I understand the fact that some of us knows all these but let's try and educate some people that have no idea how these state names were formed.

There's rich history behind every state and its name. Check out all the states and how they were named.

From names of rivers to popular heroes, see how all the 36 Nigerian states got their names.

1. Abia

Abia is an acronym from the four main groups of people in the state as at the time it was formed in 1991: Aba Bende Isuikwuato Afikpo.

2. Adamawa

Adamawa was named after a warrior, Modibbo Adama Bin Ardo Hassan, that conquered the region in the beginning of the 19th century.

3. Akwa-Ibom

Akwa Ibom is named after the Qua Iboe (or Kwa Iboe) River.

4. Anambra

The state got its name from the corrupted version of Oma Mbala (Ànyịm Ọma Mbala), a popular river in the area.

5. Bauchi

There are three versions of how Bauchi got its name are:

‘Bauchi’ is Hausa word meaning the southern flanks of Hausaland. Tribes living in the southern parts of the Hausaland were referred to as "kasashen bauchi" and the area they lived in later came to be known simply as Bauchi. The second version the state was named for Baushe, a famous hunter who settled there before the 19th century. The third states that ‘bauchi’ is Hausa word for slavery since it was a center for slave raiders.

6. Bayelsa

Bayelsa is a combination of the acronyms of three local government areas which were pulled out of old Rivers state — Brass LGA known as BALGA, Yenegoa LGA known as YELGA and Sagbama LGA known as SALGA. The mathematics involved in the formation of their names is BA + YEL + SA = BAYELSA

7. Benue

The state was named after the "europeanised" corruption of 'Binuwe', the Batta word for ‘Mother of Waters’.

8. Borno

The alternative name of the Kanuris, the predominant ethnic group in the state, is 'Borno' which gave inspiration for the naming of the state.

9. Cross River

The state took its name from a River called Oyono or Cross River.

10. Delta

The state is where the River Niger forms a delta as it enters the Atlantic Ocean.

11. Ebonyi

Ebonyi is the anglicised version of 'Aboine', a river that cuts through Abakaliki, the state capital.

12. Edo

The Bini people who dwell in the area had always referred to themselves as Edo or Iduu. This inspired the name of the state.

13. Ekiti

‘Okiti’ is a term that is said to denote a settlement of many hills. It later became 'Ekiti'.

14. Enugu

Due to the many hills and rocky terrain in the area, the people named it in igbo, "Enu Ugwu" meaning "top of the hill". The state is named after the anglicised version, Enugu.

15. Gombe

Gombe is the dialect of Fulani language (Fulfulde) spoken in the area.

16. Imo

Just like many of the Nigerian states, Imo took its name from the popular river, Imo Mmiri.

17. Jigawa

Jigawa takes inspiration from its distinctively golden-coloured soil.

18. Kaduna

'Kadunas' is the plural form of crocodile in Hausa. The state therefore got its name from the many crocodiles in Kaduna River.

19. Kano

Kano was the name of a blacksmith from the Gaya tribe who settled in the area while sourcing for ironstone. The state was named after him.

20. Katsina

The state was named after the wife of a popular local ruler known as Janzama. Her name was Katsina.

21. Kebbi

It is said that Kebbi was named after the Ka’abba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

22. Kogi

Since the popular confluence in Nigeria is located in the state, Kogi is said to have been derived from ‘kogin’, the hausa word for river.

23. Kwara

River Niger used to be called River Kwara by the Nupes at the Northern border of the state. The state was named after this.

24. Lagos

In 1472, the first set of Europeans to set foot in Lagos were the Portuguese. Due to the many lagoons and rivers in the town, they named it Lagos, which is the Portuguese word for 'lakes'.

25. Nasarawa

Nasarawa is a native word for 'victorious'. The state was named by the founder of Nasarawa kingdom, Makama Dogo.

26. Niger

This was named after the River Niger.

27. Ogun

This state was also named after a river — Ogun River.

28. Ondo

Ondo is a word used for settlers. The state was named after the settlers of the old Ondo Kingdom.

29. Osun

This state was also named after a river — the River Osun.

30. Oyo

The state was named after the Old Oyo empire.

31. Plateau

The state was named after the picturesque Jos plateau. Jos got its name from the mispronunciation of the town 'Gwosh'.

32. Rivers

Rivers State was named after the many water bodies present in the area.

33. Sokoto

Sokoto is the anglicized version of the Arabic word ‘suk’ meaning ‘market’ or ‘place of commerce’. The state itself was named after the defunct Sokoto Caliphate.

34. Taraba

Taraba state got its name from the Taraba River.

35. Yobe

Komadugu Yobe (Waube or Ouobe) or River Yobe (or River of Yo) inspired the name of the state.

