Kano State

Kano State Listen^ⓘ (Hausa: Jihar Kano جِهَرْ كَنُوَ) is one of the 36 states of Nigeria, located in the northern region of the country. According to the national census done in 2006, Kano State was the most populous state in Nigeria. As of November 2025, its population is rivalled only by Lagos State, which does not have clear reporting due to the rate of growth of Lagos, its largest city. Created in 1967 out of the former Northern Region, Kano State borders Katsina State to the northwest for about 210 km (130 miles), Jigawa State to the northeast for 355 km (221 miles), Bauchi State to the southeast for 131 km (82 miles), and Kaduna State to the southwest for 255 km (158 miles). The state's capital and largest city is Kano, the second most populous city in Nigeria after Lagos. The incumbent governor of the state is Abba Kabir Yusuf. He was sworn in on 29 May 2023.

Modern-day Kano State was the site of a number of prior kingdoms and empires, including the Kingdom of Kano, which was centred on Dalla Hill (Hausa: Dutsen Dala) and existed from to 1000  to 1349 CE. In 1349, the Sultanate of Kano was established with Yaji I as its first Sultan. In the 15th century, Kurmi Market was opened, which helped the city of Kano become a centre of commercial activity in Hausaland. The market remains open today and its historic importance is reflected in the state's nickname, the Centre of Commerce.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Sultanate of Kano established itself as the most powerful of the Hausa Kingdoms. In 1903, the British Empire conquered the Kano Emirate, incorporating it into the Northern Nigeria Protectorate. The major ethnic groups in pre-colonial Kano were the Hausa, Fulani, Barebari (Kanuri), Tuareg, Arab, Nupe as well as certain tribes from southern Nigeria. Most people in Kano have come to use Hausa as a first language while some identify as ethnically Hausa.

Since Nigerian independence, Kano State has developed a diverse economy, establishing itself as a centre for industry, agriculture, and Islamic banking. The Hausa and Fulani make up the majority of Kano State's population. The Hausa language is the dominant language in the state, as it is in most of Northern Nigeria. Challenges faced by Kano State in the 21st century include attacks by the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram, inter-religious violence, and extreme poverty. A Muslim-majority state, Kano State is one of the twelve states in Nigeria to operate under Sharia law within the legal framework of the Nigerian Constitution.