Why Zaria hosts many tertiary, research institutions

• Sardauna’s prison life in the city is one secret

Many factors contributed to the present status attained by Zaria as host to several tertiary and research institutions. The gleam that Zaria would become a citadel of learning started even before the coming of colonialists. Daily Trust Saturday reports.

The city of Zaria in Kaduna State earned the rank of a fortress of scholarship many centuries ago. The city which attracted students of Islamic jurisprudence from different parts of Nigeria and beyond and has produced renowned Islamic scholars.

In the same vein, Zaria has played host to institutions with Western orientation since the days of colonialism, hence the acceptance of the city by the colonial masters as a conducive environment for teaching and learning of Western education ahead of its peers in Northern Nigeria.

Before the establishment of Western schools in the North, institutions such as the Depot Nigerian Army (Depot NA) were established in Zaria. The city also hosted the camp of soldiers going to World War II (WW II) in the Kongo area of the city.

Furthermore, the first centre for agricultural research in the North was set up in Zaria. The foregoing, in addition to several other factors, combined to give Zaria advantage over other cities, hence the setting up of numerous federal tertiary and research institutions in the ancient city.

Therefore, to establish the reason behind the presence of these tertiary and research institutions in Zaria, there is need to go down history lane.

Politics of succession in Zazzau (Zaria) Emirate’s led to the invitation of colonialists to the city by Sarki Kwasau. The invitation was said to be the genesis of the presence of these institutions in the city.

Succession intrigues

Sarki Kwasau was said to be under pressure and had no option than to invite the colonialists to assist him to protect his emirate against incursions by the Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora in present day Niger State, Umar Nagwamatse. This marked the first contact of the colonialists with the city.

The Security Adviser to the Emir of Zazzau and an expert on the history of Zaria, Alhaji Usman Dalhatu, said after the death of Sarkin Zazzau Yero of the Bare-Bari Dynasty, his son, Kwasau, was desperate to take over the throne.

At that time, according to findings, it was the Sultan of Sokoto, Abdulrahman, that ruled all the Muslim communities and their kingdoms.

Alhaji Dalhatu said, “Sultan Abdulrahman was employing a kind of autocratic leadership style. This earned him the alias of Abdulrahman Danyan Kasko. He determined who became emir in all the emirates under the sultanate. Unfortunately for Kwasau, Danyan Kasko was against his becoming the next Emir of Zazzau.

“Sultan Danyan Kasko’s candidate was Madaki Ali from the Mallawa Dynasty, but Madaki Ali was bedridden and the sickness led to his death. Therefore, the princes of Zazzau rallied round to support Kwasau to become the next emir, largely because of his power, influence and threat of violence.

“When Sultan Danyan Kasko sent his waziri (deputy) to oversee the coronation of a new emir, Kwasau confronted the waziri and threatened that, ‘You either crown me as the new emir or I will cut off your head and send it to the sultan in Sokoto.’ This happened shortly before the arrival of the colonialists. Therefore, the waziri had no option than to crown Kwasau as emir.

“Despite Kwasau’s insubordination, Sultan Danyan Kasko did not wage war against Zazzau despite having the wherewithal to do so probably because Sokoto was at war with Kano and Bauchi.

“Therefore, the sultan used his brother, Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora, Umar Nagwamatse, to be attacking Zaria as punishment for Kwasau’s action. Kwasau did not retaliate Nagwamatse’s attacks because Zaria waging war against Nagwamatse would be like waging war against Sokoto; which was like an abomination.”

Records indicate that while the tension between Zazzau and Kontagora reached its peak, colonialists came to Bida and Minna in Niger State, and that Kwasau sent emissaries to them requesting their assistance in defending his emirate. When the colonialists came to Zaria around 1902, they stopped Nagwamatse’s incursion and even dethroned him.

Dalhatu further explained that, “As time went on, Kwasau realised the anti-Islam posture of the colonialists. He, therefore, confronted them. Before the skirmishes that ensued between Kwasau and his former allies, his representative in Keffi, present day Nasarawa State, Magaji Danyamusa, killed the Abuja Resident colonialist, Captain Moley.

