Delta State State nickname: The Big Heart
Location
Statistics
Governor (List)	Emmanuel Uduaghan (PDP)
Date Created	27 August 1991
Capital	Asaba
Area	17,698 km² Ranked 23rd
Population 1991 Census 2005 estimate	Ranked 9th 2,570,181 6,710,214
GDP (PPP)  -Total  -Per Capita	2007 (estimate) $16.75 billion[1] $3,990[1]
ISO 3166-2	NG-DE

Delta State is a state in Nigeria, typically comprising of the mainly Igbo (Anioma people), Urhobo, Isoko, Ijaw, Itsekiri. The whole ethnic-groups that comprise the Delta are administratively grouped into three senatorial districts namely Delta North, Delta South and Delta Central for easy administrative purposes.

Delta is an oil producing state of Nigeria situated in the region known as the Niger Delta, South-South Geo-political zone with a population of 4098291 (Males: 2674306 Females: 2024085 (see Federal Republic of Nigeria, Official gazette, No. 24, vol. 94, 2007.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the former Federal Minister of Finance and world Bank Managing Director is from this state, while the State's Governor is Emmanuel Uduaghan, a member of the People's Democratic Party. The capital city is Asaba located at the northern end of the state with an estimated area of 762 sq. km while Warri is economic nerve of the state and also the most populated. The state has a total land area of 16,842 sq. km.

Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Demographics 4 Local Government Areas 5 Mineral, Natural Resources & Investment Opportunity 6 Higher Educational Institutions 7 Sports 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Geography

The state borders Edo State, Ondo State , Imo State,Rivers State, Anambra State and Bayelsa State. In the south west and south it has approximately 122 kilometres of coastline bounded by the Bight of Benin on the Atlantic ocean.

[edit] History

Delta State was carved out of the former Bendel State in 1991 The state was created following agitations for the creation of separate distinct states by the Niger Delta and Anioma regions. The then Military President, Gen Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd) created the state using the name "Delta" advanced by Niger Delta region as "Asaba" another name advanced by the people of Anioma for the capital of the proposed "Anioma state." 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) meant Benin-Delta to reflect the integration of Benin and Delta provinces.

[edit] Demographics

Delta State is ethnically diverse with peoples and numerous languages spoken in the state. However the various ethnic-groups that make up the state have not experienced any tensions amongst themselves in recent times. These groups are known to inter-marry. The majority of the inhabitants of the state are practising Christians and traditional adherents.

[edit] Local Government Areas

Delta State is made up of twenty-five Local Government Areas. They are as follows:

Aniocha North Aniocha South Bomadi Burutu Ethiope East Ethiope West Ika North East Ika South Isoko North Isoko South Ndokwa East Ndokwa West Okpe

Oshimili North Oshimili South Patani Sapele Udu Ughelli North Ughelli South Ukwuani Uvwie Warri North Warri South Warri South West

[edit] Mineral, Natural Resources & Investment Opportunity

There are various solid mineral deposits within state - industrial clay, silica, lignite, kaolin, tar sand, decorative rocks, 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.

There are other abundant natural resources which offer investment opportunities to investors such as oil and gas exploration, oil palm, rubber, maize, cassava, variety of fruits, forestry and marine resources. Therefore, there is opportunity for palm oil processing, wood processing to various wood products for both local and export markets; rubber processing for latex, fruit juice processing; deep-sea fishing and aquaculture, cassava processing for starch ethanol and alcohol. There is also opportunity for investments in poultry, piggery, etc.

[edit] Higher Educational Institutions

• Federal University of Petroleum Resource Effurun
• Delta State University (Abraka Campus,Oleh Campus,Anwai Campus)
• Delta state Polytechnic(Otefe-Oghara Campus,Ozoro Campus,Ogwashi-Uku Campus)
• College of Education(Agbor Campus,Warri Campus)
• Federal College of Education Technical Asaba
• College of Physical Education, Mosogar
• Petroleum Training Institution,Effurun
• Western Delta University,Oghara
• Novena University,Ogume

[edit] Sports

Delta State is known to have produced several sportsmen and women of great stature, many of whom have captained the national football teams of the nation at different times notably Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, Sunday Olise, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Nduka Ugbade, Peter Nnalue etc. Team Delta are the current winners of the National Sports Festival tagged "KADA 2009" held in Kaduna State, Nigeria with 108 Gold and a number of Silver and Bronze medals.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Delta State Government
• Delta State University (DELSU)

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Coordinates: 5°30′N 6°00′E / 5.5°N 6°E / 5.5; 6