By Muhammad B Muhammad
Adamawa State (the land of beauty) was created on 27th August 1991 by then administration of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
It covers a land Mass of 39,742.12sq km. This is about 4.4% of the land area of Nigeria. It lies between latitudes 8oN and IIoN, and Longitude H.SoE and 13.5oE.
Base on the 2006 census, Adamawa has a population of 3,168,101. This consists of 1,606,123 males and 1,561,978 females giving population density of 80 people per sq km.
The state has a large number of ethnic groups who live in segmented communities speaking different languages and dialects. English remains the official language, Fulfulde and Hausa are widely spoken in the state.
Majority of the people in Adamawa are farmers. Crops produced include groundnuts, cotton, maize, yam, cassava, guinea-corn, millet, beans, sweet-potato and rice.
Cattle rearing and fruit production are the major occupations, while communities along the banks of River Gongola and Venue engage in fish farming. The main religions are Islam, Christianity and Traditional.
There are 21 local government council areas and 50 development areas, 226 political wards, 3 senatorial districts, 8 federal constituencies and 25 state constituencies.
Adamawa State is known for its cultural heritage which reflects in its craftsmanship, music, dance and dress patterns, the people’s hospitality and cordial relationship.
The state essentially has a picturesque mountainous land traversed by big river valleys of Venue, Gongola and Yedsarem. The valleys of Cameroon, Mandata and Adamawa mountains form part of its undulating landscape.
Adamawa has a tropical climate marked by dry and rainy seasons. The rainy season commences from April and Ends in October.
Moreover, the average rainfall for the state is 79mm in the northern parts and 197mm in the southern parts especially around Ganye and Toungo local government areas. The wettest months are August and September.
The dry season starts in November and ends in April. This is the harmattan period when the dusty laden North-Easterly Trade winds blow from the Sahara desert with a marked effecting the climate of the state.
In addition to that, the period of cold and dry temperatures varies from place to place, but the average recorded minimum temperature is 15.2oC.
There are two notable vegetation zones in the state. The sub-Sudan and the Savannah zones. The Sudan is characterized by short grasses and short trees commonly found in the northern parts. To the south, the vegetation is thick with tall grasses and trees, constituting the Guinea Savannah zone.
Adamawa is the millennium tourist destination in Nigeria. All major towns in the state are adequately connected to the national grid and have standard health facilities spread all over the state.
There are good catering services provided by both government and private hotels. Some of the wonderful scenes the state is endowed with include:
- Kiri Dam: it is located near Kiri town and was specifically built to supply the electricity and water needs of Savannah Sugar Company in Numan. On the hilly side overlooking the dam are beautiful structures with modern facilities to accommodate tourists. Apart from irrigation and fishing, the dam is also suitable for boat racing and surfing.
- Ruwan Zafi: it’s located in Lamurde LGA. Here a hot water gushes out to meet with cold water in a confluence that forms a warm water stream. The area is a tourist attraction and has economic potentials for investors.
- Koma Hills: it is a beautiful scenery with stone writings and paintings of medieval inhabitants of the area called Koma people. The hills give an insight to their history.
- Gumti Park: this is part of Gashaka Gumti National Park that shares border with Taraba state. It is a Games Reserve and harbours all sorts of wild life.
- Sukur Kingdom: this is located in Madagali LGA and has been accredited as world heritage site by UNESCO because of its natural exposition of human nature and its preserved structures dating more than 500 years.
- Three Sisters Rocks: they appear in three formations, making a beautiful scenery that overlooks the town of Song in Song LGA.
- Old Palace of Hamman Yaji in Madagali town in Madagali LGA.
- Sassa water falls at Toungo and Yadim water falls in Fufure LGA.
- Elephant houses in Guyuk LGA.
- Gorobi Rock Formation in Mayo-Belwa LGA
- Fombina Palace Museum, Yola
- Makam Walls in Toungo LGA.
- SellaNegis Falls, Yadim Fufore LGA.
Adamawa State has the following Tertiary Institutions;
- Modibbo Adama University, (MAU) Yola
- Adamawa State University, (ADSU) Mubi
- American University of Nigeria (AUN) Yola
- Nigerian Law School, Yola Campus
- Federal Polytechnic Mubi
- Adamawa State Polytechnic, Yola
- Federal College of Education, (FCE) Yola
- State College of Education (COE) Hong
- College of Nursing and Midwifery, Yola
- College of Health Technology, Michika
- College for Legal Studies, Yola
- College of Agriculture, Ganye
- School of Health technology Mayo Belwa SOTHAMA
The state has the following media houses:
- Adamawa Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Yola
- Adamawa State Television Corporation (ATV) Yola
- Adamawa Press Limited, Publishers of Scope Newspapers
- Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Yola
- Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Fombina Yola
- Federal Information Centre
- Gotel Communications- Radio and Television
- Pulaku FM Yola
- NAS FM Yola
- AIT Raypower Yola
Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is the current Executive Governor of Adamawa State. He was sworn into office on 29th May, 2019 for his first tenure.
Adamawa, My State, My Pride!
By Muhammad B Muhammad (B.A.Ed.Eng. UNIMAID)
m.babangidamuhammad@gmail.com