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This paper examines the Igbo trade in building materials in the Kano metropolis, from 1970 to 2015. The Igbo migration to other parts of Nigeria predates colonialism in the country. However, colonialism and colonial policies quickened the massive movement of the Igbo to Northern Nigeria, Kano in particular. Today, reputed as a historic centre of commerce, Kano hosts the largest number of Igbo commercial migrants in entire Northern Nigeria. The Igbo have been involved in a wide array of commercial activities in Kano. Although there is available literature on other areas of Igbo involvement in commercial activities, there exists none on the building materials trade in the area. It is against this background that this work employed primary and secondary sources in examining the origin, nature, and dynamics of Igbo involvement in the building materials trade in the Kano metropolis. The contributions of the Igbo building materials traders to the development of Kano were found to be enormous as they created employment and contributed to the revenue base of the state. The Igbo building materials traders in Kano are faced with challenges including insecurity, high costs, poor amenities etc. The work concludes that despite the challenges faced by the Igbo building materials traders, they contributed immensely to the economic development of Kano as a whole.

Igbo Traders, Building Materials, Kano Metropolis,