#SokotoState Our World Friday, October 31, 2014 SOKOTO STATE REPUBLIC OF NIGerIA This supplement to USA TODAY was produced by United World Ltd., Suite 179, 34 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0RH – Tel: +44 (0)20 7305 5678 – [email protected] – www.unitedworld-usa.com Determined action brings real change to Sokoto Major changes introduced by the local government of Nigeria’s northwestern Sokoto State are enhancing life and employment opportunities for citizens and readying it for international investment oreign investment in institutions, such as Goldman “Nigeria is very unique we will soon be able to com- boost all sectors of society and Africa is set to reach Sachs and The Carlyle Group, with a lot of potential in agro- pete across the world.” the economy. DID YOU KNOW? its highest levels this and multinationals, including industry and minerals, and Dr. Wamakko is heading the The state’s capital, Sokoto Facts about Sokoto year since the 2008- Nestlé and Unilever, are at- it has the right quality and transformation that is sweep- City, is the seat of the former 09 global financial tracted to Africa’s strong eco- quantity of human resources. ing through his home region. Sokoto Caliphate – an empire LOCATION crisis, and the African Devel- nomic growth and improved The potential of the economy Located at the northwestern that grew during the 1800s to In the northwestern corner Fopment Bank, the UN and the governance. Singapore’s sov- is vast and diverse,” says Al- tip of the country, Sokoto State become one of largest and most of Nigeria, sharing OECD are all painting a rosy ereign wealth fund Temasek, haji (Dr.) Aliyu Magatakarda is reaping the benefits of elec- economically successful in pre- borders with the Republic outlook for the continent. In- for example, has also recently Wamakko, Governor of Ni- toral promises made real as the colonial sub-Saharan Africa. of Niger to the north, flows of direct and portfolio in- widened its footprint in Africa geria’s Sokoto State. “With the local government stays true to It was led by the first Sultan of Zamfara State to the east, vestments are expected to hit with investments in Tanzania efforts we are making in the pre-election pledges to turn- Sokoto, Sheikh Usman Dan Fo- and Kebbi State to the $84.3 billion in 2014 as major and Nigeria. transformation of the nation, around the state with massive dio, whose descendant Alhaji southwest Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III is the current Sultan and the “SOKoto HAS highly revered representative of Sokoto EXCELLENT RELatioNS Nigeria’s Muslim community. WITH THE U.S., WHERE The Sultan is also the head Abuja WE ENJOY A MutuaL of the Nigerian National Su- NIGERIA AND CORDIAL preme Council for Islamic Af- FRIENDSHIp” fairs, a role that has seen him help mediate interreligious Alhaji (Dr.) Aliyu Magatakarda relations between Nigeria’s POPULATION Wamakko, Governor of Sokoto State Muslim-majority north and According to the latest Christian-majority south. So- population census (2006) koto’s people are proud of the Sokoto had a population investments in infrastructure, peace and stability, as well as of 3.7 million, with around education, health and empow- the emerging economic op- 4.5 million people making erment initiatives. portunities, it can offer the in- it their home in 2013 In the run-up to winning the ternational community 2007 governorship election, Dr. Wamakko notes relations CLIMATE Dr. Wamakko said: “We have with the U.S. are “excellent”. Tropical continental climate designed a blueprint aimed The governor says: “Sokoto is a towards alleviating the terrible place for investors. We appreci- RELIGION living conditions of the people ate investors and we are always Muslim state of Sokoto State. The plans will looking forward to partnering revolve around the provision with new potential investors ETHNIC GROUPS of a sustainable water supply and provide them with a wel- Mainly Hausa and Fulani and healthcare delivery servic- coming environment for them es, enhancing the acquisition to implant new business ven- LIVELIHOOD of both Islamic and Western tures. We have an independent education, restoring confi- Commissionaire of Investment, Over 80% of inhabitants dence in the minds of the peo- assigned with the job of basical- rely on farming ple – most especially the youth ly ensuring investors can easily – and restoring the esteem and and quickly adapt to Sokoto’s ACCESS prestige of our traditional, po- environment. We have good Four major all-weather litical and social institutions.” hotels for their comfort, and roads link Sokoto to other Since then, a raft of new huge potential in minerals, ag- states in Nigeria schemes has been launched to riculture and livestock.” HEALTH SERVICES A UNITED WORLD SUPPLEMENT PRODUCED BY: 440 government health Idil demirel, Project director, facilities and 33 private and Jesús Álvarez García, Editorial Director health clinics Cultural heritage and historic background One of Nigeria’s most ics (mallams) in the region had the repressive authorities and the ruling dynasties controlling rian Islam and