Caliphate Times Launches Multimedia Project “Sokoto@50” to Document State’s History

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

As Sokoto State marks 50 years since its creation in 1976, Caliphate Times has launched Sokoto@50, a long-term multimedia documentation project focused on recording the state’s history, development, culture, and people.

Rather than treating the anniversary as a ceremonial milestone, the initiative seeks to create a permanent public record of Sokoto’s five-decade journey. It aims to preserve memory, document change, and provide accessible historical material for present and future generations.

The Sokoto@50 project explores the state’s evolution across four key areas: major historical moments since 1976, patterns of social and economic development, enduring cultural institutions and traditions, and the contributions of indigenes and resident communities to the state’s growth.

The project materials will be published across multiple media formats, including short documentaries, interviews, oral history recordings, archival photo essays, and explanatory features. These resources will be hosted in a publicly accessible online archive designed for students, researchers, educators, and the general public.

According to the Project Lead at Caliphate Times, Muhammad Kabir Abdullahi, the initiative prioritises historical documentation over ceremonial celebration.

“Sokoto’s 50th anniversary should not pass as a ceremony-only moment,” Abdullahi said. “This is a chance to preserve memory, document progress honestly, and create a public archive that helps young people understand where the state has come from and what must be built next.”

To ensure comprehensive coverage, Caliphate Times is inviting collaboration from historians, educators, researchers, and individuals or institutions with relevant historical materials such as photographs, documents, and audio recordings. The organisation is also open to partnerships from institutions interested in supporting the project’s production and distribution.