Enugu State is an inland state in southeastern Nigeria. Its capital is Enugu, from which the state - created in 1991 from the old Anambra State - derives its name. The principal cities in the state are Enugu and Nsukka.

Geography

Enugu State is one of the States in the South Eastern part of Nigeria. The state shares borders with Abia and Imo States to the South, Ebonyi State to the East, Benue State to the Northeast, Kogi State to the northwest and Anambra State to the West.

Though land-locked, Enugu is approximately 2-1/2 driving hours away from Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri, all coastal cities with major shipping ports. Enugu is also located within an hour’s drive from Onitsha and 2 hours’ drive from Aba, both of which are trading centres in Nigeria. The city is also located within 5 driving hours from Abuja and 7 driving hours from Lagos, the administrative and commercial headquarters of Nigeria respectively.

Lying partly within the semi-tropical rain forest belt of the south, the State spreads towards the north through a land area of approximately . Its physical features change gradually from tropical rain forest to open wood-land and then to Savannah. Apart from a chain of low hills, running through Abakaliki, Ebonyi State in the east to Nsukka in the north-west, and southwards through Enugu and Agwu, the rest of the state is made up of low land separated by numerous streams and rivulets, the major ones of which are the Adada River and the Oji River.

Enugu has good soil and climate, sitting at about above sea level, and the soil is well drained. The mean temperature in Enugu State in the hottest month of February is about , while the lowest temperatures occur in the month of November, reaching . The lowest rainfall of about is normal in February, while the highest is about in July.

History

The name of State derives from its capital city, Enugu. The word "Enugu" means "the top of the hill". The first European settlers arrived in the area in 1909, led by a British mining engineer, Kikson. In his quest for silver, he discovered coal in the Udi Ridge. Colonial Governor of Nigeria Frederick Lugard took keen interest in the discovery, and by 1914 the first shipment of coal was made to Britain. As mining activities increased in the area, a permanent cosmopolitan settlement emerged, supported by a railway system. Enugu acquired township status in 1917, and became strategic to British interests. Foreign businesses began to move into Enugu, the most notable of which were John Holt, Kingsway Stores, British Bank of West Africa and United Africa Company.

From Enugu, the British administration was able to spread their influence over the Southern Province of Nigeria. The colonial past of Enugu is today evidenced by the Georgian building types and meandering narrow roads within the residential area originally reserved for the whites, an area which is today called the Government Reserved Area (GRA).

From being the capital of the Southern Provinces, Enugu became the capital of the Eastern Region (now divided into nine States), then the capital of East Central State, Anambra State, (old) Enugu State, and now the capital of the present Enugu State through a process of state creation and diffusion of administrative authority.

Politics

Government in Enugu State occurs at two levels, state and local. Overall authority is exercised by the Executive Governor, elected by popular mandate. Political authority is exercised under a presidential system of government. There is also a popularly elected legislature, the Enugu State House of Assembly.

The current Governor of Enugu State is Sullivan Chime, who was the Commissioner of Justice under former governor Chimaroke Nnamani.

The title of "Royal Majesty Igwe Sir/ Dr Chris Ogakwu Igwe Okwuluoya III of Udi Kingdom, Enugu State, Nigeria" was awarded to leader Kim Jong Il on the occasion of the 60th birthday of the DPRK.

   A ceremony of conveying the title was held in Udi Kingdom in Enugu State of Nigeria on Sept. 7.

   The chairman of the Guardians Council of Udi Kingdom spoke first at the ceremony.

   Saying that it is the first time in the history of the Kingdom to award the above-said title to Kim Jong Il, the leader of the DPRK, the chairman extended the warmest congratulations to him on behalf of the Guardians Council and the people of the Kingdom.

   Noting that it is quite natural for the Kingdom to confer its highest title to Kim Jong Il as he has performed great feats for the development of the DPRK and the welfare of mankind, the chairman highly praised the undying exploits he has performed in the efforts to accomplish the human cause of independence.

   Then a decision of the Tribal Chief Council to award the title to Kim Jong Il was read out and the certificate of the tribal chief and his costume and others were conveyed to the DPRK ambassador to Nigeria.

   Speeches were made at the ceremony.

   The King of Udi said that Kim Jong Il was the first to be awarded this title not only in the community but internationally. He extended warm congratulations to him on being awarded the above-said title.

Administrative divisions

There are 17 Local Government Areas in Enugu State:

Aninri Awgu Enugu-East Enugu-North Enugu-South Ezeagu Igbo-Etiti Igbo-Eze-North Igbo-Eze-South	Isi-Uzo Nkanu-East Nkanu-West Nsukka Oji-River Udenu Udi Uzo-Uwani

Economy

Economically, the state is predominantly rural and agrarian, with a substantial proportion of its working population engaged in farming, although trading (18.8%) and services (12.9%) are also important. In the urban areas trading is the dominant occupation, followed by services. A small proportion of the population is also engaged in manufacturing activities, with the most pronounced among them located in Enugu, Oji, Ohebedim and Nsukka.

Energy

Electricity supply is relatively stable in Enugu. The Oji River Power Station (which used to supply electricity to all of Eastern Nigeria) is located in Enugu State. With the deregulation of electricity generation in Nigeria, and the proposed privatisation of the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), the State Government would assist private investors to negotiate the take over and reactivation of the Oji Power Station. This is more so with the proximity of the Enugu coal mines to the power station, a driving distance of about 20 minutes.

Education

Every community in Enugu State has at least one primary school and one secondary school, funded and run by Government. There are also large number of private nursery, primary and secondary schools in Enugu State.

Nigeria's first indigenous university, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), is located in Enugu State. The state also hosts the Enugu State University of Science & Technology (ESUT), Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, Enugu State College of Education Technical, Enugu, Caritas University, Amorji-Nike, Renaissance University, Ugbawka, Our Saviour’s Institute of Science and Technology, Enugu, and the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu Seat of Wisdom Secondary School Trans Ekulu Enugu. There are also a host of private computer schools and training centres concentrated in Enugu and Nsukka.

Medicine

The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) is located in Enugu State, as is the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital and College of Medicine. In addition to numerous private hospitals and clinics in the State, there are seven District Hospitals at Enugu Urban, Udi, Agbani, Awgu, Ikem, Enugu-Ezike, and Nsukka and at least one health center or cottage hospital in every one of the seventeen (17) Local Government Areas and thirty nine (39) Development Centres in the State.

Demographics

Enugu State has a population of about 5.6 million people. It is home to the Igbo (95% of population) and the Igala people, among others.

External links

• State government website