Ariaria Market in Nigeria: a Home of Cheap and Quality Products

Markets in Nigeria
Ariaria Market

Ariaria Market in Nigeria is located at in the Eastern part of the country; precisely in Aba, Abia state. It is arguably the largest market East of Niger. It was founded in 1970 after the war and after the fire incidence that gutted Ekoha Market in Aba also.

Though nobody gave it a chance of survival at the new location because it was sited at a swampy location on the outskirts of Aba, like magic, it soon grew in leaps and bounds to become a one-stop market where one could buy virtually all that one needs either in bulk or retail and at good prices.

Most of the notorious products of Aba (Aba Made) were sold in the market.


Various governments have attended to the swampy nature of the market and it presently wears a new look.

Traders come from Ghana, Cameroon, Liberia, Togo and from even Congo, Equitorial Guinea and Ivory Coast to buy goods for resale in those countries. Some Europeans considered it a tourist attraction.

Shoes produced in Aba and sold in the market is competing favourably with Italian shoes. The beauty of Ariaria market products is that they are very affordable and of high quality.

Manufacturing and trading in the market provides massive emploment for youth in Aba in particular and Nigeria in general. This has earned Aba the nickname: Japan of Africa

Kaduna State in Nigeria: a Brief History of the Ancient State

Kaduna State Nigeria
Kaduna City


Kaduna State is a successor state of the old Northern Region of Nigeia which had its capital at Kaduna. The current Kaduna state was given its form in 1987 after Katsina state was carved out of her. It has population of about 6,006,562 according to 2006 census.

About naming the city: the colonial masters learnt of the presence of ‘rafin kaduna’, which means the river of crocodiles. ‘kada’ is a Hausa word for "crocodile" while ‘rafi’ means a river; while the word ‘kaduna’ is the plural of ‘kada.’ The colonial administration then adopted the word ‘kaduna’ for its new headquarters. The distorted pronounciation by the whites however buried the true meaning of the name.

Currently, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, is the governor of the state elected under the platform of the ruling party APC in the 2015 General Election.

It has 23 Local Government Areas: Birni-Gwari, Chikun, Giwa, Igabi, Ikara, jaba, Jema'a, Kachia, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Kagarko, Kajuru, Kaura, Kauru, Kubau, Kudan, Lere, Makarfi, Sabon-Gari, Sanga, Soba, Zango-Kataf, Zaria.

The state features Zaria, the host of Ahmadu Bello University which is arguably the largest university in Nigeria and second to the largest in the continent of Africa.

Besides Kaduna town and Zaria, there are other cities such as Kagoro, Kafanchan, Kachia and Zonkwa.

Attractions in the State include: Emir’s Palace, Zaria, City Wall, Zaria, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; Barewa College, Zaria, CHELTECH (Leather Processing Institute) Samaru, Zaria, Amalgamation House, The Nok, Fifth Chukker Resorts, Lord Lugard Residence, Matsirga Waterfalls, Trappco Ranch & Resort, Kajuru Castle, River Kaduna, Lord Lugard Foot Bridge, Lord Lugard Hall, St. Bartholomew’s Church, National Museum, Kamuku National Park, Durbar Festival, Afan Festival, Tuk-Ham, Kalankuwa Cultural Festival, Kaduna State Festival of Arts & Culture, Arewa Chinese Restaurant, French Café, Rich Bites, etc.

Kaduna is a cosmopolitan state but the most widely spoken language in the state is Hausa and English. The major ethnic groups in the state are the Fulanis, Hausas, Kajes, Kadaras, Jabas, Kagoros, Gbagis and Katafs.

Agriculture is the occupation of most of the population; and Hausa and English languages are the most spoken in the state.

It is bordered by the Federal Capital Territory to the south, Katsina, Kano, and Sokoto to the North, Plateau State to the east and Niger State to the west. It has a land area of about 45, 567 square meters made up of undulating plateau and hills. Rivers in Kaduna includes Kogom, Gongola, Gurara which has Gurara Fall as its source, Kaduna river.

