Enugu the coal city

Enugu state, popularly known as the coal city, is one of the major states in Nigeria's south-eastern region. The state was created in 1991 out of the old Anambra states during the General lbrahim Babangida administration, but was split in 1996 with is eastern half merged with parts of the old Abia state to form Ebonyi. Enugu state shares the same name with its capital city (a name derived from the undulating hills which surround the town). Though geographically Enugu sits more within the valley created by these hills, the town's name—a corruption of the lgbo words enu ugwu—translated roughly as ‘city atop a hill'.

Enugu town is one of the oldest modern settlements in the eastern region. Its establishment as a city centre dates back to the early years of the 20th century when the coal was discovered in commercial quantities around the state. The discovery of the coal sparked the small town to life as it triggered an influx of workers, expatriate engineers, and capital, while amenities like railroad to transport the fossil fuel across long distance were also being constructed. In 2009, Enugu celebrated its centenary as a city: since a mayoralty was established in 1909, the city has survived, though under various political dispensations, for years.

Quite, peaceful and serene, Enugu is one of the most visited towns in the entire south-eastern region. Some major tourist destinations in the state include; the Nike Holiday Resort, the Ezeagu Tourist Complex, the National Museum, lva Valley Coal Mines, and the Oji River, while its rich and colourful Mmanwu (masquerade) festivals attract thousands of spectators yearly. Enugu state also boasts a fair number of excellent institutions of higher learning.