How the 36 States Got Their Names in Nigeria (Full Historical Breakdown)

Nigeria is made up of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. While many people can list the states from memory, very few know how these states actually got their names.

Some Nigerian states were named after rivers, others after ancient kingdoms, warriors, or ethnic groups, while a few came from acronyms or colonial interpretations. These names reflect Nigeria’s geography, culture, and long history of migration, conquest, and administration.

In this guide, you will learn:

• How Nigerian states got their names
• The major categories behind state naming
• The meaning and origin of each of the 36 state names
• How Nigeria evolved from regions to the current 36 states

How Did States in Nigeria Get Their Names?

Nigerian states got their names mainly from:

1. Rivers and natural features
2. Historical kingdoms, empires, or people
3. Indigenous ethnic groups or languages
4. Acronyms formed from major towns
5. Colonial or military administrative decisions

Many of these names existed long before the states were officially created.

How Were the 36 States Created in Nigeria?

Nigeria did not start with 36 states.

• 1967: General Yakubu Gowon created the first 12 states
• 1976: General Murtala Mohammed added 7 more states
• 1991: General Ibrahim Babangida created 9 states
• 1996: General Sani Abacha created the final 6 states

This process transformed Nigeria from regions into the current 36 state structure.

Read more on: Nigeria Current Affairs | Updated for JAMB, WAEC, NECO & Exams

Categories of Nigerian State Name Origins

1. States Named After Rivers and Geography

These states were named after major rivers, water bodies, or physical features.

• Akwa Ibom: Named after the Qua Iboe River
• Anambra: From Omambala or Oma Mbala River
• Benue: From Binuwe, meaning Mother of Waters
• Cross River: Named after the Cross River
• Delta: Where River Niger forms a delta
• Ebonyi: From Aboine River
• Imo: Named after Imo River
• Kogi: From the Hausa word for river
• Kwara: Old Nupe name for River Niger
• Niger: Named after River Niger
• Ogun: Named after Ogun River
• Osun: Named after Osun River
• Taraba: Named after Taraba River
• Yobe: Named after Komadugu Yobe River
• Rivers: Named for its many waterways

2. States Named After People, Kingdoms, or Empires

These states trace their names to historical figures or political entities.

• Adamawa: Named after Modibbo Adama, a Fulani warrior
• Borno: Named after the ancient Borno Empire
• Edo: Named after the Edo people of Benin Kingdom
• Ondo: Named after the Ondo Kingdom
• Oyo: Named after the Old Oyo Empire
• Sokoto: Named after the Sokoto Caliphate
• Zamfara: Named after the Zamfara Kingdom

3. States Named After Ethnic Groups or Languages

• Ekiti: From Okiti, meaning hilly settlement
• Gombe: From Fulfulde dialect spoken in the area
• Jigawa: Named after its loamy, golden soil
• Kano: Named after a blacksmith called Kano
• Katsina: Named after Katsina, wife of a local ruler
• Kebbi: Linked to Hausa groups and early settlements
• Nasarawa: Means victorious, linked to Nasarawa Emirate

4. States Named Using Acronyms

Only a few Nigerian states fall into this category.

• Abia: From Aba, Bende, Isuikwuato, Afikpo
• Bayelsa: From Brass, Yenagoa, Sagbama

5. Colonial and Foreign Influence

• Lagos: Named by the Portuguese from the word for lakes
• Plateau: Named after the Jos Plateau
• Kaduna: From the Hausa word for crocodile

Full List: How Each of the 36 States Got Their Names

1. Abia: Acronym from Aba, Bende, Isuikwuato, Afikpo
2. Adamawa: Named after Modibbo Adama
3. Akwa Ibom: Named after Qua Iboe River
4. Anambra: From Omambala River
5. Bauchi: Named after Baushe the hunter or southern Hausaland
6. Bayelsa: Brass, Yenagoa, Sagbama
7. Benue: From Binuwe, Mother of Waters
8. Borno: From Borno Empire
9. Cross River: Named after Cross River
10. Delta: Niger Delta region
11. Ebonyi: From Aboine River
12. Edo: Named after Edo people
13. Ekiti: From Okiti hills
14. Enugu: From Enu Ugwu, hill top
15. Gombe: From Fulani dialect
16. Imo: Named after Imo River
17. Jigawa: Named after soil color
18. Kaduna: Named after crocodiles
19. Kano: Named after blacksmith Kano
20. Katsina: Named after Katsina, wife of a ruler
21. Kebbi: Linked to early Hausa settlers
22. Kogi: Hausa word for river
23. Kwara: Nupe name for River Niger
24. Lagos: Portuguese word for lakes
25. Nasarawa: Means victorious
26. Niger: Named after River Niger
27. Ogun: Named after Ogun River
28. Ondo: Named after Ondo Kingdom
29. Osun: Named after Osun River
30. Oyo: Named after Oyo Empire
31. Plateau: Named after Jos Plateau
32. Rivers: Named after waterways
33. Sokoto: Named after Sokoto Caliphate
34. Taraba: Named after Taraba River
35. Yobe: Named after Komadugu Yobe
36. Zamfara: Named after Zamfarawa people

What About Abuja?

Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, was originally the name of a nearby town now called Suleja. The indigenous people of the area are the Gbagyi.

Conclusion

Every Nigerian state name carries history. From rivers that sustained ancient communities to empires that once ruled vast lands, these names reflect Nigeria’s identity long before modern borders existed.

Understanding where these names came from helps preserve culture, history, and national memory.

⚡ SIWES Tools for Students 🔥

Use our free AI-powered tools to make SIWES easier.

SIWES Report Generator — Generate a formatted SIWES report instantly.
https://report.monoed.africa

SIWES Logbook Generator — Create weekly logbook entries in seconds.
https://logbook.monoed.africa

SIWES / IT Placement Finder — Find verified SIWES & IT placement opportunities.
https://siwesfinder.monoed.africa

📙 Final Year Project Tools 🔥

FYP Report Generator — Generate full project chapters and citations.
https://fyp.monoed.africa

Project Topic Generator — Get supervisor-ready project topics instantly.
https://topics.monoed.africa

Reference Verifier — Quickly verify citations by checking authors, year, and DOI before submission.
https://refverify.monoed.africa

FAQs

How many states are in Nigeria?

Nigeria has 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Why are many Nigerian states named after rivers?

Rivers were central to settlement, trade, and survival, so many communities adopted river names.

Which Nigerian states are named after people?

Adamawa, Kano, Katsina, and Bauchi are examples.

Are any Nigerian states named using acronyms?

Yes. Abia and Bayelsa are the main examples.

Who created the 36 states in Nigeria?

The states were created by military governments between 1967 and 1996.