Meet the first western educated person in Zaria, Muhammadu Aminu Sambo
He was born in 1888 in Zaria. A grand son of Tajo, son of Mallam Musa, the flag bearer of Shehu Usman Dan Fodio, and the founder of the then Islamic ruling dynasty of Mallawa in the Zazzau Emirate. After first completing his Qur'anic studies, he became one of the first northerners to have western education.
He was in the Kano Provincial School (the 8th on the register) from 1903 to 1908. He was the first indigenous Headmaster of Zaria Provincial School (now Alhudahuda College) from 1910 to 1912; first headmaster of Bauchi Middle School (later named after him as Sambo College of Education) from 1912 to 1916. He was given the title of Wamban Zazzau and appointed district head of Jaji in 1916 by Sarkin Zazzau Aliyu Dan Sidi when he initiated the building of a guest house which was later transferred into Command and Staff College Jaji.
In 1920 he was stripped of his tittle of Wamban Zazzau by Sarkin Zazzau Dalhatu who is from Barebari ruling house in the Zazzau Emirate. In 1923, as the only western educated person in Zazzau Emirate, he was nominated by Sakin Zazzau Ibrahim Dan Kwasau to be a 'guide' to a British team sent by King George of England to conduct census of all tribes in Northern Nigeria. After successful census count of the tribes in Northern Nigeria, King George of England awarded him a Certificate of Honor in 1924.
In 1925 he was re-instated as District Head and nicknamed 'Sarkin Sabon Gari' by Sarkin Zazzau Ibrahim Dan Kwasau and posted to Sabon Gari, Zaria. While in Sabon Gari, he built Elementary School, created Muchia and Dogon Bauchi settlements between 1927 to 1930 appointing ward heads and scribes in the new
In 1937, Muhammadu Aminu Sambo was appointed district head of Kaduna and given the tittle of Magajin Garin Zazzau by HRH Sarkin Zazzau Ja'afaru Dan Isiyaku. He built the first primary school in Kaduna in 1940, located behind present Fire Brigade. He created new settlements viz; Tudun Wada, Unguwan Shanu, Unguwan Sanusi, Abakpa and Tudun Nupawa. He planned out Kaduna creating Sokoto road (now Abubakar Kigo road), Constitution road, Maiduguri road, Sardauna Crescent & Bakori road.
In 1943, he planted trees in Kaduna to beautify the town, beginning from Lugard Hall Complex to the entire Independent way, from Kanta road up to Ahmadu Bello way, and from Market road (now Ibrahim Taiwo road) to Ahmadu Bello way. He became the first make alpha numeric numbering of houses in Kaduna, the first house he officially named is no A1 Layin Shaba (now Nupe road) up to his house no ZZ 6/7 at then Sokoto road (now Kigo road) and onwards.
In 1956, Magajin Gari Sambo became the first northerner to became an Administrator of the Kaduna Local Authority Government at the same time the District Head, answerable to the Administrator of Kaduna Capital Authority. In 1956, Queen Elizabeth of England confer on him a Member of the British Empire (O.B.E) for meritorious services rendered by him to his country and people. He built the second primary school in Kaduna at Maiduguri road, and in 1960 built the third primary school at Sabon Gari, T/Wada Kaduna.
He Died in 1961. May Allah forgive his shortcomings, ameen