Kaduna, Nigeria, offers a captivating blend of history, culture, natural wonders & entertainment. Discover top attractions, markets, religious diversity & educational institutions.

Do you know that Kaduna means crocodiles? This state in the North is regarded as one of Nigeria's most important centers of commerce, education, and culture. Few states in Nigeria have diverse cultures and regions, and Kaduna State is foremost. 

Kaduna is evolving to be one of Nigeria's largest and finest cities, giving you multiple reasons to be stunned.  The state is a hub of industries, tourist attractions, education, commerce, religions, and diversity. 

From Crocodile River to a City

The origin of the name Kaduna is interesting. It is a corruption of the Hausa plural for crocodiles, Kaduna, as there used to be many crocodiles in the Kaduna River. This made the citizens of Kaduna call it "Croc City" for fun. Other versions link the name to the Gbagyi word/name 'Odna' for the Kaduna River.

Kaduna has been a capital city for a long time. It replaced Zungeru in 1917 to serve as the capital of all the Northern Provinces under the colonial regime. In 1967, Kaduna became the capital of North Central State. In 1987, it became an official state.

What are Kaduna's nickname and motto?

Kaduna State is nicknamed the "center of learning." This is because it is home to numerous prestigious educational institutions, such as Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), School of Aviation, and others. 

Informally, the residents of Kaduna call it the "Croc City" due to its name for crocodiles. This short form name, anglicized, gives it a little swag and hype. 

The Industrial Nature of Kaduna

Kaduna has been one of the major industrial centers in Nigeria. The capital of Kaduna is Nigeria’s largest textile manufacturing center. It has other major industries, including one of the four Nigerian oil refineries and the only standing refinery in the North. 

Zaria, in the Northern part, processes tobacco and cotton seed and manufactures textiles, bicycles, and printed matter. Traditional crafts, especially cotton weaving and dyeing (with locally grown indigo), leather processing, raffia weaving, and pottery designing (notably among the Gbari).

Kafanchan, in the Southern Part, is a host to Tin mining around the western edge of the Jos Plateau. Other resources are tantalite and agrarian activities such as the cultivation of cash crops like ginger. 

Kafanchan and Zaria are also major railway centers in the state. The line runs from Lagos and Port Harcourt (south), serving both towns and lines towards Kaura Namoda, Jos, and Nguru (north and east).

What is Kaduna popular for?

Kaduna is a city known for some of its popular attractions. Make a visit to these places and enjoy a holistic experience. There are sites for historical & cultural experience, natural wonders, entertainment & leisure, and cultural and educational activities, which include:

Kaduna's Must-Sees:

Historical & Cultural:

• Emir of Zazzau Palace

• Nok Village

• Gen. Hassan U. Katsina House

• Kasuwan Barnawa Market

Natural Wonders:

• Kamuku National Park

• Matsirga Waterfalls

• Kagoro Hills

Entertainment & Leisure:

• Kajuru Castle

• Barcode Lounge

• Fifth Chukker Polo and Resort

• Wellness & Relaxation:

• Smart Care Massage

• Jodeci Lounge

•  Fifth Chukker Polo and Resort

Cultural & Educational:

• Kaduna Museum

• Murtala Muhammed Square

Top Market in Kaduna

As a center of commerce, Kaduna markets offer products at affordable prices. You get to find almost all you're searching for. The most popular of these markets are:

• Abubakar Mahmud Gumi Market (Central Market): 

The biggest market in Kaduna is in the center of the city. It is one of the largest economic hubs in the northern Nigeria region, and one of the busiest transportation yards, Ahmadu Bello Way, is the major expressway linking various parts of the market. The market was constructed in 1975. 

It is one of the best places to shop in Kaduna, with its litany of stores and shops offering various items, from food and every day groceries to clothing and even electronics.

• Kaduna Monday Market:

This market is located in Kakuri, Kaduna South. The popular Monday market is located in Kurmin Gwari, close to the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) in Kaduna state.

Almost everything sells, and as a result, people from different places far and near visit the market every Monday, either to do business or to buy goods.

• Bakin Dogo Market

Baki Dogo is a market located in Sabon Gari, Kaduna, which is closer to the Kaduna central market. It is a market to visit for affordable foodstuffs.

• Kasuwa (Central Market) - Tudun Wada 

This market is located in Kakuri, Tudu Wada. Many goods are available there, and they are sold at affordable prices.

Religion and Ethnicity in Kaduna

Kaduna is a secular state in religion and diverse in ethnicity. There is a large presence of Christians and Muslims, as well as some indigenous religious adherents. 

The Sharia is valid for areas with a mainly Muslim population. There are different Muslim brotherhoods and leaders, too. The leader of the Sufi Tijaniyyah brotherhood is Sheikh Dahiru Usman, and Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky the incarcerated leader of the Shia Islamic Movement in Nigeria.

The Christian population includes Roman Catholics, Evangelical Church Winning All, Church of Nigeria, Baptists, Churches of Christ, and other Pentecostal churches and ministries.

People from Kaduna State are mostly referred to as Hausas, but there are various Indigenous tribes in this setting. The state is mostly populated by the Hausa, Gbagyi, Adara, Gwong, Ham, Atyap, Bajju, and Agworok ethnic communities. There are about 59 to 63 different ethnic groups, if not more. The southern part of Kaduna accounts for more tribes in the state.

Kaduna Refinery 

Prior to the construction of the Kaduna refinery, northern Nigeria relied on imported petroleum products. The NNPC constructed the refinery to meet up the regional demand for fuel and other refined products, reducing dependence on external sources.

The Kaduna refinery can produce almost 110 barrels of crude oil per day and has a Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) to process 60,000 barrels of Nigerian crude.

The refinery was intended to be a hydro-scheming type but was upgraded to an integrated facility that produced a wide variety of petroleum products and some lubricating base oils.

Conclusion 

Kaduna remains a significant and growing city, as evidenced by its commercial activities, tourist attractions, educational institutions, religious and ethnic groups, and industrial prowess.

This has been displayed by the beauty of its history as a capital city of crocodiles. Many schools, major tourist attractions, commerce, and industrial centers spanning from the Kaduna capital to Zaria and Kafanchan have blessed the state. 

Visit and have fun in Kaduna, one of Nigeria's fine cities. The city is a hub of learning and entertainment. Get your bag ready and enjoy the trip.