Katsina State
- Current governor: Dikko Umar Radda
- Founded: September 23, 1987
- Area: 24,192 km²
- Capital: Katsina
- Geopolitical Zone: North West
- HDI (2021): 0.454; low · 30th of 37
- ISO 3166 code: NG-KT
- Population: 5.7 million
- Postal Code: 820001
- Official Website
- Slogan: Home of Hospitality
Background
Katsina State is situated in the northwestern region of Nigeria and shares borders with Kaduna, Zamfara, Kano, and Jigawa States.
Population
In 2006, the population of Katsina State was recorded as 5,801,584 people, making it the fifth most populous state in Nigeria.
Governors
- Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar: Governor (September 1987 - July 1988)
- Lawrence Onoja: Governor (July 1988 - December 1989)
- John Madaki: Governor (December 1989 - January 1992)
- Saidu Barda: Governor (January 1992 - November 1993) NRC
- Emmanuel Acholonu: Administrator (9 December 1993 - 22 August 1996)
- Samaila Bature Chamah: Administrator (22 August 1996 - August 1998)
- Joseph Akaagerger: Administrator (August 1998 - May 1999)
- Umaru Musa Yar’Adua: Governor (29 May 1999 - 29 May 2007) PDP
- Ibrahim Shema: Governor (29 May 2007 - 29 May 2015) PDP
- Aminu Bello Masari: Governor (29 May 2015 - 29 May 2023) APC
- Dikko Umar Radda: Governor (29 May 2023 - Incumbent) APC
History
Katsina is believed to have been founded around 1100 near Ambuttai, which was home to Katsina’s Hausa kings and served as the annual meeting place for rulers from nearby Durbi.
The town was named after Kacinna (Katsena, Katsina), who was the wife of Janzama (a Durbawa king) and a princess of Daura (the legendary home of the Hausa people).
Universities
Katsina state is home to several universities including Umaru Musa Yar’adua University and Al-Qalam University Katsina. The latter is Nigeria’s first Islamic and only not-for-profit university.
