INTRODUCTION

Jigawa State is one of the six states that make up Nigeria’s North-West geopolitical zone. The state shares an international border with the Republic of Niger to the North, and the Nigerian states of Yobe to the Northeast, Katsina to the Northwest, Bauchi to the Southeast and Kano to the Southwest.  The state capital is Dutse.

LANDMASS, LOCATION, AND POPULATION

Jigawa State covers an area of 23,154 square kilometres. It lies at latitude 12°00' North and longitude 9°45' East. It has a population of 4,361,002 (2006 census) 5,828,163 (2016 forecast) and a population density of 188. The state accounts for 3.1% of Nigeria's total population.
 

HISTORY AND PEOPLE

The people of Jigawa State are predominantly of Hausa or Fulani origin. The vast majority of the residents are Muslim and it is one of the twelve states in the country in which Sharia law applies. 
The state was created out of old Kano State by General Ibrahim Babangida’s military government in 1991.
Hausa and Fulani are its two major languages but the Bade language exists in Guri local government area, Warji language in Birnin Kudu LGA, and Duwai in Hadejia.
Islam and Christianity are the main religions in Jigawa State with the former the most predominant.

MAIN TOWNS AND CITIES

Dutse (capital), Gumel, Hadejia, Birnin Kudu, Kazaure,and Ringim.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS

ADMINISTRATORS AND GOVERNORS

Olayinka Sule (Governor - Military): August 1991 – January 1992
Ali Birnin-Kudu (Governor – Civilian (Social Democratic Party)): January 1992 – November 1993
Ibrahim Aliyu (Administrator - Military): December 1993 – August 1996
Rasheed Shekoni (Administrator - Military): August 1996 – August 1998
Abubakar Maimalari (Administrator - Military): August 1998 – May 1999
Ibrahim Turaki (Governor – Civilian (All People’s Party/All Nigeria People’s Party)): May 1999 – May 2007
Sule Lamido (Governor – Civilian (People’s Democratic Party)): May 2007 – May 2015
Badaru Abubakar (Governor- Civilian ( All Progressives Congress)) May 2015- Present.
 

ECONOMY AND EDUCATION

Agriculture is the core economic activity in Jigawa State. Over eighty percent of the people are engaged in various forms of agro activities. Major food crops in the state are maize, cassava guinea corn and millet. The cash crops are groundnut and cotton.
 Livestock also contributes to the state’s agro economy. The state has significant deposits of kaolin, amethyst, marl stones, iron ore, copper, potash, antimony, white quartz, solice and gold. Some of the arts and crafts in the state are weaving, and pottery.
The tertiary institutions in the state are Federal University, Dutse; Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure; Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse; Jigawa State College of Education, Gumel and College of Education, Jalingo.
 

FAMOUS SITES AND CULTURE
Sites
Emir of Dutse’s Palace, Dutse
 

The Emir of Dutse’s palace in Guru in the state capital is surrounded by rocks and sits on an elevation. It has a rich display of art depicting northern unity.

Birnin Kudu Rock Painting, Birnin Kudu
 

Birnin Kudu Rock Paintings are ancient paintings on rocks in caves.  
The rock art depicts images of animals such as cattle and sheep as well as geometric signs and are thought to date back to the Neolithic period.

Baturiya Wetlands and Bird Sanctuary

The Baturiya Wetlands and Bird Sanctuary provide a natural habitat for over 300 species of migratory birds from many parts of the world including Europe and Australia. It is in Kiri Kasmma local government area and covers 320 square kilometres.

Culture

Sharo festival is an annual event marked by the people of Jigawa State to celebrate a new harvest. Music is an integral part of the festival.
Gani (Durbar) festival dates back to the 14th century and features impressive horses displays.
Other festivals including Kokawa (traditional wrestling) and Dambe (traditional boxing), these take place at the end of the harvest season.
 

NOTABLE INDIGENES

Muhammad dan Bello (1914-1995)

Inuwa Dutse (1929 -2017)

DID YOU KNOW

The oldest rock painting in Nigeria is the Birnin-Kudu Rock Painting in Jigawa State.