ANAMBRA STATE

Date Created: August 27, 1991

Capital: Awka

Main Towns: Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, Obosi, Ihiala, Aguata.

Anambra State was carved out of the former, larger Anambra State on August 27, 1991. It is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State to the north.

There are 21 local government areas in the state namely: Anaocha, Njikoka, Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Anambra, Oyi, Ihiala, Akwa North, Awka South and Aguata. Others are Orumba North, Orumba South, Ogbaru, Idemili, Idemili South, Ayamelum, Ekwusigo, Anambra West and Dunukofia.

The industrious and hospitable people of Anambra State are Igbos. The people of the state are great industrialists, entrepreneurs, and craftsmen.

Awka is the state capital and seat ofthe Anambra State Government. The town is also the base of Nigeria's blacksmithery, iron-mongery and carving.

Educationally, there are the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, College of Education, Nsugbe, and College of Agriculture, Igbanam. Literacy in the state is comparatively high, and abundant qualified personnel can be found in virtually all areas of endeavour. School enrolment in the state is one of the highest in the country.

Culturally, the State has a very rich heritage. There is the yearly Ofalla festival, the Ijele masquerade and also the yearly new yam festival.

Anambra State has good communication and transport links with other states of the federation. The River Niger with the famous Niger bridge, links the bustling commercial town of Onitsha, with the ports of Port Harcourt in the Rivers State, and Bururu and Warri in Delta State.

Several raw industrial materials and agro-products are located in various parts of the state and they include Oil Palm, Maize, Rice, Yam, Cassava, and Fish.

There are the Enamel-ware and Cotton Textile Mills at Onitsha. Onitsha has the largest market of its kind in the ECOWAS sub-region.