The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, said on Saturday that arrangement had been concluded by the Sultanate Council to establish a female university in the state.

Abubakar said this at the launch of three books authored by Dr Sa’adiya Bello, the Director of the Centre for Hausa Studies, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the books focused on the works of women scholars of the caliphate.

The sultan said that the university would train young Islamic women in the area of medicine and other fields of study.

This, he added, would also take care of the health care needs of women in the state and the country at large.

He also pledged that the sultanate would continue to initiate programmes aimed at supporting women to achieve their objectives.

Abubakar said the books on Nana Asmau would go a long way in encouraging women to actively participate in women education.

“Educating a woman is just like educating the nation. Very soon, a blue print of the proposed university would be made public,” he said.

The sultan also pledged the determination of the sultanate to encourage young girls to acquire western and religious education.

Speaking earlier, Gov. Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State had commended the efforts of the author for working hard toward the successful launch of the books.

He said that the books would go a long way in promoting good governance.

Wamakko, who was represented by the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Alhaji Tukur Alkali, said government would continue to encourage girl-child education in the state.

The wife of the vice president, Hajiya Amina Sambo, called on northern state governors, local government chairmen as well as individuals to purchase the books for use in public schools.

She commended the author for contributing her quota toward the development of education in the country.

Sambo also called for the full participation of women in nation building.

NAN reports that over N20 million was realised at the event, with the Sokoto State Government purchasing some copies of the books for N5 million.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, donated N2 million while the Zamfara Government donated N1 million.

•Photo shows Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar.

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