The 12th edition of the annual Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio Week came to a close at the International Conference Centre, Kasarawa, Sokoto, marking the end of the 1447 AH/2025 celebrations.
This year’s programme, themed “Reviving Ethical Leadership and Social Harmony: Lessons from the Sokoto Jihad Leaders,” brought together prominent political, traditional, and religious figures from across Nigeria.
Focusing on leadership and African development in the delivery of his keynote lecture titled “Sokoto Caliphate in Bilad Al-Sudan: State Formation, Statecraft and State Fidelity in 19th Century Africa,” a scholar and former Presidential Adviser, Dr. Usman Bugaje, as Chief Guest Speaker at the event, drew parallels between the historical governance systems of the Sokoto Caliphate and the current challenges facing democracy in Africa against claims, it is the better governing system the West has offered the continent.
Re-assessing Africa’s relationship with the West, Dr. Bugaje, also examined Africa’s historical ties with Europe, describing them as “three distinct phases” — slavery, colonialism, and the current era of neo-colonial exploitation.
Citing China as an example of a meritocratic system that had achieved economic growth without adopting Western-style democracy, Bugaje called for renewed reflection on African models of governance rooted in competence, ethics, and communal responsibility.
“China’s economy is booming and China is not democratic, China is a meritocracy, a leadership based on competence. We therefore need to reflect more on African State formation and Statecraft,” he stated.
Ex-raying the West, Dr. Bugaje shot a bullet of word that exposed the enlightened listeners to the problem at hand and got them on a better standing to push forward on a platform of true emancipation.
He said, “As for the USA, it is the only country on earth which went straight from barbarism to decadence without going through civilisation,” and dropped a reference to enable the audience read more from the scholarly work of Gore Vidal, one time the greatest American writer.
The guest speaker warned that Nigeria risks being a major threat to development if it continues to grow in population without holistic measure for planning.
The Usman Dan Fodio Week has become a yearly intellectual and spiritual platform for promoting social harmony and ethical leadership, under the guidance of the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, whose military status as retired general is viewed as more like heritage considering his ancestral father, Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio, as also a military general though more notably a teacher and scholar.
Recall that, each edition of the Usman Dan Fodio Week addresses a specific societal challenge while clarifying misconceptions about the Sokoto Caliphate’s historical and administrative legacy before, during, and after the Jihad of Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio.
The governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu, led the dignitaries in attendance alongside former deputy governor of Sokoto State Manir Muhammad Dan Iya, several first-class traditional rulers, including the Etsu Nupe and chairman Coordinating Committee of the National Traditional Rulers Council of Nigeria, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, who chaired the occasion; Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamali; Emir of Kaura Namoda, Maj. (Dr.) Sanusi Muhammad Asha; Emir of Keffi and deputy chairman Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs, Dr. Shehu Chindo Yahusa III; and Emir of Argungu and deputy chairman Kebbi State Emirate Council, Alhaji Muhammad Samaila Mera.
Other royal fathers present include the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji AbduKadir Ibrahim Bello; Emir of Zuru, Alhaji Sanusi Mikailu Sami, and the Offor of Umuofor Kingdom, Imo State, Eze AbdulFattah Chimaeze Emetumah III, among others.
