The Meaning and Origins of Nigeria’s 36 State Names

 The Meaning and Origins of Nigeria’s 36 State Names (with their Capitals)

1. Abia – An acronym formed from Aba, Bende, Isuikwuato, and Afikpo.

Capital: Umuahia – Derived from "Ama Ahia" in Igbo, meaning "marketplace," reflecting its historical role as a trading center.

2. Adamawa – Named after Modibbo Adama, a Fulani warrior and founder of the Adamawa Emirate in the 19th century.

Capital: Yola – From Fulfulde "Yolde," meaning "vast plains," describing its geography.

3. Akwa Ibom – The name comes from the Ibibio language, where “Akwa” means great or mighty and “Ibom” refers to origin, community, or universe. Together, it conveys the idea of a great ancestral origin. 

Capital: Uyo – Named after the Uyo clan, one of the indigenous Ibibio groups that originally settled in the area.

4. Anambra – A colonial variation of “Oma Mbala”, the Igbo name for the Anambra River, a major tributary of the River Niger.

Capital: Awka – Known historically as a town of blacksmiths, with the name derived from "Oka."

5. Bauchi – Possibly named after a legendary hunter called Baushe, or from the Hausa word for the southern part of Hausaland.

Capital: Bauchi – Shares the same origin and meaning as the state.

6. Bayelsa – A combination of letters from Brass (BALGA), Yenagoa (YELGA), and Sagbama (SALGA) — the three original local government areas.

Capital: Yenagoa – Named after an Ijaw clan, historically the indigenous occupants of the area.

7. Benue – Named after the Benue River, the second longest in Nigeria. The river’s name itself comes from the Batta word “Binuwe” meaning “Mother of Waters.” Europeans adopted and modified it into “Benue.”

Capital: Makurdi – The origin of the name has different accounts. Some say it comes from the Hausa word “Kurdi” (flow of water/lagoon), while others trace it to the nickname “Mai-kudi” (wealthy one).

8. Borno – Named after the historic Kanem-Bornu Empire. Some scholars say it comes from the Arabic phrase “Bahar an-Nur” (Sea of Light), while others argue it referred to the “land of the Berbers.”

Capital: Maiduguri – A name with rich Kanuri roots. One interpretation sees it as a combination of “Mai” (king) and “duwuri/dubu” (thousands), meaning “land of a thousand kings.” Another explanation links it to “Mai-Duguri,” meaning “seat of the ruler.” The city is also called Yerwa (from Herwa, meaning blessed land)

9. Cross River – Named after the Cross River (Oyono River), which is vital to the state's economy and culture.

Capital: Calabar – Derived from the Efik term "Akwa Akpa," meaning "big town by the river."

10. Delta – Refers to the Niger Delta, where the River Niger fans out into multiple distributaries before entering the Atlantic Ocean.

Capital: Asaba – Means "I have chosen well" in Igbo, indicating its founding by migrants who settled near the river.

11. Ebonyi – Named after the Aboine (Ebonyi) River, which runs through Abakaliki. "Ebonyi" is a colonial spelling of the river’s name.

Capital: Abakaliki – From "Abankaleke," meaning "Aba of the Akaleke people."

12. Edo – Named after the Edo people, who are the main ethnic group in the state. They are also known as the Bini people.

Capital: Benin City – Originally "Ubini," adapted by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century.

13. Ekiti – Named after the Ekiti people, a sub-group of the Yoruba, with the name "Ekiti" meaning "hilly" in their dialect.

Capital: Ado-Ekiti – Named after Ewi Ado, a legendary Yoruba leader.

14. Enugu – Derived from the Igbo phrase “Enu Ugwu”, meaning "hilltop," referencing the city’s elevated terrain.

Capital: Enugu – Shares the same origin and meaning as the state.

15. Gombe – Named after the Gombe Emirate, established by Fulani jihadists. The name reflects the local Fulfulde influence.

Capital: Gombe – Shares the same origin and meaning as the state.

16. Imo – Named after the Imo River, an important waterway in southeastern Nigeria.

Capital: Owerri – Derived from "Owere Nchi Ise," meaning "Owerri of the five clans."

17. Jigawa – Derived from the Hausa word “jigawa”, referring to a sandy or light soil common in the region.

Capital: Dutse – Hausa for "hill," denoting the landscape.

18. Kaduna – The state takes its name from the Kaduna River, which flows through the region. One widely cited explanation traces it to the Hausa word “kadduna,” meaning crocodiles, referencing the crocodiles historically found in the river. Another interpretation comes from the Gbagyi (Gwari) language, where the river was called “Kadudna,” meaning “snail crossing the river.” 

