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This book originated from papers presented at an international Conference organised by Arewa House, Centre for Historical Documentation & Research of Ahmadu Bello University, Kaduna in collaboration with the United States Embassy in Abuja. Held on March 7th 2007 to kick start a major project on the preservation, digitization, procurement and conservation of the rich Nigerian ancient Arabic/Ajami manuscripts Heritage for the development of new knowledge. A recent survey conducted by Dr. Angel Batiste of the Library of Congress Washington DC in 2007 has proved beyond reasonable doubt of the existence of hundreds of thousands of original Arabic/ Ajami manuscripts resources in private / public repositories in the various nooks and crannies of northern Nigeria. Some of the original scripts are written centuries before the outbreak of the Sokoto Jihad in 1804. There are also manuscripts written by the Sokoto Jihad leaders like Sheikh Uthman bin Fodiyo (d.1817), his brother Abdullahi bin Fodiyo and his son Muhammad Bello (d.1837).

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