nigeria, it was named after a river, river Osun.

30. OYO?

It was named after the old Oyo empire.

31. PLATEAU

The state was named from the Jos Plateau.

32. RIVERS

A state with many water bodies. Rivers state was named for many of the rivers presents in the area.

33. SOKOTO

It was named after the defunct Sokoto Caliphate. Sokoto is the Anglicized version of the Arabic word ‘Suk’which means ‘market’ or ‘place of commerce’.

34. TARABA

The state was named after the Taraba river.

35. YOBE

The state was named after Komadugu Yobe (Waube or Ouobe) or River Yobe (River of Yo).

36. Zamfara

Zamfarawa is one of the subdialects of Eastern Hausa.

General Tags:GENERAL

Post navigation

Previous Post: Best Secondary Schools In Nigeria According To WAEC- [Top 30+]
Next Post: What You Must Know About The NOUN TMA

Related Posts

  • Fake Canada Visa
    How To Check Between Original And Fake Canada Visa General
  • immigration consultant services
    Key Tips For Choosing The Best Immigration Consultant Services General
  • MTN, Glo, Airtel, 9Mobile Network Best In Nigeria
    MTN, Glo, Airtel, 9Mobile: Which Network Is The Best In Nigeria? General
  • Express Entry Or Student Visa
    Express Entry Or Student Visa – Which Better Way To Immigrate To Canada? General
  • Davido Net Worth, Bio and What He Does With His Money General
  • Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Internship Programme 2018
    Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Internship Programme- APPLY!!! General

More Related Articles

Polaris Bank Money Transfer code How To Transfer Money With Polaris Bank Money Transfer Code General
Upgrade MTN SIM To 4g Lte Service How To Upgrade MTN SIM To 4g Lte Service-Benefits! General
Migrant Job Rate Migrant Job Rate Currently Rising In Canada General
soft skills Prepare For Canada- 7 Soft Skills List For Students General
Diamond Bank Airtime Recharge Code Diamond Bank USSD Code: Buy Airtime from your Account!!! General
Transfer Airtime From One MTN SIM To Another How to Transfer Airtime From One MTN SIM To Another General

Comments (2) on “Origin Of Thirty-Six (36) Nigerian State Names”

  1. Rachael says:
    November 6, 2017 at 3:56 pm

    Waow! I never knew this. Thank you sir.

    Reply
    1. ADMIN says:
      November 6, 2017 at 6:21 pm

      thanks dr…

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

scaleitpro

Navigation Links

  • Admission
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Career
  • General
  • Immigrate
  • Institutions
  • Jamb CBT
  • Jobs
  • NYSC
  • O'level
  • Scholarship
  • Schoolings
  • Study Abroad
  • USA
  • Visa
scaleitpro1
  • AAUA Cut-off mark
    AAUA Cut-Off Mark For Admission Admission
  • Undergraduate Merit Scholarship- University Of Technology Sydney
    Undergraduate Merit Scholarship- University Of Technology Sydney Scholarship
  • Canada Business Visa
    What Is Canada Business Visa? General
  • polaris bank customer care
    How To Contact Polaris Bank Customer Care Online General
  • NOUN Postgraduate Transcripts
    NOUN Postgraduate Transcripts Application Process Institutions
  • Fashion Design Schools in lagos
    Full List Of Fashion Design Schools In Lagos General
  • Diamond Bank mobile app
    How To Use Diamond Bank Mobile App-Easy Steps!!! General
  • Alvan Ikoku College Of Education Courses
    Alvan Ikoku College Of Education Courses, Cut Off Mark & Requirements Institutions

Gallery

Nigerian Navy School of Health Sciences Offa
Canada Visitor Visa
Child to a Christian school
Ogun State College of Nursing Sciences

Recent Posts

  • Wigwe University Cut Off Mark, Courses, Admission Requirements & Fees
  • University Of Toronto, Toronto Canada
  • How To Upgrade MTN SIM To 4g Lte Service-Benefits!

Recent Comments

  • CampusTimesNG on FUOYE Post-UTME Form: Cut-off mark, Eligibility, And Registration Details
  • folakemi ashabi on FUOYE Post-UTME Form: Cut-off mark, Eligibility, And Registration Details

Calendar

July 2025
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  
« Jun    

Copyright © 2024 CampusTimesNG. All Rights Reserved.

Need help? Our team is just a message away

 

Loading Comments...