Capital: Kaduna – Shares the same origin and meaning as the state.

19. Kano – The state takes its name from the ancient city of Kano, whose origin is traced in the Kano Chronicle to a blacksmith named Kano from the Gaya people.

Capital: Kano – Shares the same origin and meaning as the state.

20. Katsina – Thought to be named after a woman, Katsina, a legendary figure and wife of a local ruler, though this is based on oral tradition.

Capital: Katsina – Shares the same origin and meaning as the state.

21. Kebbi – Named after the ancient Kebbi Kingdom, which was part of the Songhai Empire before becoming independent.

Capital: Birnin Kebbi – In Hausa, "Birnin" means city, thus "City of Kebbi."

22. Kogi – Derived from the Hausa word “kogi”, meaning "river," due to the state’s position at the confluence of the Niger and Benue Rivers.

Capital: Lokoja – Lokoja comes from the Igala phrase meaning “go fishing,”. Some believed it was derived from the Yoruba phrase: (ilu oko oja – town of farms and markets),

23. Kwara – Named after the local Nupe name for the River Niger, which they called Kwara meaning "sea" or "great river".

Capital: Ilorin – Derived from a Yoruba word for a tool-sharpening stone.

24. Lagos – Named by the Portuguese as "Lagos", meaning "lakes," due to its many lagoons and waterways. It was formerly called Eko by the Yoruba.

Capital: Ikeja – Acronym for "Ikorodu and Epe Joint Administration."

25. Nasarawa – Named after the Nasarawa Emirate. The name comes from the Hausa word “nasara” (victory) with the plural suffix “-wa” indicating “people.” In this sense, Nasarawa means “victorious people.” While the Hausa word itself was originally borrowed from Arabic (al-nasr).

Capital: Lafia – From the Hausa word “lafiya,” meaning peace or well-being. The name reflects the settlement’s role as a place of harmony within the emirate.

26. Niger – Named after the River Niger, a major river flowing through the state and the region.

Capital: Minna – From Gwari language, meaning "mother town" or "heaven."

27. Ogun – Named after the Ogun River, which holds economic and spiritual importance in Yoruba culture.

Capital: Abeokuta – Yoruba for "under the rock," referencing the Olumo Rock.

28. Ondo – Named after the Ondo Kingdom, one of the historic Yoruba kingdoms. The name Ondo refers to both the people and their land, and it has remained a strong marker of identity and heritage.

Capital: Akure – It was founded by Ife princes Asodeboyede and Alakunre, linking its roots to Ile-Ife.

29. Osun – Named after the Osun River, sacred to the Yoruba goddess Osun, associated with fertility and healings 

Capital: Osogbo – Known as the "city of Osun," center of the Osun-Osogbo Festival.

30. Oyo – Named after the Oyo Empire, one of the most powerful pre-colonial Yoruba states.

Capital: Ibadan – From "Eba Odan," meaning "by the edge of the savannah."

31. Plateau – Named after the Jos Plateau, known for its elevated landscape and temperate climate.

Capital: Jos – Possible missionary acronym for "Jesus Our Saviour" or from Berom language “Jot,” meaning spring or spring water. Some believed it was derived from Afizere (Jarawa) word “Gwash.

32. Rivers – Named due to the many rivers and waterways that crisscross the state, especially around the Niger Delta.

Capital: Port Harcourt – Named after Lewis Harcourt, a British colonial secretary in 1913.

33. Sokoto – Named after the historic Sokoto Caliphate. The name comes from the Arabic “sūq”, meaning "market".

Capital: Sokoto – Shares the same name and origin as the state.

34. Taraba – The state derives its name from the Taraba River, which rises from the Mambilla Plateau and historically serves as a boundary between the old Muri Province and Kwararrafa lands.

Capital: Jalingo – The name has contested origins. In Mumuye tradition, it is taken to mean “superior/victory place”, while in Fulfulde (Fulani), it is linked to “Jalirngol,” meaning “we have defeated / we are victorious.” 

35. Yobe – Named after the Komadougou Yobe River, which forms part of the border with Niger Republic.

Capital: Damaturu – Likely derived from Kanuri or Fulfulde, interpreted as "place of fortune."

36. Zamfara – The state is named after the ancient Zamfara Kingdom, a historic Hausa kingdom.

Capital: Gusau – The name is linked to local history and oral traditions. One widely cited version says it was named after a local leader called Gusau. Another detailed version traces the name to the movement of Islamic scholars and students during the Sokoto Jihad era: it means to move (gusa in Hausa).