Arising from the insatiable quest of the people of the state for education and excellence, the idea of establishing the Sokoto State University was conceived by the then Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko when he established the Sokoto State University Implementation Committee in 2008. The committee was charged with the responsibility of:

• Planning for the structure and facilities for the effective running of the university,
• seeking for and obtaining approval from the Federal Government for Sokoto state to run its own university aside, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, which is Federal Government owned and in which the indigenes of the state were marginally placed over the years arising from the Federal Character Principle; and
• establishing the Sokoto State University School of Developmental Studies with the sole aim of preparing students, a one-year pre-degree programme before enrolling into the university.

The approval was granted in 2009.

• Total Enrollment : 8,340
• Undergraduate/Graduate ratio : Nil
• No. of International Students : Nil
• No. of Faculties : 3
• No. of Staff : 684