Reproducing the "Map of Nigerian Languages"

 I needed a softcopy of the 'Map of Nigerian Languages' by the National Library of Nigeria. Unfortunately, all the softcopies I found where not useful to me because the image resolution was poor (see images below). So I decided to re-produce one from scratch.

Radio Nigeria has a copy of the map here but it is of low resultion for my use. Although it served as a reference for the new map i intend to reproduce. I also referenced this video on National Library of Nigeria facebook page.

For the list of languages, I utilized this source from National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) to prepare the list below in JSON format:-

'[{"STATES":"ABIA","LANGUAGES":"Igbo"},{"STATES":"ADAMAWA","LANGUAGES":"Bachama, Bali, Bare, Batta, Bena, Bille, Boga, Baba, Bura, Chamba, Chobbo, Dangsa, Dadiya, Dera, Dijim-Bwilim, Dirim, Dibanci, Dong, Doso, Fali, Fulfude, Gaa, Ga’anda, Gbaya-Northeast, Gola, Gengle, Gira, Gongla, Gorobi, Gude, Gudu, Gwaba, Hide, Higgi, Holma, Hona, Huba, Hwana, Hya, Jenjo, Kaan, Kanakuru, Kamwe, Kofa, Koma, Korna, Kpasam, Kugama, Jango, Jkumba, Kilba, Kwa, Kwak, Koma, Laka, Lala, Lak-Roba, Lamang, Libbo, Lunguda, Loo, Matakam, Mobas, Mafa, Marghi South, Mboi, Mbongno, Mbula-Bwazza, Mingang Mumuye, Muchala, Mwana,Ngoshe, Ngwaba, Njayi, Njerep, Nona, Nyong, Nzanyi, Psikye, Samba Leko, Sate, Sukur, Tambo,Tangale, Teme, The, Tso, Vemgo, Verre, Volma, Voro, Waja, Wom, Wula, Yandang, Yundur, Zizilivakan"},{"STATES":"AKWA IBOM","LANGUAGES":"Anang, Efai, Eki, Ekit, Etebi, Ibibio, Ibino, Ibuoro, Idere, Iko, Ilue, Itu Mbon Uzo, Okobo, Uda"},{"STATES":"ANAMBRA","LANGUAGES":"Igbo, Igala"},{"STATES":"BAUCHI STATE","LANGUAGES":"Ajawa, Beele, Bure, Ciwogai, Dass, Daza, Deno, Diri, Duguri, Galambu, Gamo-Ningi, Fulfude, Geji, Gera, Giiwo, Gwa, Gyem, Izere, Jimi, Ju, Karekare, Kariya Kir-Balar, Kubi Kudu, Kudu Camo, Kutto, Kwaami, Labir, Lame Lenoro, Lere, Luri, Mangas, Mburku, Miya Pa’a,-Kwonci, Sanga, Saya, Shau, Shiki, Shuva-Siri, Sur, Tala Tunzuii, Vaghat-Ya-Bijin-Legeri, Warji, Zangwal, Zari, Zeem, Ziriya"},{"STATES":"BAYELSA","LANGUAGES":"Abureni, Epie, Do Southeast, Kirike, Odual, Ogbia, Okochia, Kugbo, Izon"},{"STATES":"BENUE","LANGUAGES":"Agatu, Akpa, Basa, Edumoga, Eloyi, Etulo, Igede, Igbo, Idoma, Iyala, Kukele, Koring, Otank, Odual, Otukpo, Otukpa, Orokam, Peere, Samba-Daka, Tite, Tiv Wanna, Surubu, Utonkon"},{"STATES":"BORNO","LANGUAGES":"Afade, Arabic, Shuwa, Bure-Pabir, Ciback, Aghwede, Fullfude, Glauda, Guduf-Gara, Gvoko Hide, Jara, Jilbe, Kanuri, Lamang, Kurama, Mafa, Marghi South, Tadaga, Tera, Wandda, Yedina Cinen, Babur-Bura."},{"STATES":"CROSS RIVER","LANGUAGES":"Awgagwune, Alege, Bakpinka, Bekwarra, Betc-Bendi, Bokyi, Bumaji, Doko Uyanga, Ebughu, Efik, Efutop, Ejagham, Evant, Kevemaci, Ito, Kiong, Kohumono, Korop, Kukele, Lenyima, Leyigha, Lokaa Lubila, Mbembe, Nde-Nsele-Nta, Ndoe, Nkem-Nkum, Nkukoli, Nnam, Obanlinku, Obolo, Odut Olulomo, Ikom, Oring, Oro Otank, Putukwan, Tamajag, Ubaghara, Ubangi Ukpe-Bayobiri, Ukpet-Ehom, Umon, Usaghade, Uzekwe, Tacc, Yaka"},{"STATES":"DELTA","LANGUAGES":"Eruwa, Isekiri, Isoko Izon, Kalabari, Ogboronuagum, Okpe, Urhobo, Vubie, Ika, Ukwani-Aboh-Ndoni"},{"STATES":"EDO","LANGUAGES":"Edo, Emai-Luleha-Ora, Enwan, Esan, Ghotuo, Ibilo, Idesa, Igwe, Ihevbe, Ika, Ikpeshi, Ivebe-North-Okpela-Arhe, Ososo, Sasaru, Ukaan, Uneme, Uokha Yekhee"},{"STATES":"EKITI","LANGUAGES":"Yoruba"},{"STATES":"EBONYI","LANGUAGES":"Igbo"},{"STATES":"ENUGU STATE","LANGUAGES":"Igbo, Igala"},{"STATES":"GOMBE","LANGUAGES":"Awak, Bangunji, Bolewa, Boh, Burak, Cham, Dadiya, Deji