Zaria is a city in northern Nigeria. It is located in the state of Kaduna. The city is a focal point of roadways and railways, and it is also a leading cotton-growing region. The approximate population of the city of Zaria is 369,800. Zaria is known for its industrial growth and also for its strategic location.
History of Zaria
Zaria used to be known as Zazzau at an earlier time. The city was originally established as a community approximately in AD 1000. It was founded as one of the seven states of Hausa. In this respect, Zaria is one of the oldest cities in Nigeria. The city came to be included in the Songhai Empire in the 16th century. Afterwards, the Fulani conquered it in the early 19th century. The British gained control over Zaria in 1901.
Economy of Zaria
The economy of Zaria is based primarily on agricultural and industrial development. The chief agricultural products in Zaria are - cotton, peanuts, hides and skins, ginger, beeswax, and durra sorghum.
The city boasts of a railroad engineering plant. Apart from this, the industries in Zaria comprise of - cotton ginning, peanut and shea-nut milling, tanning, cottonseed-oil milling, and the manufacture of cigarettes, bicycles, perfumes, and soap.
Education in Zaria
The main educational institute in Zaria is the Ahmadu Bello University established in 1962. Other than this, the Katsina College of Arts, Science and Technology, founded in 1974, is the other notable educational institution in Zaria.
One of the primary cities in the country,
Zaria is also a significant element in the history of Nigeria. The cultural aspects of the city of Zaria mainly consist of an agricultural background. The majority of the inhabitants in Zaria are Muslims.
