The Yan Taro Project follows in the legacy of Nana Asma'u. Nana Asma'u was a renowned 19th-century scholar, poet, and teacher who lived in what is now modern-day Nigeria. She was born into a family of scholars and was educated in Islamic studies, Arabic, and traditional Hausa poetry and literature. Asma'u was known for her exceptional knowledge and teaching abilities, and she played a significant role in the spread of Islam and education among women in the Sokoto Caliphate. She established a network of women teachers called jajis who traveled throughout the region, educating other women and girls in Islamic studies, reading, writing, and poetry.