By Suleiman Murkthar
With tales and songs written in the appeal of its beau, Zaria is one of the most ancient cities in Nigeria. Housed by the Citadel of Learning, it had in no way fallen short of the state motto that bears its existence. It has in its confines the well notable schools like The Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, The Nigeria Military school, The Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, The Government Girls Secondary School, The National Research Institute for Chemical Technology and most of all; The Ahmadu Bello University, the largest in sub-saharan Africa sitting on a large acre of land that cuts from the Samaru region of Kaduna to Funtua in Katsina.
The Zaria town has its name from the derivative; zauzau the emirate which was ruled by the fierce warrior, queen Amina. A lady whom the words of history has fallen short of to describe her beauty. Its no wonder some may say that Zaria is appealing as it looks. Formerly known as zauzau, Zaria was the capital city of the seven original Hausa city-states. Birnin-Zaria or Zaria City, It had been surrounded by end to end walls meeting and the gates. Walls that could stand as tall as the Great Walls of China however time has taken its toll.
In truth towers and high ended buildings are from the town, it is not known for fancy architecture and modernization, however its eccentricity is in the staleness of its existence, the rebranded notion of mediocrity that has birthed a new world order in the Zaria confines.
Sitting in Kaduna state, Zaria is widely dominated by the Hausas, it travels a few kilometers and boarders around Kano, Katsina and Jos. Its location up north and a few miles from the sahara opens it prone to the possibility of mild sandstorms and very dry cold in later months of year; November, December, and earlier in January and February.
Beyond its well know affiliate with education, Zaria is also known for its aesthetics and well coutured art. From the city gate entrance the arewa designed logo and emblazoned in almost every notable building leading all the way to the Emirs palace and beyond. In truth some of the belle of Zaria lies in the city, however, the mystery and appreciation of nature are in the places where nature are well founded. Like the ABU Dam, located on the far side of the ABU environs, it has a water body that travels as far as the eyes can see. A boat ride around the Dam is provided to ease and give better feel. The sun sets red as though on the water by days end and rises from the fore of the Kufena Hill which stands majestic parralel to the dam is a said to be as old as time. The Kufena due to its strategic location, and the touch by the water body, the hill top serves as an attraction for picnics and also nice selfies.
Also, deep in the heart of Zaria, somewhere down pass samaru through the pathways of hayin dogo are houses standing years and decades long enough as old as the city, a proper depiction of the ancient Zaria architecture and road network ways. In what may be underdevelopment lies an untapped feel of nature air. a feel of the houses and walkways that Queen Amina had walked on.
There is more to the city than the famous schools the eyes meet. So, when in Zaria, travel deep and see in the far side of the city unadulterated feel of nature
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