“Danyamusa ambushed Captain Moley at his palace and cut off his head. After the incident, Sarkin Keffi requested Danyamusa to leave the town for fear of a reprisal. He attempted to go back to Zaria, but Kwasau directed him to Kano instead.

“The Emir of Kano, Alu, who was at loggerheads with the colonialists, organised an elaborate reception for Danyamusa.

“However, Lord Lugard felt the reception was a confrontation with England and so intercepted it. He used that opportunity to continue his plan of the forceful annexation of Northern Nigeria. One of the measures taken by Lugard was dethronement of Kwasau. After Kwasau’s removal, Zaria remained without emir for about six months.”

Zaria as conducive settlement for colonialists

After the conquest of Zaria and other Northern cities by the colonialists, which led to the exile of Sultan Attahiru of Sokoto, the colonialists saw Zaria as a conducive city for their activities and so decided to have a permanent settlement there.

Therefore, after the coronation of Alu Dan Sidi as the Emir of Zazzau, the colonialists began to settle in Zaria. However, before that time, missionaries were already in the city and other parts of the North.

In Zaria, the colonialists were given Durumin Mai Garke, close to Wazirin Zazzau’s official residence, as their settlement.

Dalhatu explained that, “Because of the way the colonialists perceived Zaria, Depot NA was set up. The way Zaria residents accommodated the depot, it further confirmed the colonialists’ perception of the city as a conducive environment for them.

“This made the colonialists to attempt to set up the first Western education school in Zaria, but unfortunately the people resisted, largely because of the conversion of many residents to Christianity. Therefore, the school was taken to Kano and named Makarantar Dan Hausa. It became the first Western school in Northern Nigeria headed by Hanss Gischer. The place is now a cultural centre called Gidan Dan Hausa.”

However, according to findings, because of the development in Kano, Western schools were later set up in Zaria despite the people’s resistance, and so Babban Dodo area hosted the first Western school in Zaria. It was followed by Town School No 1, Kofan Kuyan Bana. It is now LEA Primary School, Kofan Kuyan Bana. Town School No 2 was also set up in the Magajiya area.

Western education continued to gain ground in Zaria and this led to the setting up of Zaria Middle School then known as Kamfawul, which is today Alhudahuda College. It was established in 1910.

This development gave the colonialists more confidence that Zaria had accepted Western education.

Dalhatu explained that, “Western education was seen as a taboo and that was why the people then composed the famous song of:

‘Dan makarantar bokoko,

Ba karatu ba sallah,

Sai yawan zagin malam’

“Which means:

‘Student of Western education,

That does not read or pray,

Except abusing his teacher.’”

The development of Western education continued under Sarki Alu Dan Sidi before he was removed as emir by the colonialists.

Western education continued to receive attention under Sarki Dalhatu, Sarki Ibrahim and Sarki Jafaru.

Sardauna connection

Before Sarki Aminu ascended the throne of Zazzau, he was the District Head of Sabon Gari. His ascension coincided with the time that the Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, was convicted for misappropriating jangali (animal tax). He was charged by Sultan Abubakar III and was sent to the Zaria prison.

Sardauna’s stay in the Zaria prison marked the beginning of his relationship with Sarki Aminu.

Dalhatu said, “In fact, they went for an appeal and Sardauna was later acquitted and discharged from prison. Sarki Aminu became emir after the Government of the Northern Region under Sardauna was formed. Similarly, Zaria became a hot bed of politics. Both the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) and the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) struggled to gain ground in Zaria.

“Similarly, when the issue of setting up of an agricultural research institute came up, Zaria was chosen in 1921, which is today known as Division of Agricultural Colleges (DAC). It was followed by the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR). Before then, the Zaria Pharmaceutical School (ZPS) was established around 1910 in Tudun Wada, which is now Barau Dikko Hospital. It was the first pharmaceutical school in Northern Nigeria where R.A.B. Dikko, the first medical doctor from the Northern Region, worked.

Kongo, where the College of Administration of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is located also contributed to the development of Western education and setting up of tertiary institutions in Zaria.

Soldiers going to WW II were camped there. The soldiers were meant to go to Congo as part of Africa’s World War II contingent and this was how the name Kongo came about.

After WW II, the Northern Clerical School (School of Administration) was set up in the area before the establishment of ABU in 1962.

