Calabar

Calabar is a city in south eastern Nigeria. The City is watered by the Calabar and Great Qua rivers and creeks of the Cross River (from its inland Delta). It is the capital of Cross River State.

Related Topics:
Nigeria - Calabar - Great Qua river - Cross River State

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The city, which has been inhabited for 2000 years, has been known to European Sailors as far back as the 15th century and was recognised as an international sea port since the 16th century. Calabar was a major slave trade port from the late 17th to 19th centurys. About thirty percent of the estimated 2.5 million slaves taken from Africa to the new world, passed through the her sea port.

Related Topics:
Europe - Sailor - 15th century - Port - 16th century - Slave - 17th - Africa - New world

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The city once served as the seat of Government of the Niger Coast Protectorate, Southern Protectorate and Oil River Protectorate (effectively the headquaters of modern day Nigeria).

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Due to her early role in international trade and colonial administration, Calabar hosts the earliest Military barracks, the first presbyterian church (Church of Scotland Mission) in 1846, the first monorail and the first modern road network in Nigeria. The city also boasts of the first public (General) Hospital in Nigeria ? St. Margaret Hospital, the oldest post office and one of the first two botanical gardens in the country.

Related Topics:
Colonial - Presbyterian - Church of Scotland Mission - 1846 - Monorail - Road - Hospital - St. Margaret Hospital - Post office - Botanical garden

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As a social centre the city boasts of the first social club in Nigeria ? The Africa Club and also hosted the first competetive football, cricket and hockey games in Nigeria.

Related Topics:
Football - Cricket - Hockey

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Among the city's firsts include the first Roman Catholic Mass (held at 19 Boco Street, Calabar - 1903) and the oldest secondary school (Hope Waddell Training Institute - 1895) in eastern Nigeria. The School later produced the first Nigerian President Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Related Topics:
Roman Catholic Mass - 1903 - Hope Waddell Training Institute - 1895 - Nigerian President - Nnamdi Azikiwe

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Prominent figures in the history of Calabar include King Archibong III - the first king in southern Nigeria to be crowned with regalia sent by Queen Victoria of England in 1878. Others include Professor Eyo Ita - the first Nigerian Professor, Sir Louis Edet - First Nigerian Inspector General of Police, Mrs. Margaret Ekpo - first woman Special member in Nigeria?s Eastern House of Chiefs and later Eastern House of Assembly, Hogan Kid Bassey - first Nigeria?s World Boxing Champion and Etubom Oyo Orok Oyo - premier football administrator, first and only Nigerian so far to be elected into Executive Committee of FIFA (1980 ? 1988) and the first African to be made an Honorary Vice president of Confederation of African Football (CAF) (from 1988 for life).

Related Topics:
King Archibong III - Queen Victoria - England - 1878 - Eyo Ita - Louis Edet - Police - Margaret Ekpo - Hogan Kid Bassey - Boxing - Etubom Oyo Orok Oyo - FIFA - 1980 - 1988 - Confederation of African Football

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Modern Calabar is reputed to be the cleanest city, and number one tourist destination, in Nigeria. The city boosts of an International Museum, botanical garden, Free Trade Zone/Port, International Airport and Seaport, and integrated sports stadium complex, a cultural centre, one the most prominent univerisities in the country, University of Calabar, a slave history park and several historical and cultural landmarks. The city christened cannaan city as clean and well laid out streets adorned on both sides by trees and flowers and boosts of several standard hotels, resorts and amusement parks. By 2006 the city hopes to commission Africa's Premier Business resort christened TINAPA City. Jennifer Burnette rox

Related Topics:
Museum - Free Trade Zone - International Airport - Sports stadium - University of Calabar - Hotel - Amusement park - 2006

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