George Taubman Goldie (1846-1925) was a trained engineer. He played a major role in the founding of Nigeria. He first learnt about Nigeria from Hausa pilgrims passing through the Sudan to or from Saudi Arabia. He must have also met the Hausa speakers who are settled in the Sudan. In 1875, Goldie’s family purchased one of the trading farms that were operating on the Niger. The farm was near bankrupt at the point of purchase and his family sent him to the area to stir the affairs of the company. It was as a result of his development that Goldie visited the Niger area for the first time. On his…