Sokoto State – “Seat of the Caliphate”
Located in the north-west geopolitical zone of Nigeria, Sokoto State in its present form was created in 1996 when Zamfara State was created by late General Sani Abacha. There are twenty-three local government areas in the state which are Binji, Bodinga, Dange-shuni, Gada, Goronyo, Gudu, Gawabawa, Illela, Isa, Kware, Kebbe, Rabah, Sabon-Birni, Shagari, Silame, Sokoto-North, Sokoto-South, Tambuwal, Tangaza, Tureta, Wamakko, Wurno, and Yabo.
History
The area of present Sokoto State was the home of many empires and kingdoms of pre-colonial Western Sudan and these include Gobir and Kebbi Kingdoms as well as the Sokoto Caliphate. The name Sokoto, which is the anglicised version of the local name Sakkwato is of Arabic origin, representing suk, ‘market’. Being the seat of the Sokoto Caliphate, the city is predominantly Muslim and an important seat of Islamic learning in Nigeria. The Sultan who heads the caliphate is effectively the spiritual leader of the Nigerian Muslims.
The area of present Sokoto State was the home of many empires and kingdoms of pre-colonial Western Sudan and these include Gobir and Kebbi Kingdoms as well as the Sokoto Caliphate.
People & Culture
Sokoto state has a population of 3,696,999 million people based on the 2006 general census and it is dominated by Hausa and Fulani people. Other minority groups include the Zabarmawa and Tuareg who also speak Hausa as a common language.
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