ABOUT SOKOTO
Sokoto State in its present form came into being in October 1996 when Zamfara State was created by the, then Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Arm Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Sani Abacha, GCON.
LOCATION
With a land area of 28,232.37sq kilometre, Sokoto State is located between longitudes 11° 30" to 13° 50" East and latitude 4° to 6° North. It is bordered in the North by Niger Republic, Zamfara State to the East and Kebbi State to the South and West.
WEATHER
In terms of vegetation, the State falls within the savannah zone. This is open Tsetse fly free grassland suitable for cultivation of grain crops and animal husbandry. Rainfall starts late and ends early with mean annual falls ranging between 500mm to 1,300mm. There are two major seasons in the State namely; wet and dry. The dry season starts from October and lasts up to April in some parts but may extend to Mayor June in other parts. The wet season on the other hand, begins in most part of the State in May and lasts up to September or October.
The Harmattan, a dry, cold and dusty wind is experienced in the State between November and February. Heat is more severe in the State in March and April. But the weather in the State is always cold in the morning and hot in the afternoon save at the peak of Harmattan.

HISTORY
The areas of present Sokoto State was the home of many empires and kingdoms of the Pre-colonial Western Sudan this include Gobir and Kebbi Kingdoms as well as the World renowned Sokoto Caliphate which spiritual and political capita] is the Headquarters of the State.
Following the conquest of the Caliphate by the British in 1903, its various components were made autonomous and joined into the Government of Northern Nigeria. The Northern Region was thus made up of mainly parts of Sokoto Caliphate and Kanem­-Bornu Empire. This continued up to January 1967 when States were created to replace regional Governments by General Yakubu Gowon. Sokoto became the Headquarters of the North-Western State created in 1967. In 1976 following the creation of Niger out of North Western State, Sokoto State emerged with its headquarters yet in Sokoto.
Kebbi and Zamfara States were curved out of Sokoto, in 1991 and 1996 respectively. Sokoto metropolis has thus been the Capital of various Governments since its establishment by Caliph Muhammadu Bello in 1809.

PEOPLE
According to the provisional figures of the 2006 National population Census, Sokoto State has population of 3,696,999 people made up principally of two major groups namely; Hausa and Fulani. There are of course the Zabarmawa and Tuareg minority in the border Local Government Areas.
All these groups speak Hausa as common language. Fulfulde is spoken by the Fulani. Hausa people in the State are made up of Gobirawa, Zamfarawa, Kabawa, Adarawa and Arawa. The Fulani on the other hand are of two main groups: the town Fulani and the nomads. The former includes the Toronkawa, the clan of Shehu Usman Danfodiyo, Sullubawa and Zoramawa. The Toronkawa are the Aristocratic class since1804. Other Nigerian tribes also live peacefully with the citizens of the State, devoid of any form of harassment or molestation.

CULTURE
Culturally, the State is homogenous. The people of the State are Muslims and Islamic religion provides them with a code of conduct and behaviour. Their mode of dressing is also in line with Islamic tenets.
Two major festivals, namely Eid-el-Fitr and Eid-el-Kabir are celebrated in the State every year. The former marks the end of Ramadan fast while the latter features slaughter of rams in commemoration of the act started by Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) peace be unto him thousands of years ago. Traditional wrestling (Kokawa) and boxing (Dambe) are the two sports enjoyed by the Hausa people while the Fulani and Sullubawa entertain themselves with Shoro and Doro respectively. Important visitors to the State are usually treated to a Grand or mini-Durbar, an event involving the parade of heavily decorated horses and camels mounted by men in full Traditional Military and Cultural attires.