has influential Muslims in the influential states has a become disillusioned by the called for religious reforms. He the states of Katsina, Daura, a huge mosque world. Considered fascinating history of insecurity that characterized was eventually forced into exile Kano and Gobir. The new em- opposite the the spiritual leader inspiring change for the the Hausa States (which were pire was founded in 1809 and Sultan’s palace. of Nigeria’s Muslims, predominantly spread across was known as the Sokoto Ca- The current who represent 50% greater good of its people THE SPIRituaL what is today’s southern Niger liphate. Dan Fodio’s son, Mu- Sultan of So- of the country’s pop- and northern Nigeria). The LEADER OF hammed Bello, transformed koto, Alhaji Mu- ulation, the Sultan is elving into the largely pastoral Fulani people NIGERIAN MUSLIMS, the semi-permanent camp of hammadu Sa’ad an active proponent history of Sokoto were increasingly the victims THE CURRENT SULtaN Sokoto into its capital city. Abubakar III, is a of discourse and har- State reveals how of Hausa taxation, land control OF SOKoto, ALHAJI The Sokoto Caliphate was direct descendant mony among com- it became one and other discriminatory and MuhaMMadu Sa’ad an economic success and of Usman Dan munities around of Nigeria’s most repressive practices, and some ABUBAKAR III IS A steadily expanded to put Dan Fodio and is one the world. influential states, having made were beginning to consider a DIRECT DESCENDANT Fodio, and later his son, at the of the most Dan indelible footprint on the revolution was needed to over- OF REVOLUTIONARY head one of the largest and respected country’s cultural and religious throw the existing authorities. SHEIKH USMAN most powerful empires in sub- and development, and led by one of One of numerous traveling DaN FoDIO Saharan Africa. It began to the most influential Muslims in Islamic scholars through the collapse in the latter half of the the world. As a state it goes back Hausa kingdoms became in- 1800s due to pressure from Eu- to 1976, when it was created creasingly popular through his in 1802, where – joined by his ropean colonialism, until finally from the division of Nigeria’s preaching and reformist ideas. followers – he began planning the British conquest in 1903 of former North-Western State Based in Gobir, a leading city- a social and political revolution Kano and Sokoto brought the in two: Niger State and Sokoto state, Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio that would inspire a series of caliphate to an end, becoming State. However, as a region, So- was an urbanized ethnic Fu- other jihads in West Africa in part of the British Protectorate koto has an illustrious past that lani and a leader of the Maliki the first half of the 19th century. of Northern Nigeria until Ni- stretches back much further. school of Islam. The prominent, He led the Fulani Jihad, or geria’s independence in 1960. By the late 1700s, many Mus- radical mallam was an outspo- holy war, which lasted from Today, the city of Sokoto lim scholars, teachers and cler- ken advocate of action against 1804 until 1808 and overthrew remains the center of Nige- Our World Insert is produced by United World. USA Today did not participate in its preparation and is not responsible for its content 2 Friday, October 31, 2014 Distributed by USA TODAY SOKOTO STATE Major projects and accomplishments reshaping the region Sokoto State University Inaugurated in October 2013, the new Sokoto State University (SSU) instills an enormous sense of pride in the Wamakko administration and heralds a new era in education access and skills development in the state. De- signed since its inception in 2008 to incubate and develop Sokoto’s indigenous tal- ent, SSU gives priority, but not exclusive, consideration to local applicants over those from other parts of Nigeria. SSU benefits from being a completely new institution with new buildings constructed from scratch and fitted out with modern amenities and facilities. Its opening created a great deal of anticipation in the sector and the university has attracted applications from some of the state’s best teaching and support staff looking to form its fac- ulty. SSU joins other institutions in the state’s tertiary offer such as the College of Agriculture in Wurno, the College of Legal and Islamic Studies in Wamakko, and the Usmanu Danfodiyo University and School of Development Studies, both in Sokoto. Sweeping changes to the education system introduced shortly after the Wam- akko administration entered office in 2007, includ- ing the abolition of tuition fees for primary and secondary levels, and the establishment of centers targeting skills acquisition and women’s education, will increase the demand for higher education as more students make their way Asare water project The successful efforts of state governor Alhaji (Dr.) Aliyu up the education system and Magatakarda Wamakko to supply clean water to the city of Sokoto Sokoto-trained profes- were typified by the inauguration of the N2.6 billion ($15.8 million) Asare sionals enter the work- water project in August last year.