An elder statesman and former Bursar of ABU, Alhaji Muhammadu Jibo, confirmed this in an interview with Daily Trust Saturday.

When Nigeria got independence, the Sardauna who was now Premier of the Northern Region, saw the need for the establishment of a university; mainly because other parts of the country had established theirs. This marked the beginning of the setting up of many institutions that Zaria is now proud of.

Zaria as median of the North

Another very important reason why Zaria is host to many institutions is attributed to when Sarki Aminu advised the government to determine the geographical location of the city in the Northern Region. It was discovered that Zaria is at the centre, hence it was suggested that the establishment of major institutions in the area would amount to being fair to all the citizens of the Northern Region.

While Sardauna did not hesitate to pick Zaria for the establishment of the first university in the North, Sarki Aminu provided the vast land needed for it.

Dalhatu explained that, “Sardauna was challenged by his counterparts in other parts of Nigeria that the North did not have competent people to study in a university. So together with his friend, Sarki Aminu, they proved the adversaries of the North wrong, as ABU today is one of the best, liberal and cosmopolitan universities in Nigeria, Africa and even beyond.”

Some of the institutions: 

ABU

The first institution that comes to mind when Zaria is mentioned is ABU. It was officially opened on October 4, 1962. It got its name from the first and last Premier of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello (Sardauna of Sokoto).

Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT)

The establishment of ABU motivated the coming on board of many other institutions. One of these is the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), which was founded in 1964. It was then known as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre (NCATC). The college offers training in flying, air traffic control, aeronautical telecommunication, aircraft maintenance, aviation correspondent courses, among many others.

The college, according to findings, was founded to assist Nigerians obtain aviation training locally instead of going abroad.

Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT)

NITT was established on March 14, 1986 to, among others, address the problems of the transport sector. These problems include inefficient and low productivity, fast depreciation of capital investment, deficient management and maintenance of infrastructure, low level of professionalism and high expenditure on overseas training.

Federal College of Education (FCE)

The FCE was established in 1962 as Advanced Teachers College (ATC). It is the North’s premier College of Education (COE).

Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT)

Nuclear development across the world informed the decision of Iya Abubakar, the then Vice Chancellor (VC) of ABU, to set up a committee that looked into the possibility of setting up a nuclear centre. This led to the formation of the Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology (CENTECH) and renamed CERT with the mandate to develop nuclear science and technology in Nigeria.

National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT)

NARICT is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. The institute engages in innovative research of converting indigenous raw materials into valuable chemicals and chemical products. It is now mainly involved in renewable energy research, catalysis and treatment of industrial effluent waste, among others.

Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST)

NILEST was founded in 1964. It was initially named Hides and Skin Demonstration and Training Project (HSDP). The institute offers courses on leather and leather products and also engages in research.

Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH)

ABUTH is under the Federal Ministry of Health, but it is also part of ABU. It offers medical services to the public and trains different cadre of medical personnel.

National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS)

The board was founded by Sardauna in 1960. It was later transferred to ABU in 1969, and in 2011 it became a national examination body. This led to the movement of its headquarters to Kaduna, but it still operates and conducts most of its activities in Zaria.

Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR)

IAR was established in 1922 as the research division of the Department of Agriculture of the Northern Region. It was later transferred to ABU. The institute now engages in research that produces many varieties of maize, sorghum, cowpea, cotton, et cetera.

National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI)

The formation of NAPRI can be traced back to 1928 when the Shika, Zaria Cattle Study Farm (SZCSC) was established. Its mandate included selection of indigenous breed of bulls for breeding of local herds. In 1962, it became Shika Grassland Station (SGS) under the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR).

The institute transformed to NAPRI on July 1, 1976. It conducts research on cattle breeding, dairy, equine and camel, feeds and nutrition, poultry, ruminants, et cetera.

National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS)

NAERLS was established in 1975 with the mandate to collate, evaluate and disseminate agricultural technologies. It also conducts research on agricultural extension methods.

Zaria also plays host to Kaduna state-owned and private tertiary institutions like the Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic and the Ameer Shehu Idris College of Advanced Studies.

Indeed, these institutions have attracted Nigerians and foreigners who now see Zaria as their “second” home. There is no gainsaying the fact that the institutions boost both social and economic life of the city.