Fulani, Gasi, Ggizim, Hausa, Hone, Jara, Jukun, Kamo, Kana-Kuru, Kanuri, Koma, Kare-Kare, Kushi, Lunguda, Marghi South, Ngamo Pero, Tangale, Tera, Tso, Tula, Tuk, Kamo, Waja, Wurkum"},{"STATES":"IMO","LANGUAGES":"Igbo"},{"STATES":"JIGAWA","LANGUAGES":"Auyokawa, Fulfude, Kanuri, Teshenawa, Kurama, Hausa"},{"STATES":"KADUNA","LANGUAGES":"Amo, Ashe, Atsam, Ayu, Begbere-Ejar, Bina, Cinder-Regi-Tiyal, Cori, Doka, Dungu, Dza, Gbagyi, Gbiri-Niragu, Fulfude, Hyam Idon,M Idun, Iku-Gora-An-Kwa, Izere, Jere, Jiu, Kadara, Kaningkom-Nindem, Kanufi, Kataf, Kinuku, Kono, Kuturmi, Mada, Mala, Ndun, Ningye, Ninzo, Nungu, Nyeng, Piti, Rogo, Ruma, Saya, Sha, Shamang, Tumi Zhire"},{"STATES":"KANO","LANGUAGES":"Fulfude, Gibannawa, Hausa, Kurama, Amo"},{"STATES":"KATSINA","LANGUAGES":"Fulfude, Hausa"},{"STATES":"KEBBI","LANGUAGES":"Acipa, Cinda-Regi, Fulfude, Tital, C’lela, Dendi, Hunsaare, Kyenga, Peshe, Tsikimba, Ut-Ma’in, Hausa,"},{"STATES":"KOGI","LANGUAGES":"Alere, Basa, Ebira, Eggan, Gwari, Igala, Kakanda, Koto, Kupa, Oko-Eni-Osayeri, Okun, Okpamheri, Saya, Ogori"},{"STATES":"KWARA","LANGUAGES":"Batonu, Bagobiri, Bokobaru, Fulfude, Hausa, Nupe, Yoruba"},{"STATES":"LAGOS","LANGUAGES":"Yoruba, Awori"},{"STATES":"NASARAWA","LANGUAGES":"Afo, Agatu, Agoi, Ake, Alago, Alumutesu, Arum, Ashe, Basa-Gumna, Buh, Duhwa, Eggo, Fulani, Gade, Gbagyi, Goemai, Gwandara, Ham, Hausa, Hasha, Jukun, Kantana, Kofyar, Koro, Kulere, Lijili, Migili, Mada, Mama, Ninzo-Nungu, Nyankpa, Saya, Yeskwa"},{"STATES":"NIGER","LANGUAGES":"Asu, Baangi, Basa-Gumna, Basa-Gurmana, Basa-Kon Tagora, Busa, Gishinginni, C’ida, Dendi, Dibo, Fungwa Gbari, Gurmana, Gwandara, Hungworo, Hun-Saare, Ija-Zuba, Kadara, Kakanda, Kakihum, Laru, Lopa, Nepe-Nope-Tako, Pongu, Rogo, Shama-Sambuga, Tsikimba, Tsishinginni, Tsuvadi"},{"STATES":"OGUN","LANGUAGES":"Gun, Yoruba, Egba, Ijebu, Owu, Awori, Yewa."},{"STATES":"ONDO","LANGUAGES":"Ahan, Akpes, Arigidi, Ayere, Ehuem, Iyayu, Uhami, Ukaan, Ukue, Yoruba, Okpamher"},{"STATES":"OSUN","LANGUAGES":"Yoruba"},{"STATES":"OYO","LANGUAGES":"Yoruba"},{"STATES":"PLATEAU","LANGUAGES":"Atsam, Bada, Berom, Boghom, Bo-Rukul, Cakfem-Mushere, Casacen, Centum, Che, Como Karim, Dibo, Duguri, Etem, Fulfude, Fyaam, Fyer, Ganang, Goemai, Horom, Iguta, Irigwe, Izora, Janji, Jorto, Koenoem, Kotyar, Kulere, Lemoro, Kurama, Miship, Montol, Mundet, Mwaghavul, Ngas, Numan, Panawa, Pe, Pyapun, Ron, Sambe, Saya, Shakara, Shalkl-Zwall, Sheni, Sur, Tal, Tanjijili, Tarok, Toro, Tunzuii, Tyap, Vaghotya-Bijim-Legeri, Wapan, Wapha, Yangkam, Yiwom, Yukumben, Zumb."},{"STATES":"RIVERS","LANGUAGES":"Baan, Biseni, Defaka, Degema, Ekpeye, Eleme, Engenni, Gokana, Ibani, Ikwere, Izon, Kalabari, Khana, Kugbo, Obulom, Olchichi, Ogbah, Ogbogolo, Okochia, Ukwani-Aboh-Ndoni."},{"STATES":"SOKOTO","LANGUAGES":"Fulfude, Hausa"},{"STATES":"TARABA","LANGUAGES":"Abon, Akum, Ambo, Anca, Batu, Bête, Bitare, Bukwen, Buru, Como Karim, Dadiya, Dong, Dzodinka, Esimbi, Ettywan, Feli Of Baissa, Fam, Fulfude, Fum, Jiba, Jibu, Jiru, Jukun-Takkum, Kam, Kapya, Kholok, Kpan, Kpati, Kulung, Kutep, Kpak, Lamja-Dengsa-Tola, Lamnso, Leeelau, Limbum, Lufu, Maghadi, Mak, Mambilla, Marghi Central, Marghi South, Mbembe, Tijan, Mingang Doso, Moo, Mvanip Ned-Gbite, Ndoola, Ndunda, Nshi, Nyam, Rangishoo-Mindanye, Somyev, Viti, Waka, Wapan, Yamba."},{"STATES":"YOBE","LANGUAGES":"Fulfude, Kanuri, Bade, Hausa, Ngamo, Shuwa Kanuri, Manga, Karekare, Marghi Central, Marghi South."},{"STATES":"ZAMFARA","LANGUAGES":"Fulfude, Hausa"},{"STATES":"FCT","LANGUAGES":"Bassa, Gbagyi, Hausa, Gwandara, Gade"}]'