Sokoto Caliphate in Nigeria: a Legacy of the Ancient Empire

The Seat of the Caliph
The Seat of the Caliph

The Sokoto Calipahate was founded in 19th Century precisely in 1809 by Usman Dan Fodio, who became the first Sultan of Sokoto; though he preferred the name, Sarki Musulumi to Sultan. Sarki Musulumi means the commander of the Muslim faithfuls.

The Caliphate is a loose confederation of emirates that were under the authority of the Sultan. When Dan Fodio died in 1817,  he was succeeded by his son, Muhammad Bello. There was however feud between Bello and abdullahi, his uncle. This brought about the division of the Caliphate into two regions with their capitals in Sokoto and Gwandu. The Abdullahi division ruled over the Western divison of the Caliphate up to the modern Burkina Faso, former Upper Volta. The authority of the Sokoto division held sway nonetheless.


Dan Fodio since the fall of Songhai in 1591 created the largest empire in Africa via his lightening Jihad. 

The boundary of the Sokoto Caliphate extended to Kwanni and Maradi in Niger Republic and some parts of Burkina Faso and Benin Republic as well as Cameroon and most of the Northern Nigeria. These included Argungu, Gobir, Alkalawa, Gwandu, Zamfara, Kontagora, Minna, Bida, Kano, Hadejia, Jigawa, Katsina, Zaria, Bauchi, Katagun, Adamawa and Yola. Southwards, it reached Abuja and Ilorin. Of course other satellite towns and cities in the caliphate then were, Kalmalo, Kaura Namoda, Isa, Sokoto, Illo, Yawuri Telgina Agaie and some parts of old Oyo Kingdom of Nigeria. These former empires and Kingdoms were either swallowed up completely or were successfully administered by the Sultan of Sokoto for the next 100 years after the Jihad.

The Sokoto Caliphate was the center of politics and economics in the region until it fell to French and British colonial armies in the early 20th Century.


LIST OF SULTANS OF SOKOTO  


Shehu Usman Danfodio (1804 - 1815)

Muhammed Bello (Son)  (1815 - 1837)

Abubakar Atiku (1837 - 1842)

Aliyu Babba Dan-Bello (1842 - 1859)

Ahmadu  Atiku Dan-Abubakar (1859 - 1866)

Aliyu Karami Dan-Bello (1866 - 1867)

Ahmadu Rufa' Dan-Usman (1867 - 1873)

Abubakar Atiku II Dan-Bello (1873 - 1877)

Mu'azu Ahmadu Dan-Bello (1877 - 1881)

Umaru Dan-Aliyu Babba (1881 - 1891)

Abdurahman Dan-Abubakar (1891 - 1902)

Muhammadu Attahiru I Dan-Ahmadu (1902 - 1903)

Muhammadu Attahiru II Dan-Aliyu Babba (1903 - 1915)

Muhammadu Dan-Ahmadu Maiturare  (1915 - 1924)

Muhammadu Dan-Muhammadu Tambari  (1924 - 1931)

Hassan Dan-Ma'azu (1931 - 1938)

Abubakar Dan-Usman saddiq (1938 - 1988)

Ibrahim Dasuki Dan-Haliru (1988 - 1996)

Muhammadu Macido Abubakar III (1996 - 2006)

Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar (2006 till date)


There were 24 Sultans in all after Uthman Dan Fodiyo.

The Federal University in Sokoto State was named after the great Jihadist and a religious leader, Dan Fodio

Zuma Rock in Nigeria: a Tall and Beautiful Rock

Rocks and Mountains in Nigeria
Zuma Rock

Zuma rock is a natural feature of Nigeria. It is a giant rock of about 125 meters tall and about 3.1 km in circumference. The monolithic feature is along Abuja - kaduna road in Niger state, Nigeria. The geographical feature is depicted at the back of the 100 Naira note currency of the Central Bank of Nigeria.



