ADAMAWA STATE

Date Created: August 27, 1991

Capital: Yola

Major Towns: Yola, Mubi, Ganye, Numan, Guyuk, Michika, Mayo-Belwa, Gombi and Jimeta.

Adamawa State was created in August 1991 out of the former Gongola State with four administrative divisions namely: Adamawa, Ganye, Mubi and Numan.

These divisions have been split into twenty one (21) local government areas. They are:

Fufore, Ganye, Gombi, Guyuk, Hong, Jada, Shelleng, Demsa, Madagali, Maiha, Mayo-Belwa, Michika, Mubi, Numan, Song, Yola, Mubi-South, Jimeta, Girei, Toungo and Lamurde.

Topographically, the state is essentially a picturesque mountainous land traversed by big river valleys of Benue, Gongola and Yedsarem. The valleys of Cameroon, Mandara and Adamawa mountains form part of this undulating landscape.

Adamawa State is noted for its rich cultural heritage which reflects in its history, i.e. dances, dress patterns, craftsmanship, music, and her cordial relationships. The three main religions are Islam, Christianity and Traditionalism.

The major occupation of the people is farming as reflected in their two notable vegetational zones, tile Sub-Sudan and Northern Guinea Savannah Zone. Their cash crops are cotton and groundnuts while food crops includes maize, yam, cassava, guinea corn, millet and rice.

In an effort to boost agriculture, the government launched (GADP), the then Gongola Agricultural Development Project which has now become a tractor hiring unit under the Ministry of Agriculture.

The village communities living on the banks ofthe rivers engage in fishing while the Fulanis are cattle rearers.

The state has network of roads linking all parts of the country. There are also air and water routes which make the state accessible at all seasons.

Recognizing the importance of eaucation, the government of Adamawa State places emphasis on the expansion of technical education, primary, secondary and tertiary schools. The state also has a University of Technology, a Polytechnic and College of Education.

There are several secondary and primary schools, technical Colleges and private institutions. The state also has a Nursing and Midwifery School, two Vocational Training schools and a College of Legal Studies in the capital.

Health and Medical Services have reached a relatively advanced stage of development.

The state has many cultural festivals like harvest festivals, installation, wrestling contest and hunting. It also has historical places of interest Re the Lamido's palace (the seat of Emir of Adamawa in Yola, Old Palace of Harriman Yaji at Madagali German rule, German Rest House at Kowogol) and a host of other places of interest.