Gombe
Hidden away at the heart if Nigeria's northeast region, Gombe state was carved from eastern region of the old Bauchi state on 1st October, 1996. Nicknamed the jewel in the Savannah on account of its central location within the Savannah grasslands of Nigeria's northern and middle belt regions, Gombe us indeed a jewel; albeit one still in the rough, as the state is still in the extractive industries towards improving its profile amongst the other states of the Nigerian federation.
Gombe state covers approximate area of 20,000 square kilometres split in 11 Local Government Areas; Akko, Balanga, Billiri, Dukku, Funakaya, Kaltungo, Lwami, Nafada, Shongom, Yamalta/Deba, and Gombe ( which serves as the administration seat of the state government).
Gombe state is bordered by Yobe State to the north, Adamawa and Taraba to the south, Borno to the east and Bauchi to the west. The capital Gombe (which along with the state takes it's name from the ancient Gombe Emirate established after the early 19tg century Jihad if Usman Dan Fodio) is a small but cosmopolitan city, and accounts for about 10% of the state's population of 3 million. Most of Gombe's natives and residents speak Hausa or Fulfulde, though several ethnolinguistic groups like the Awak, Bangwinji, Bole, Burak, Dadiya, Dijim-Bwilim, Jara, Kamo, Kushi, Kutto, Kwaami, Longuda, Loo, Ngamo, Tangale, Tera, Tso, Tula and Waja, are also native to the state.
English is the official language of business, but Hausa us just as widely used. The predominance of the Hausa language and lslam as a religion in the state can be traced to the establishment of the Gombe Emirate.