There are agreements with foreign investors at making the rock a state-of-the-art tourist destination. Precisely in 2009, the governor of Niger state signed a memorandum of understanding with Canadian tourism development company to build a tourist resort village around the beautiful rock.

The Zuma rock features what some observers called a human face. The locals on their side believed that the rock has supernatural power. When an hotel that they built at the foot of the rock went out of business, the locals claimed that they knew that such would happen; that it could have been a pleasant surprise if the rock failed to doom the business.

In 2010, rumours filtered in about ritual killings around the rock and that politicians were the beneficiaries but the police after investigation debunked the the allegation.

The University of Ibadan in Nigeria: the First and the Best

Universities in Nigeria
The University of Ibadan





The University of Ibadan which is reputed as the first and the best in Nigeria was established by colonial masters in 1948 as a subsidiary of London University. It kick started as a University college in Eleyele, Ibadan before it was moved down to its present site. A 2,550 acres of land leased by Ibadan chiefs to the institution for a period of 999 years, i.e, about a millennium.



Ibadan land, the host of the ivory tower is an ancient city in the old Oyo empire which served not only as the capital of the old western region of Nigeria but also the capital city of the present Oyo state of Nigeria.

The pioneer students of the great citadel of higher learning were just 104 students which included the eminent Nigerians and literary giants such as Prof. Chinua Achebe, the author of "Things Fall Apart."

The institution awarded its first postgraduate degree in 1952 when it was still under a “scheme of special relation” with the University of London.

Upon becoming a full fledged and an independent university in 1962, it registered a total of 62 students for graduate programmes.

The school has ten magnificent undergraduate Halls of Residence: Mellanby, Tedder, Kuti, Sultan Bello, Queen Elizabeth II, Alexander Brown (situated at University College Hospital inside town), Independence, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Queen Idia, Obafemi Awolowo) and two postgraduate Halls of Residence, namely, Tafawa Balewa and the New Postgraduate Hall named Abdulsalami Abubakar Hall. Obafemi Awolowo Hall which used to be a hall of residence for both postgraduate and undergraduate students turned an exclusive undergraduate hall from 2001/2002 sessions when the new postgraduate hall was completed.

Besides the College of Medicine, there are now ten other faculties: Arts, Science, Agriculture and Forestry, Social Sciences, Education, Veterinary Medicine, Technology, Law, Public Health and Dentistry.

The Management Sciences faculty at the time of this write up is nearing completion with its new state-of-the-art hall of residence behind Queen Idia Hall.

The university has an independent botanical and zoological gardens. The zoo features rare animals such as Giraffe, Lions, Chimpanzee, Hyena; and others such as Crocodile, Snakes of different kinds, Birds of variegated sizes and colours, Donkey, Camel,Baboons, Monkeys, etc.

The first non-white Vice Chancellor of the institution was Kenneth Onwuka Dike; after whom the University Library was named.

There are places of worship for students: The Central mosque for the Muslims, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom for the Catholics and the Chapel of Resurrection for the Pentecostals.

The institution feature a clean, green and serene environment and is situated at the heart of the city of Ibadan opposite Agbowo area.

Nike Lake Hotel and Resorts, Enugu, Nigeria: a Hotel Mixed with Nature

Nike Lake Hotel
Nike Lake Hotel













Address: Nike Lake Road, Enugu
Phone:0805 055 7000

Nike Lake resort and hotel is in Abakpa Nike town, Enugu East Local Government area. This hotel is to say the least, home away from home as it is located within a serene and peaceful environment and offers accommodation and bar services. It has 216 well airconditioned and furnished rooms & suites, suitable for all tastes and budgets. All the rooms & suites have either a garden or lake view and each room provides the ultimate in comfort and luxury that you can expect from an African Sun hotel. The resort is only 5 minutes drive from Enugu metropolis.



