Katsina has continued to enjoy global interest in its cultural heritage as 17 diplomats spent the entire sallah festival period in the state. The delegation was led by the Ambassador to Belgium, H. E Amb. Pieter Leenknegt. Amb. Mohammed Fouad of Egypt, Amb. Bengt Van Loosdrecht of the Netherlands, Amb. Felix Costales Artieda of Spain, Amb. Michal Cygan of Poland, Amb. Patrick Felix Egloff of Switzerland, and Amb. Martin Podstavek of Slovakia were all received by Dr. Dikko Radda. Others include Amb. Nicolas Perazzo Naon of Argentina, Amb. Pascaline Gerengbo Yakivu of Congo, and Mr. Lacopo Foti of Italy (chargè d’Affaires). Last year’s Eid el-fitr and Sallah durbar festivities in Katsina attracted 25 European Union Ambassadors who witnessed first hand the rich cultural heritage of the state and its hospitality. The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, H E Gautier Mignot, while speaking at last year’s durbar festival in Daura, Katsina, said they were happy to step out of the Abuja diplomatic bubble to witness Katsina’s magnificent traditions rooted in centuries of history. He added, “You’ve opened our eyes to your culture, the vibrant durbar procession, the artistry of your attire and the flavors of your cuisine. We’ve been moved by your music, the dances and the warmth of your people. Your hospitality is unparalleled and we have been inspired and are eager to champion Katsina’s heritage and explore new avenues of cooperation”.
At this year’s event, the governor described the presence of the diplomats as a testament to the growing global interest in Katsina’s cultural environment. He also highlighted the fact that the two successive sallah events will continue to strengthen diplomatic relations, and promote Katsina as a destination for cultural tourism and international partnerships. This year’s sallah festival at Kofar Soro, Katsina attracted over 50 district heads from Katsina’s Emirates. It was a blend of tradition and modernity, showcasing the vibrancy, pageantry and cultural pride of the emirates. The ambassadors were also taken to the 2005 year old Kusugu Wells at Daura which gave the EU envoys a glimpse of the ancient history of Daura. At the following day’s Hawan Bariki, the 2nd durbar festival, the governor spoke glowingly about the significance of the events, as he remarked that the festival is not only a day of celebration, but a moment of reflection of the unity, history, values and identity. He also said it was a time for reflection of the trust bestowed on his leadership and how he has worked assiduously to make an impact in the lives of his people. He emphasised that his govt has deployed both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to tackling the insecurity scourge in the state with the 2026 budget built entirely on community needs assessment with each of the 361 communities receiving N10 million to address pressing needs. The completion of the dualisation of major roads in Funtua, Daura and Katsina, and the expansion of rural road networks primarily to connect farmers were also highlighted by Gov. Dikko Radda. Others sectors like Agriculture have also been improved with the yearly distribution of 40,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer at subsidized rates, along with 400 tractors distributed across the 34 local govt areas of the state. In the education sector, 7,000 teachers have been recruited and trained so far, with about 85 secondary schools completed. He also stated that 3 modern model schools have been created. In the health sector, the governor commissioned a state of the art dialysis centre, with another state of the art imaging facility soon to be commissioned. About 250 primary healthcare centres have also been upgraded. Gov. Dikko Radda, while reeling out the achievements of his administration disclosed that N45 billion has been cleared in pension liabilities while digital systems have been introduced to improve the efficiency and transparency of governance. The Emir of Katsina, Alh. Dr. Abdulmumin Kabir Usman commended Dr. Dikko Radda’s efforts in the restoration of peace in Katsina’s troubled communities.
It was not all festival as high level engagements with Gov. Radda and European Union Ambassadors and diplomatic representatives continues to attract international collaboration and investment as the ambassadors made commitments across bilateral initiatives in education, agriculture, small and medium scale businesses, and technology and innovation. This was also followed by a technical session that underlined the gaps therein as well as the opportunities that abound. The UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria Mr. Mohammed Malick Fall was part of the engagements. The recent Katsina Economic Summit recorded N489 billion as foreign and local investment figures with Agro Allied Industries making huge investments in the development of Poultry farms (10 hectares farm by TORQ), and a Soybeans processing and oil refining plant at the new Agricultural Mechanisation Zone. Others investments include the Safe Space Energy project which is to transform clean transportation and strengthen the green economy. putting Katsina ahead of other states as one of the emerging hubs for renewable and alternative energy in Northern Nigeria. Katsina’s new climate has made it one of the fastest growing investment destinations in Nigeria and its hospitality, cultural heritage and commitment to providing good governance to the grassroots is making substantial impact in reversing the sordid picture of despair.
