What is the position of the 'Uthmaan Dan Fodio, among the Islamic jurist?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

Shaykh 'Uthmaan Dan Fodio was born in 1754 and died in 1817. He is known for his great effort in establishing an Islamic state, and ultimately, he realized this objective. He succeeded in establishing an Islamic state in North of Niger and in Chad; he put an administrative system and unified the country under one banner. He succeeded in considering Arabic as the official language of the country. This state lived for about one century until the British colonisation entered this region and met the Muslims in a battle.

The movement of the Shaykh is considered among the most important reform movements in Africa. Besides, he published many books, among which are: Following the Sunnah and Abandoning Innovation, The Etiquettes of Acts of Worship and Customs, Guiding the divine Worshipper to the Situation of 'Abdul-Qaadir Al-Jeelaani, and other books.

To conclude, he is one of the Muslim propagators, may Allaah forgive him and have mercy on him. 

Allaah Knows best.