Its comparison in fame is the Premier hotel in Ibadan.

It is a famous hotel in the capital of former Eastern region. The medley of nature and beautiful architecture gives comfort and vitality to customers.

The hotel is world class. A beacon of light on the map of Nigeria and a pacesetter to other hotels in Nigeria.

Each room in the hotel features:
Air conditioning.
Bath tub and/or shower all en-suite.
Telephone
TV with 10 DSTV channels.
Full length mirror
Minibar Fridge (stocked on request)
Hairdryer (on request) Writing desk.
24 hour room service.
Smoke detectors and sprinklers.
Tea & Coffee making facilities
Multiple 220V plugs.
Wake up call., Baby cots (on request)
Private balconies.
Writing Desk
Free Wireless Internet



While the hotel generally boasts of these state-of-the-art facilities:

Restaurant
Bar & lounge
Pool terrace
 24 hour front desk operations
Porters
Wireless internet access
EUROPE CAR hire Services
Gift shop / Curio Shop
Massage therapy centre
Large car Park
Children’s play ground
Safe deposit boxes at reception
Well equipped Gym
Swimming pool
Volleyball
Basketball
2 Tennis courts
Jogging & Boat rides

Blessed Iwene Tansi of Nigeria: The First West African Saint

Saint in Nigeria
Blessed Micheal Iwene Tansi was born in 1903 in Aguleri; presently in Anambra East Local Government of Nigeria. He had his early schooling in the mission school in Christian Village (Ugwu Ndi uka) in Aguleri when he was sent to stay with his uncle, Robert Oraekie. It was about that time that he was baptized in 1912 at the age of 9 under the name Michael.

He partly schooled in Holy Trinity School, Onitsha where he began a career in teaching in 1920 and in 1924, he returned to Christian Village, Aguleri where he continued teaching.

He entered seminary in 1925 at Igbariam, also in the present Anambra East Local Government Area and he was ordained a Catholic priest by Bishop C. Heerey in 1937. This was a time were almost all the Catholic priests in Nigeria were foreigners.



As a priest, he served in Nnewi, Dunukofia, Akpu/Ajali and Aguleri his hometown. His desire for a greater devotion to God and life of prayer, he opted for joining monastery in 1950 and he joined the Cistercian Monastery of Mount St. Bernard, England. As a tradition in the monastery, he took vows and took a name too: Cyprain. His full name came to be known as Fr. Cyprain Michael Iwene Tansi.

Fourteen years later, precisely in 1964, he fell sick and died in the monastery on January 20. He died the same day as a result of Arteriosclerosis and rupture and a coronary aneurism.

On 20th January 1986 Archbishop Stephen Ezeanya the new Archbishop of Onitsha inaugurated the Onitsha Archdiocesan Tribunal for the Cause of Fr. Tansi. The request is made for his remains  to be brought back to Nigeria.  The request was granted and on the 12th September 1986 his remains are exhumed and flown to Nigeria on 19th September 1986. After a solemn concelebrated Mass, his remains are reinterred at the Priests' cemetery beside Holy Trinity Cathedral Onitsha on 17th October 1986.

His outstanding monastic life hadn't precedent. He prayers in the monastery were said entirely on pebbles while others prayed with pillows under their knees.

Having been brought back in Onitsha, during a concelebrated high mass, a girl with cancer was cured; thus, giving signal of the holiness of the remains of the priest and monk.

On March 22, 1998, at Onitsha, during a trip to Nigeria made for that very purpose, Pope John Paul II beatified Father Cyprian Michael Tansi, proclaiming him to be a model of priestly zeal and prayer.

That became the second papal visit to Nigeria after that of 1982 where the Holy Father in a homily in the University of Ibadan, told Nigerian intellectuals that the future of Nigeria was their hand to make or mar.

Blessed Tansi's feast day is January 20 every year.