Edo State

This article is about the subnational state of Nigeria. For Japan, see Edo period. For other uses, see Edo (disambiguation).

Edo
State
Flag of Edo
Flag
Seal of Edo State
Seal
Nicknames: 
HeartBeat Of The Nation
Location of Edo State in Nigeria
Location of Edo State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 6°30′N 6°00′E / 6.500°N 6.000°E / 6.500; 6.000
CountryNigeria
Date created27 August 1991
Capital and Largest cityBenin City
Government
 • BodyGovernment of Edo State
 • Governor
(List)		Monday Okpebholo (APC)
 • Deputy GovernorDennis Idahosa (APC)
 • LegislatureEdo State House of Assembly
 • SenatorsC: Vacant
N: Adams Oshiomhole (APC)
S: Neda Imasuen (LP)
 • RepresentativesList
Area
 • Total
19,559 km2 (7,552 sq mi)
 • Rank22nd of 36
Population
 (2022)
 • Total
4,777,000
 • Estimate 
(2022)
4,777,000[1]
 • Rank10th of 36
 • Density244/km2 (630/sq mi)
DemonymEdos
GDP (PPP)
 • Year2021
 • Total$30.81 billion[2]
15th of 36
 • Per capita$5,325[2]
10th of 36
Time zoneUTC+01 (WAT)
postal code
300001
Dialing Code+234
ISO 3166 codeNG-ED
HDI (2022)0.633[3]
medium · 8th of 37
Websiteedostate.gov.ng

Edo, officially known as Edo State, is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of the federal republic of Nigeria. As of 2022, the state was ranked as the 22nd most populous state (4,777,000) in Nigeria. The estimated state population is around 4,777,000 in 2022.[4][5] Edo State is the 22nd largest State by landmass in Nigeria.[6] The state's capital and largest city, Benin City, is the fourth largest city in Nigeria, and the centre of the country's rubber industry.[7][8] Created in 1991 from the former Bendel State, it is also known as the heart beat of the nation.[9] Edo State borders Kogi State to the north for 133 km and across the Niger River for 81 km to the northeast, Anambra State to the east for about four km across the Niger River, Delta State to the southeast and south for 350 km (218 miles), and Ondo State to the west.[10]

The modern borders of Edo State[11] encompasses regions that were formerly the site of various empires and kingdoms of the second dynasty formed in the 11th century AD, the Benin Empire.[12] The ancient city of Edo, the site of modern-day Benin City,[11] was home to some of the largest earthworks in the world.[13] In 1897, the British Empire conducted a punitive expedition of the region, destroying most of the ancient city of Edo and incorporating the territory into what would become the Southern Nigeria Protectorate.[14][15]

Edo State is a diverse state that is predominantly inhabited by the Edoid people, including the Edo (or Bini),[16] Esan, Ora, Akoko-Edo, Owan and Afemai people among others.[17] The most common Edoid language spoken is the Edo language, which is commonly spoken in Benin City.[18] Christianity is the dominant religion in Edo State.[11] It was first introduced to the region by Portuguese missionaries during the 15th century. Islam and traditional religions are also practised.[19]

  1. ^ "Edo (State, Nigeria) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b Okeowo, Gabriel; Fatoba, Iyanuoluwa, eds. (13 October 2022). "State of States 2022 Edition" (PDF). Budgit.org. BudgIT. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  4. ^ "Nigeria Census - Nigeria Data Portal". nigeria.opendataforafrica.org. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Figure S1: Correlations between citation index (WoSCC) and time cited (WOSCC) (A); citation index (Scopus) and time cited (Scopus) (B); citation index (Scopus) and citation index (WoSCC) (C)". doi:10.7717/peerj.6411/supp-1. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ "World Gazetteer: Nigeria - administrative divisions (per geographical..." archive.ph. 5 January 2013. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Benin City | History & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  8. ^ admin (8 June 2018). "Obaseki Revives N5.1bn Urhonigbe Rubber Plantation". THISDAYLIVE. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Edo state: The heartbeat of the Nation". Channels Television. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Edo | State, Nigeria". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  11. ^ a b c "Value added in industry". doi:10.1787/530668747518. Retrieved 28 January 2023. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ^ Strayer 2013, pp. 695–696.
  13. ^ Koutonin, Mawuna (18 March 2016). "Story of cities #5: Benin City, the mighty medieval capital now lost without trace". the Guardian. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  14. ^ Obinyan, T. U. (September 1988). "The Annexation of Benin". Journal of Black Studies. 19 (1). Sage: 29–40. doi:10.1177/002193478801900103. JSTOR 2784423. S2CID 142726955.
  15. ^ Koutonin, Mawuna (18 March 2016). "Story of cities #5: Benin City, the mighty medieval capital now lost without trace". the Guardian. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  16. ^ "Edo" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 May 2020.
  17. ^ Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Nigeria: Esan ethnic group; whether it is a sub-group of the Yoruba; religions practised; whether members of this ethnic group engage in Ogboni practices". Refworld. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  18. ^ "Edo language, alphabet and pronunciation". omniglot.com. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  19. ^ "Benin kingdom/Edo state Religions". www.edoworld.net. Retrieved 15 March 2021.