Tessaoua

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Tessaoua is a city located in the Maradi Department of Niger. It has a population of 31,667 (2001 census). Tessaoua is historically an important city in its region. It is situated in a central geographical location. Tessaoua is a mid-point on a historical trade route between Agadez, Niger in the north and Kano, Nigeria in the south. Agadez is one of the more famous cities in Niger in the Sahara desert, inhabited primarily by the Tuareg ethnic group. Kano is still an important trading city in northern Nigeria today, which has a higher population of the Hausa ethnic group than more southern regions of Nigeria. More importantly to modern Niger, Tessaoua is nearly half-way between the regional capitals of Maradi and Zinder on the one main East/West road in Niger. Zinder used to be the capital of Niger until the French colonialists moved the capital west to Niamey, where it was in closer proximity to others of the French West African holdings and thus easier to manage. Tessaoua used to be a regional capital, until political power was shifted to Maradi. Maradi is still the regional capital today.

Tessaoua has one high school (lycée) and several primary schools--some of which instruct in French and others which instruct primarily in the national language, Hausa, or also in Arabic in the Franco-Arabe, or Koranic Schools. It does not have a university. There are currently only 2 universities in Niger, though plans are underway to build another university in Maradi. There are two hospitals in Tessaoua. Many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) also have regional headquarters in Tessaoua, which allows them access to surrounding rural villages.