Delta State: History, Education and Recruitment

Delta State, the Finger of God is an oil and agricultural producing state of Nigeria, situated in the region known as the South-South geo-political zone with a population of about 6 million.

The capital city is Asaba, located at the northern end of the state, with an estimated area of 762 square kilometres (294 sq mi), while Warri is the economic nerve center of the state and also the most populated located in the southern end of the state. The state has a total land area of 16,842 square kilometres (6,503 sq mi).

History

Delta State was carved out of the defunct Bendel State on August 27, 1991. The state was created following agitations for the creation of a separate distinct state by the peoples of the old Delta Province: the Urhobos, Itsekiri, Isoko, Ijaw (Ezon) and Ukwuani (later joined Anioma). The then Military President, Gen Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd) created the state using the name "Delta" advanced by Niger Delta region and "Asaba" a prominent town within the "Anioma" axis as capital. Asaba was designated as capital of the proposed Anioma State. The proposed capital was a virgin land or "Anioma city" in the heart of the two constituent divisions that had evolved to become the Anioma area. Delta state was once integrated in the Mid Western state from 1963 to 1976 and later Bendel state, from 1976 to 1991. The name "Bendel" (Ben-Del) coined from the old Benin and Delta Provinces of Western Region-Delta to reflect the integration of Benin and Delta provinces.

Demographics

Delta State is ethnically diverse with peoples and seven major languages and dialects are spoken in the state. The state is divided into two regions on account of state creation movements (between 1976 and 1996) which was a feature of the military governance of Nigeria. This culminated to the increment of states in Nigeria from 12 states to the present 36 states.

The first group are Anioma (Igboid group) which consists of Aniocha/Oshimili, Ndokwa/Ukwuani ethnic nationality, and Ika. These areas occupy the Delta North senatorial district of the state.

The second group comprises Urhobo/Isoko (Edoid group), Itsekiri (Yoruboid group), and Ezon ethnic groups. These ethnic groups occupy the Central and South Senatorial districts of the state. The Urhobo and Isoko speak very similar dialects unlike the Ezon and Itsekiri people but have a loosely related culture as they traded and intermarried for centuries before colonization. The Itsekiri are linguistically and culturally related to the Yoruba and Edo ethnic groups of Western Nigeria, while the Ezon are a branch of their kith and kin in neighbouring Bayelsa state. Most inhabitants of the state practice Christianity and very few traditional faiths—although the Ukwuanis also have many cultural affiliation with these groups most especially in their cosmic outlook.

Senatorial Districts

• Delta Central Senatorial District  
• Delta North Senatorial District 
• Delta South Senatorial District 

Local Government Areas

The state consists of 25 Local Government Areas with details of 2006 census figures:

1. Ethiope East        
2. Aniocha North      
3. Bomadi                
4. Ethiope West        
5. Aniocha South      
6. Burutu                  
7. Okpe                    
8. Ika North East       
9. Isoko North           
10. Sapele     
11. Ika South 
12. Isoko South   
13. Udu              
14. Ndokwa East 
15. Patani           
16. Ughelli North 
17. Ndokwa West  
18. Warri North     
19. Ughelli South  
20. Oshimili North 
21. Warri South     
22. Uvwie             
23. Oshimili South 
24. Warri South West       
25. Ukwuani                 

Natural Resources

There are various solid mineral deposits within state - industrial clay, silica, lignite, kaolin, tar sand, decorative rocks, limestone, etc. These are raw materials for industries such as brick making, ceramics, bottle manufacturing, glass manufacturing, chemical/insulators production, chalk manufacturing and sanitary wares, decorative stone cutting and quarrying.

Delta state also has huge deposits of crude oil and is also one the largest producers of petroleum products in Nigeria

Tertiary Institutions

Delta state has one of the highest numbers of tertiary institutions in any Nigerian state. This is a product of the people's thirst for knowledge and academic work. Some of these 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
•     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
•     Delta State School of Marine Technology, Burutu
•     Nigerian Maritime University, Okerengigho, 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

List of Governors of Delta State

1. Luke Chijiuba Ochulor  
• Administrator      28 August 1991 January 1992 (Military)
2. Felix Ibru 
•  Governor  January 1992    November 1993 SDP     
3. Abdulkadir Shehu
• Acting Administrator     17 November 1993    10 December 1993 (Military)
4. Bassey Asuquo
• Administrator 10 December 1993         26 September 1994        (Military)         
5. Ibrahim Kefas
• Administrator 26 September 1994  22 August 1996 (Military)
6. John Dungs 
• Administrator   22 August 1996 12 August 1998  (Military)
7. Walter Feghabo 
• Administrator   12 August 1998 29 May 1999 (Military)
8. James Onanefe Ibori 
• Governor   29 May 1999     29 May 2007PDP     
9. Emmanuel Uduaghan  
• Governor   29 May 2007     29 May 2015PDP     
10. Ifeanyi Okowa
• Governor  29 May 2015 PDP    

Tourist Attractions

Delta State has some historical, cultural and socio-political tourist centers that attract visitors from around the globe. Some of these sites of tourism include:

• The Nana's Palace built by Chief Nana Olomu of Ebrohim. 
• The River Ethiope 
• The Araya Bible Site which houses a copy of the Holy Bible. It is believed that the bible descended to this spot miraculously from heaven around August, 1914. The bible dropped on rain-soaked yam and it didn't get wet. The site now attracts thousands of Christians yearly.
• The Mungo Park House which is now the site of the National Museum, Asaba. 
• The Niger Bridge which connects Delta State (by extension, western Nigeria) to the Eastern part of Nigeria. 
• Falcorp Mangrove Park
• Warri Kingdom Royal Cemetery which is 512 years old and serves as the resting place of past rulers of Warri kingdom. A tree is planted on each grave.

Religion

Delta State is a Christian state with the presence of all major christian denominations; including the Catholic church, Anglican, Baptist and the Pentecostal churches.

Sports

Delta State is known to have produced several sportsmen and women, notably among Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, Sunday Oliseh, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, Wilson Oruma, Efetobore Sodje, Jonathan Akpoborie, Cindy Ofili, Blessing Okagbare.

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