Anambra State
Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The state was created on 27 August 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State and Rivers State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State to the north. The State's Capital is Awka, while the State’s Largest City is Onitsha which is regarded as one of the largest metropolis area in Africa.
Anambra | |
|---|---|
State | |
| Anambra State | |
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Flag Seal | |
| Nicknames: Light of the Nation Igbo: Ife Mbà | |
| Anthem: "With All Our Hearts, We Pray and Ask" | |
Location of Anambra in Nigeria | |
| Coordinates: 6°20′N 7°00′E | |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Capital | Awka |
| Government | |
| • Body | Government of Anambra State |
| • Governor | Charles Chukwuma Soludo (APGA) |
| • Deputy Governor | Gilbert Onyekachukwu Ibezim (APGA) |
| • Legislature | Anambra State House of Assembly |
| • Senators | C: Victor Umeh (LP) N: Tony Nwoye (LP) S: Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP) |
| • Representatives | List |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4,844 km2 (1,870 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 35 of 36 |
| Population (2006 census)1 | |
| • Total | 4,177,821 |
| • Estimate (2022) | 6,953,500 |
| • Rank | 9 of 36 |
| • Density | 860/km2 (2,200/sq mi) |
| Demonyms | Ndi Anambra, Anambrarians |
| GDP (PPP) | |
| • Year | 2021 |
| • Total | $33.26 billion 6th of 36 |
| • Per capita | $5,231 12th of 36 |
| Time zone | UTC+01 (WAT) |
| postal code | 420001 |
| Dialing Code | +234 |
| ISO 3166 code | NG-AN |
| Language | English Igbo |
| HDI (2021) | 0.662 medium · 3rd of 37 |
| Website | Official website |
| ^1 Preliminary results | |
The state name was formed in 1976 from the former East Central State. The state is named after Omambala River, a river that runs through the state. Anambra is the Anglicized name of the Omambala. The State capital is Awka. The city of Onitsha, a historic port city from the pre-colonial era, remains an important centre of commerce within the state.
Nicknamed the "Light of the Nation", Anambra State is the fourteenth most populous state in the nation, although that has seriously been argued against as Onitsha, the state's biggest and most populous urban area was discovered to be over 1.6 million in population in 2022 by Africapolis which makes Onitsha one of the largest urban areas in Nigeria by population. The area currently known as Anambra State has been the site of numerous civilizations since at least the 9th century AD, including the ancient Kingdom of Nri, whose capital was the historic town of Igbo-Ukwu within the state. Residents of Anambra State are primarily Igbo, with the Igbo language serving as a lingua franca throughout the state.
During the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), Anambra State was part of the secessionist Republic of Biafra formed by Igbo nationalists. Anambra was severely affected by the war. Today, Anambra State is one of the most urbanized states in Nigeria.