The Finger Of God (Delta State)

Delta State is one of the Niger Delta states. It is a state renowned for its distinct pidgin English. Many of us know it as The Big Heart, but the Governor prefers The Finger of God. Enjoy!

Delta State (slogan: The Finger of God) is a state in Southern Nigeria, comprising mainly five major ethnic groups: Urhobo, Isoko, Anioma and Ukwani, Ijaw and Itsekiri. The Urhobos are believed to have been the earliest settlers of Delta State. It was created out of the then Bendel State on 27 August 1991 by the government of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. Asaba, located in the northern part, is the capital city of the state, with Warri (located at the southern end of the state) as its economic capital. Other major towns (apart from Asaba and Warri) are Agbor, Ughelli, Oleh, Ozoro, Oghara, Sapele, Koko, Burutu, Okpanam and Ogwashi-ukwu. Its food crops include rice, yam, cassava, fruits and vegetables, while its industrial crops include rubber, oil palm and palm kernel. Check here for a good map of the state.

Governors and Military Administrators from inception till date

• Air Commodore Luke Chijiuba Ochulor (ret.): Military Administrator from August 1991 – January 1992
• Felix Ibru: Civilian Governor (Social Democratic Party) from January 1992 – November 1993 
• Abdulkadir Shehu: Acting Administrator from November 1993 – December 1993
• Colonel Bassey Asuquo (ret.): Military Administrator from December 1993 – September 1994
• Air Commodore Ibrahim Kefas (ret.): Military Administrator from September 1994 – August 1996
• Colonel John Dungs (ret.): Military Administrator from August 1996 – August 1998
• Navy Commander Walter Feghabo (ret.): Military Administrator from August 1998 – May 1999
• James Ibori: Civilian Governor (People’s Democratic Party) from May 1999 – May 2007
• Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan: (Civilian Governor (People’s Democratic Party) from 2007-

It has a landmass of about 18,050 Km². It is bounded by 5 states:  Edo, Ondo, Imo, Rivers, Anambra and Bayelsa States. It is a low-lying state with an extensive wetland which constitutes a part of the Niger Delta—now you know how it got the name Delta. It has approximately 122 kilometers of coastline. Its major rivers include the Niger, Benin, Forcados, Ase and Ethiope. Delta State has a tropical climate marked by 2 seasons: the dry (harmattan) and wet (rainy) seasons. The dry season occur between November and March, while the wet/rainy season runs from April to October. It has a population of 4,112,445 (2006 census figures). 

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan

Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, the governor of the state, was born on October 22, 1954. His father hails from Abigborodo in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, while his mother Cecilia hails from Ubiaja in Esan South-East of Edo State. He graduated from the University of Benin in 1980 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) degree. He is a Christian and married with two children.

Delta State is made up of twenty-five Local Government Areas. Delta has 10 House of Representative members in the National Assembly plus 3 Senators (each state in Nigeria has 3).

Industries in Delta State include Glass Factory at Ughelli (Beta Glass Company, Plc), the African Timber and Plywood Factory, Sapele and Asaba Textile Mills., Delta Boatyard, and the Delta Steel Company, Ovwian-Aladja. Most are probably moribund, anyway.

There are various solid mineral deposits within state - industrial clay, silica, lignite, kaolin, tar sand, decorative rocks, limestone, etc. It is also a major oil producing state. The oil producing local government areas are Warri North and South, Burutu, Isoko North and South, Ughelli North and South, Okpe, Ethiope East and West, Sapele and Ndokwa East and West. The nation's second refinery as well as petrochemical plant is located in the state (Warri).

Tertiary institutions in the state include:

• Federal University of Petroleum Resource, Effurun (established 2007): It is the only university of its kind in Nigeria.
• Delta State University (Abraka Campus,Oleh Campus,Asaba Campus)
• Delta State has 3 state-owned polytechnics: Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic in Ogwashi-Uku, Otefe Oghara Polytechnic in Otefe-Oghara, Ozoro Polytechnic in Ozoro.
• 2 colleges of education: College of Education, Agbor and College of Education, Warri.
• Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba.
• College of Physical Education, Mosogar: Its name is actually a misnomer since it offers courses in education, sciences, arts, social sciences and vocational studies. Sports is just one of the departments in the school of sciences.
• College of Health Technology, Ofuoma-Ughelli
• Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun (federal-owned)
• Western Delta University, Oghara (private-owned)
• Novena University,Amai (private-owned)
• University of Information and Communication Technology, Agbor.

Prominent Citizens

            

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (born June 13, 1954) is a world- renowned economist who is the current Finance Minister (a position she once held). She briefly headed the Ministry of Foreign in 2006. In October 2005, she helped Nigeria strike a deal with the Paris Club: Nigeria paid US $12 billion in exchange for an $18 billion debt write-off. She was also a Managing Director at World Bank. Her parents are professors. Her son, Uzodinma Iweala, is the author of the critically acclaimed novel Beasts of No Nation.

