Brief History, people and culture

Gombe State, was created out of Bauchi state on 1^st October 1996 by the Late General Sani Abacha’s Administration. Its creation was a fulfilment of the aspiration of the people who for long, had passionately craved for a state of their own out of the then Bauchi state. The state has eleven Local Government Areas (LGA) namely, Akko, Balanga, Billiri, Dukku, Funakaye, Gombe, Kaltungo, Kwami, Nafada, Shongom, and Yamaltu Deba.  

Historically, Gombe state is a fusion of two distinct groups of people, comprising the Emirate of Gombe North and the ethnic grouping of Gombe South. Bubayero established the Emirate during the jihad period of 1800. It emerged as part of a larger state building force of 19^th century Sokoto jihad. The Emirate government, which had its Head quarters in Gombe Abba, was formed to effectively control what constitutes a larger part of the Gombe State, until the advent of the British in the early 20^th century.  

Under the British, the state was administered through the mechanism of two administrative units, i.e. Gombe Native Authority and Tangale Waja Native Authorities. The two Authorities constituted Gombe Division during the Colonial era. However, with independence in 1960 and the subsequent military administration, many changes occurred which led to the emergence of local government authorities. Thus, between 1976 and the present, the then two authorities had metamorphosed into the present 11 local governments.  (Source: Gombe SEEDS Technical Committees find)