36. Zamfara

This state was named after Zamfarawa, one of the subdialects of the Eastern Hausa group.

https://www.nairaland.com/3255550/how-states-nigeria-derived-names

33. Sokoto
Sokoto is the anglicized version of the Arabic word ‘suk’ meaning ‘market’ or ‘place of commerce’. The state itself was named after the defunct Sokoto Caliphate
34. Taraba
Taraba state got its name from the Taraba River.
35. Yobe
Komadugu Yobe (Waube or Ouobe) or River Yobe (or River of Yo) inspired the name of the state.
36. Zamfara
This state was named after Zamfarawa, one of the subdialects of the Eastern Hausa group.
FCT: Abuja
"Abuja" was in the earlier 20th century the name of the nearby town now called Suleja.
The indigenous inhabitants of Abuja are the Gbagyi (Gwari), with the Gbagyi language formerly the major of the region language.
Culled from Nigeria stories @Nigeriastories

Really educative. Didn't know all of this

Brilliant

Oh and I thought Adam named them all

Nigeria: named after a river.

Many Nigerian states named after water bodies...

Someone will call you ogbanje and you'll get angry...lol

thanks op now make we enter food
who name
Garri- garri
Eba-eba
fufu-fufu
cus I sure say adam no chop those food when him day alive.

Very educative

I don't agree with some of the information you gave.

Modified.

Learnt one or two things

You copied this from a Twitter handle.. Hope u gave credits? And, oyo got his name from old oyo empire?? That's not a good reason, because it is obvious.

najib632:
I don't agree with all of the information you gave.

Share your own bros

Ayomarcel:
You copied this from a Twitter handle.. Hope u gave credits? And, oyo got his name from old oyo empire?? That's not a good reason, because it is obvious.

You are right. It sounds sort of lazy. The article should have dug deeper to get information on the origin of the "Oyo" name itself.

For instance, we know that modern Israel got her name from the Kingdom of Israel. That is too obvious.

But then, we also know the original source of the name "Israel" -- Jacob was renamed Israel for wrestling with an angel.

The article should have done this concerning the name "Oyo".

I thought imo state was curled from the word omo...

I hv learnt new thing today

So almost all the states got their names from rivers?
No wonder, everyone is behavjng like witches and wizards

You are right, I agreed with it especially that Ekiti name.

Nice work

Most of the names comes from river no wonder the states are not stable they floating like river

efembaba:
Oh and I thought Adam named them all

Adam didn't named things the name you know them today, what Adam did was that he gave them recognition and identity in terms of their behavior, feature etc, it from these the early scientist or people coined these names from and published it. Adam didn't called Lion, Lion neither did he named in your language but he gave its recognition and Identity as fearless, boldness, strong etc. With these features any where you go and you see such characteristics in an animal you call it Lion.

I stand a chance to be schooled if I'm wrong

17. Jigawa
Jigawa takes inspiration from its distinctively golden-coloured soil.

This is unclear. What language is 'jigawa'?

Dreyton36:

Share your own bros

Bauchi originated from the word Baushe, who was the conqueror of that region.

United states of Nigeria

cassidy1996:
United states of Nigeria

More like "Feeding-bottle" States of Nigeria.

Ayomarcel:
You copied this from a Twitter handle.. Hope u gave credits? And, oyo got his name from old oyo empire?? That's not a good reason, because it is obvious.

yes I did sir Culled from Nigeria stories @Nigeriastories. I saw it and I felt we can both learn from it

Asquare84:
Very educative

Tachu

Oh thank you that was quite educative lol.. I was only playing around guy.. I know

Raymeskey:
Nice work

Most of the names comes from river no wonder the states are not stable they floating like river



Adam didn't named things the name you know them today, what Adam did was that he gave them recognition and identity in terms of their behavior, feature etc, it from these the early scientist or people coined these names from and published it. Adam didn't called Lion, Lion neither did he named in your language but he gave its recognition and Identity as fearless, boldness, strong etc. With these features any where you go and you see such characteristics in an animal you call it Lion.

I stand a chance to be schooled if I'm wrong

olamikunle213:
yes I did sir Culled from Nigeria stories @Nigeriastories. I saw it and I felt we can both learn from it

You've done well.

This was why i fell in love with Nairaland since 2011(till now, Nairaland is my first tap), but @Seun when would Nairaland be like Quora (intelligent people full that quorum sha). Unlike quorum, if you post a question, people will comment but not 'EVERYBODY' na only people wey sabi go fit talk, because you'd not want to disgrace your family. I have an idea but not for free as you sef no do giveaway

Nice

Okay

Nice read

Cool

Sokoto

That's trouser. Nobody can tell me otherwise

Yes

When Anambra was created in 91 , enugu state tried so much to collect the name Anambra, but cos the omambra river didn't get to their area , we retained the name Anambra !