The following states have more than ten (10) major and minor spoken indigenous languages: ADAMAWA, PLATEAU, TARABA, BAUCHI, CROSS RIVER, KADUNA, NASARAWA, GOMBE, NIGER, BENUE, BORNO, RIVERS, EDO, AKWA IBOM, KOGI, KEBBI, ONDO, DELTA, and YOBE. The table below shows the total number languages for each state. 

To prepare the map, I made use of Inkscape vector graphics software since the map is not a GIS specific task without scientific cartography elements such as scale, north arrow, grid, projection etc.

"Scientific maps adhere strictly to the principles of cartography and geospatial information science (GIS). On the other hand, Non-scientific maps often sacrifice technical accuracy for ease of use, aesthetic appeal, or conceptual clarity".

The map is more of a conceptual communication map not a measured scientific map that requires the use of GIS tool.

The SVG map of Nigerian state was sourced from SimpleMaps.com (Free Nigeria SVG Maps).

Inkscape has a feature to flow a text into a frame located in the text menu: Text >> Flow into Frame. This feature makes our task easier. The frame in this case are the polygons of the states. The process will be repeated for all the states including the federal capital territory.

The result is as seen below. 

You can get creative with the shapes, positioning, and colors to create a stunning map product. You may also make separate individual states language map, see different variations of maps for Bauchi state spoken languages below:-

Thank you for following.