Jim Ovia

Jim Ovia: the pioneer managing director and chief executive officer of zenith bank, one of Nigeria’s biggest banks. Mr. Ovia is the founder of Visafone Communications Limited. He is also Proprietor of the University of Information and Communication Technology, Agbor, Delta State.

Cecilia Ibru (matriarch)

The Ibru Family: They have business interests in shipping, agriculture, aviation,     banking, oil and gas.They are from Agbarha-Otor, Delta. They are urhobos.




The Agofure Family: Owners of Agofure Motors, a big transport company.

Prof Ogaga Ifowodo (Poet): Ogaga Ifowodo, poet and writer, teaches poetry and literature in English at Texas State University, San Marcos, USA. His prize-winning books of poetry are Homeland and Other Poems, Madiba, and The Oil Lamp. His poems have been translated into German, Dutch and Romanian and have also been widely published in anthologies and magazines. He is a recipient of the PEN USA Barbara Goldsmith Freedom-to-Write Award and of the New Word Award of Poets of All Nations based in the Netherlands.

J.P. Clark

J.P. Clark Bekederemo (Poet and Playwright): A professor for several years at the University of Lagos. He retired in 1980. He is a giant in the poetry and drama world. He has held visiting professorial appointments at several institutions of higher learning, including Yale and Wesleyan University in the United States.



Gabriel Okara (Poet)

Ex-Super Eagles players: Stephen Okechukwu Keshi (now coach of the National Team), Sunday Oliseh, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Wilson Oruma, Duke Udi, Sodje Efetobore, Victor Ikpeba, Jonathan Akpoborie, Nduka Ugbade, Peter Nnalue, Emmanuel Okala and many more.

James Ibori: Ex-Governor of the state who has been convicted of money laundering.

Places of Interest

Nana's place: It was built by Chief Nana Olomu of Ebrohim. He was a powerful nineteenth century indigenous entrepreneur who traded with the British. The relationship eventually turned sour. Later, he surrendered (not without putting up a fight) and was exiled to Ghana. His personal effects are housed in this grand palace. 

River Ethiope: reputed to be the deepest inland waterway in Africa (at 176km), has its source at the foot of a giant silk-cotton tree at Umuaja in Ukwuani Local Government Area and flows through seven Local Government Areas in the State. It is a place of worship for Oloku traditional religion.

The Church on the bible site

Araya Bible Site: A copy of the Holy Bible is believed to have descended to this spot miraculously from heaven around August, 1914. The bible dropped on rain-soaked yam, and guess what, it didn't get wet. The site now attracts thousands of christians yearly.

Demas Nwoko Edifice: Demas Nwoko is an architect, builder and artist of international repute from Idumuje-Ugboko, in Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State. This edifice was built using traditional materials, designs and construction techniques of the Igbo civilization and the Benin Empire.

National Museum, Asaba: The Mungo Park house is now the site of this museum. The house was constructed  by the Royal Niger Company (RNC) in 1886 and was used as a colonial administrative headquarters, a military house, the colonial administrative divisional headquarters, the RNC Constabulary building,  and the seat of the Urban District Council at different times. 

Niger bridge: This beautiful bridge connects Delta State (by extension,western Nigeria) to the Eastern part of Nigeria. It is a beauty to behold. It was completed in 1965 and cost £5 million pounds. It was damaged during the civil war, but later repaired.

Lander Brothers Anchorage, Asaba: It was built in memory of early British explorers. The complex has a museum, a graveyard, and many artworks and writings. It houses a replica of one of the boats that was used by the brothers.

Falcorp Mangrove Park: Get read to explorer the mangrove forest here. . 

Warri Kingdom Royal Cemetary: It is 512 years old and serves as the resting place of past rulers of Warri kingdom. A tree is planted on each grave.

Festivals 

Iguaho: It takes place in Asaba. All the 5 quarters in Asaba, led by their heads, pay homage to the Asagba (king) on this day. It is a day of celebration and jollification.

Ine: This is the last of the annual traditional festivals and is celebrated about four weeks. It is marked by military-like parades and war dances. The five quarters of Asaba take turns on a daily basis to dance round the town before paying homage to the Asagba, Odogwu and Iyase. Burials and mourning are prohibited during the festival.

Itsekiri Boat Regalia: This festival features colourful boats sailing on Warri River. .

Adane-Okpe: The Adane-Okpe is an annual cultural event that symbolises a rallying point for all Okpe people. It dates back to the historic meeting of the four Okpe founding brothers; Esezi, Evbreke, Orhoro and Orhue, after the migration of their ancestor from Benin early in the last millennium. The festival is held in Orerokpe, where the meeting point of the brothers is clearly visible.

Aja/Iwaji: These are 'Harvest festivals'.Celebrate to mark the beginning of harvest period and to thank the gods for bountiful harvest.

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