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Kwara at a glance


Governor
Bukola Saraki

Capital
Ilorin

Main Cities and Towns
Jebba, Offa, Oro, Esie, Omu-Aran, Lafiagi, Oke-Oyi, Patigi, Ajasse Ipo

Population
2 371 089

Website
www.kwarastate.gov.ng

Kwara State is bounded in the north by Niger State, in the south by Osun and Ondo States, in the east by Kogi State and in the west by Oyo State and has an international boundary with Benin Republic.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy and the state's principal cash crops are cassava, rice, maize, groundnut, cashew, cotton, cocoa, coffee, kolanut, tobacco, benseed and palm produce. In 2004 the Kwara State Government invited a group of displaced Zimbabwean farmers to visit the region to assess the potential for commercial agriculture activities. The Kwara Project was met with great enthusiasm and has led to the development of a pilot scheme involving fifteen farmers who have moved to the state from Zimbabwe. The project has already attracted international investment from outside Africa.

Mineral resources such as limestone, marble, feldspar, gold, clay, kaolin, quartz and granite rocks are also found in the area.

Kwara State has many industrial concerns and companies which operate in the region include Dangote Flour Mills, Chellarams, Olam Nigeria, Jebba Paper Mills, Global Soap and Detergent Industry, Nigeria Bottling Company, Tuyil Pharmaceutical Industries and Kwara Ethnix Designs. The capital Ilorin is the state's main industrial area although industries are also found in other areas. Ilorin Airport is a major centre both for domestic and international flights and has now been built-up into a hub for the cargo transport. The state also hosts the Jebba Dam, which is one of the major sources of hydro-electric power in the Nigeria.

Important tourist attractions in Kwara State include the Esie Museum, Owu Falls, Imoleboja Rock Shelter, Ogunjokoro and the Kanji Lake National Park among other attractions.