Kaduna Queens

Kaduna is the capital city of Kaduna State, and the former political capital of Northern Nigeria. It is located in north-western Nigeria, on the Kaduna River. It is a trade Centre and a major transportation hub as the gateway to northern Nigeria, with its rail and important road network.

The population of Kaduna was at 760,084 as of the 2006 Nigerian census. Rapid urbanization since 2005 has created an increasingly large population, now estimated to be around 1.3 million. The project population of people in Kaduna state as at 2021 is 8.9 million people.

Etymology

The etymology of the word ''Kaduna'' is said to be a corruption of the Hausa word for "crocodiles", ''Kaddani'' in the Hausa language (''kaduna'' being the plural form). Another version of the name proposes a link to the Gbagyi word/name 'Odna', meaning 'river'.

History

Kaduna was founded by British colonists in 1900. The first British governor of Northern Nigeria, Sir Frederick Lugard, chose the present site for development due to its proximity to the Lagos-Kano Railway. It became the capital of Nigeria's former Northern Region in 1917, and retained this status until 1967. The city is still influential as the headquarters of various political, military and cultural organizations especially in northern Nigeria.

Economy

Industries

Kaduna is a major industrial centre in Northern Nigeria, manufacturing products like textiles, machinery, steel, aluminium, petroleum products and bearings. However, the textile industry has been in decline due to recent Chinese imports and factory closures caused by years of neglect during the military dictatorship in Nigeria. Other light manufactures include: plastics, pharmaceuticals, leather goods, furniture, and televisions. Agriculture is also a major industry in Kaduna, and as such, the Bank of Agriculture has its headquarters in the city. Some of the main agricultural exports include: cotton, peanuts, sorghum, and ginger. Kaduna also has a branch of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Automobile manufacturing also remains an important part of Kaduna's economy. Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria has an assembly plant in Kaduna. Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), one of Nigeria's four main oil refineries is located in Kaduna. It is supplied by a pipeline from the Niger Delta oil fields.

A 2009 World Bank survey states that Kaduna is one of the top six cities with the highest unemployment. 20% of the population was estimated to be unemployed.

Sports and tourism

There is a large racecourse named Murtala Mohammed Square, approximately round, inside which is found the Kaduna Polo Club. Kaduna Golf Club is also located within the Kaduna CBD. Other Sports facilities include the Ahmadu Bello Stadium and Ranchers Bees Stadium. There are several hotels in the city.

Infrastructure

The infrastructure network in the city are currently being developed under the administration of Nasir el-Rufai. Kaduna has an inland dry port. The Nigerian military has several installations in the city including the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Airport

The city is served by Kaduna International Airport. The airport commenced operations in 1982. The Nigerian Air Force maintains a presence in the city.

Railways

Kaduna is also on the route of the planned Lagos–Kano Standard Gauge Railway, which has been completed between the national capital of Abuja and Kaduna. Trains for Abuja depart from the Rigasa Railway Station in Kaduna. Kaduna is an important junction on Nigeria's Cape gauge railway network. At Kaduna, a branch line connects the Lagos–Nguru Railway to the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri railway.

Education

Kaduna is popularly known as the centre of learning, as evident from the numerous educational institutions located in the state. Tertiary Institutions in Kaduna city include:

* Kaduna State University
* Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna
*Greenfield University Kaduna
*National Open University of Nigeria, Kaduna Study Center
* Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna
* National Teachers Institute (NTI), Kaduna
* School of Midwifery Kaduna
*Kaduna Polytechnic (1968), Kaduna
* National board for Islamic and Arabic studies
*Kaduna Business School
*Dialogue Institute Kaduna
*Institute of Ophthalmology, National Eye Centre, Kaduna.
*National board for Arabic and Islamic studies
*National center for nomadic education
*Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State

Places of worship

Among the places of worship, there are churches and mosques. Sultan Bello Mosque is the biggest and a central mosque in Kaduna. There are also churches: Church of Nigeria ( Anglican Communion), Presbyterian Church of Nigeria ( World Communion of Reformed Churches), Nigerian Baptist Convention ( Baptist World Alliance), Living Faith Church Worldwide, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Assemblies of God, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna ( Catholic Church), Mountain of fire and miracles ministries, North central 2 Mega Regional HQ (http://www.mountainoffire.org), Universal Reformed Christian Church, Kaduna (Protestant Church).

Climate

Notable people

* Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the "underwear bomber" suspect of the terrorist arson attempt on Northwest flight 253 in December 2009, grew up here and returned to the city on holiday.
* Tijani Babangida, footballer who played winger with Ajax
*Celestine Babayaro, footballer who played mainly in the Premier League
*Michael Eneramo, footballer
* Fiona Fullerton, British actress and former Bond girl
*Leke James, footballer
* Shehu Musa Yaradua politician and elder statesman
*Zamani Lekwot, statesman
* Umaru mutallab Nigerian business mogul
*Hassan usman katsina elder statesman.
* Magaji Muhammed politician and elder statesman.
*Mamman daura elder statesman
*Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, politician
*Mohammed Namadi Sambo, politician
* Shehu Sani, politician
* Uba Sani, politician
*Dahiru Sadi, footballer
*Adam A Zango, Kannywood actor, musician, singer and dancer.
*Talib Zanna (born 1990), basketball player in the Israel Basketball Premier League
* Efe Ambrose, footballer who played for the Nigeria national football team was born and raised here

See also

* Railway stations in Nigeria
* Kaduna State
*National Ear Care Centre

References

External links

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State capitals in Nigeria
Populated places in Kaduna State
Cities in Nigeria
1913 establishments in the Northern Nigeria Protectorate
Populated places established in 1913