KATSINA, NIGERIA (NPA) — March 22, 2026 — Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, on March 21 hosted seventeen ambassadors and diplomatic envoys during the Sallah celebrations in Katsina. The governor described culture as a powerful bridge for peace, unity, and sustainable development, fostering mutual understanding, strengthening social cohesion, and serving as a foundation for inclusive growth and global collaboration.
In a statement on Sunday, Radda noted that Katsina holds a prominent place in the history of Northern Nigeria as a renowned centre of learning, commerce, and Islamic scholarship, with enduring legacies reflected in landmarks such as the Gobarau Minaret and the traditions of the Katsina and Daura Emirates.
“I was honored to receive a distinguished delegation of Ambassadors and diplomatic envoys, led by the Ambassador of Belgium to Nigeria, His Excellency Pieter Leenknegt, who joined us to witness the 2026 Sallah Durbar Festivals,” Radda said.
The delegation included envoys from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Turkey, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Their participation in Hawan Sallah, Hawan Sarki (Hawan Bariki), and Hawan Magajiya reflected growing global recognition of Katsina’s cultural heritage.
Beyond culture, the governor showcased strides in security, agriculture, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and water supply—pillars of his administration’s development agenda. He reaffirmed Katsina’s commitment to confronting insecurity through strategic operations and community-based initiatives aimed at lasting peace.
“We do not claim perfection, nor do we ignore the challenges that remain,” Radda said, acknowledging communities still yearning for peace, families seeking relief, and young people in search of opportunity. “True leadership is not measured by how far we have come, but by our commitment to the journey ahead.”
On behalf of the people of Katsina, the governor expressed appreciation to the visiting envoys and the international community, adding: “Katsina remains open to the world—for partnership, for business, for cultural exchange, and for shared prosperity.”
