Delta State is one of the 36 States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and it is located in the South-South geo-political zone of the country.
Created on the 27th of August 1991 and nicknamed “The Big Heart of the Nation”, Delta State has over 5 million people living in the State, and it also has a total land area of 16,842 square kilometers.
Date created: August 27, 1991
Geopolitical zone: South South
Slogan: The Big Heart of the Nation
Economy
Delta State’s economy depends largely on oil derivation revenue from the Federal Government stat because it is an oil-producing state in the country, and its capital city is Asaba – even though Warri is the most populated part of the State and also its economic center.
Geography
She covers a landmass of about 18,050 km² and lies approximately between Longitude 5°00 and 6°.45′ East and Latitude 5°00 and 6°.30′ North.
Delta State is neighbor to Anambra, Imo, and Rivers States (to the east) and Bayelsa State (to the southeast).
The State does not have remarkable hills like some of her neighbors .
History
Delta State came out of the old Bendel State in 1991.
The government decided to create the state after agitations for the establishment of a separate distinct state by the peoples of the old Delta Province: the Urhobos, Ijaw Izon, Isoko, Itsekiri, and Ukwuani (later joined Anioma).
The state was once within the Mid-Western state from 1963 to 1976 before Bendel state (from 1976 to 1991).
The name “Bendel” (Ben-Del) was derived from the old Benin and Delta Provinces of Western Region-Delta to reflect the integration of Benin and Delta provinces.
Natural resources
Delta State is blessed with various solid mineral deposits, including:
industrial clay, silica, lignite, kaolin, tar sand, decorative rocks, limestone, and so on
They are utilized to produce important things like bricks, ceramics, bottles, glass, and so on. Unfortunately, these raw materials are not being utilized properly.
She also has a lot of crude oil and is also one of the largest producers of petroleum products in the country.
Higher Education
The State is ‘littered’ with various tertiary institutions, as she isn’t one that place great value on knowledge accumulation.
Some of the institutions are:
- Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun
- Delta State University (Abraka Campus, Oleh Campus, Asaba Campus)
- Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku
- Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara
- Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro
- The Film and Broadcast Academy, Ozoro
- College of Education, Agbor
- College of Education, Warri
- Federal College of Education Technical, Asaba
- College of Physical Education, Mosogar
- School of Health Technology, Ughelli
- Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun
- Western Delta University, Oghara
- Novena University, Ogume-Amai
- National Open University of Nigeria, Asaba Study Center, Asaba
- National Open University of Nigeria, Emevor Study Center, Emevor
- Delta State School of Marine Technology, Burutu
- Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Warri
- Conarina School of Maritime & Transport Technology, Oria-Abraka
- University of Information and Communication Technology, Agbor
- State School of Midwifery, Asaba
- School of Nursing, Agbor
- School of Nursing, Warri
- Baptist School of Nursing, Eku
- Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo
- Eagle Heights University, Omadino, Warri
- Nigerian Naval School, Sapele
- Nigerian Navy Maritime University, Ibusa
Sports
The State has produced popular people in the sport world that made the country proud. Some of them are:
- Stephen Okechukwu Keshi
- Sunday Oliseh
- Austin Jay-Jay Okocha
- Wilson Oruma
- Efetobore Sodje Blessing Okagbare
- Jonathan Akpoborie
Prominent sons and daughters of Delta State
There are a lot of popular and successful individuals in Nigeria who hail from Delta State, they include:
- Abel Ubeku. The first black Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria Plc.
- Ali Baba. A successful comedian and MC
- Amaju Pinnick. President of the Nigeria Football Federation
- Ayo Oritsejafor. Founder of Word of Life Bible Church and a former CAN President
- Ben Okri. A popular writer
- Bovi. A famous Nigerian comedian
- Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu. Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Nigeria.
- Okocha. A former Super Eagles Captain
- John Pepper Clark. The first professor of English in Africa, poet and writer
- Joy Ogwu. A former Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations
- Michael Ashikodi Agbamuche. A former Attorney General & Minister for Justice of Nigeria
- Michael Ibru. A business leader
- Olorogun O’tega Emerhor. Nigerian financial industry leader and politician.
- Sunny Ofehe. An international human & environmental rights activist.
- Tanure Ojaide. A professor of English and renowned writer
- Tony Elumelu. UBA and Heirs Holdings.
List of former governors of Delta State
- Luke Chijiuba Ochulor 28 August 1991 to January 1992 (Military administrator)
- Felix Ibru (Governor) January 1992 to November 1993
- Abdulkadir Shehu (acting Administrator) from 17 November 1993 to 10 December 1993
- Bassey Asuquo (Military administrator) From 10 December 1993 to 26 September 1994
- Ibrahim Kefas (Military administrator) from 26 September 1994 to 22 August 1996
- John Dungs (Military administrator) From 22 August 1996 to 12 August 1998
- Walter Feghabo ((Military administrator) from 12 August 1998 to 29 May 1999
- James Ibori (Executive governor) from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2007 under the platform of Peoples’ democratic Party (PDP)
- Emmanuel Uduaghan (Executive governor) from May 29, 2007, to May 29, 2015 under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
- Ifeanyi Okowa From May 29, 2015, till date under PDP, won a reelection