The Katsina State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy to establish a global cultural hub in the state.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, said in a press release that the agreement, aimed at preserving Katsina’s rich cultural heritage, promoting tourism, and driving economic growth, was signed on Monday at the Government House, Katsina.
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, represented by the Commissioner for Rural and Social Development, Prof. Abdulhamid Ahmed, pledged full support for the Federal Government’s initiatives to revitalise Nigeria’s cultural sector.
He said: “The state government will implement and sustain the agreements contained in the Memorandum of Understanding to preserve and promote the state’s cultural heritage and economic expansion.”
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, explained that the cultural hub would serve as a global centre for innovations, training, and capacity building for young Nigerians.
She said: “The project will enable government to unlock Katsina’s transformative power of arts, culture, tourism, and creative industries for sustainable development and social cohesion.”
She added that the initiative would restore and conserve Katsina’s historic sites, monuments, palaces, and artifacts while boosting cultural education and capacity building in local crafts.
Musawa commended the state government for its dedication to preserving iconic historical sites, including the Gobarau Minaret (established in 1348), Fadar Daurama (dating back over 2,600 years), the Kusugu Well, and Durbi Takusheyi.
“The Renewed Hope Cultural Project was conceived to harness the immense creative potential of Nigerians, ensuring the preservation of our history in its most authentic form,” she said, adding, “This will drive local tourism, boost the economy, increase GDP contributions, and create job opportunities for millions nationwide.”
The minister said, “Central to the project is the establishment of Renewed Hope Cultural Villages, which will feature creative and art studios, arts and crafts markets, exhibition centres, and spaces tailored to showcase the unique cultural expressions and craftsmanship of the state.”
In his remarks, the Executive Director/CEO of the Katsina State History and Culture Bureau, Dr. Kabir Ali Masanawa, emphasised that the bureau’s ongoing efforts align seamlessly with Governor Radda’s cultural development agenda, particularly initiatives targeting monument restoration, youth engagement, and tourism-led creative economy stimulation.
He pledged the bureau’s technical expertise and institutional support for the successful implementation of the project in collaboration with the federal ministry.
The event brought together a lineup of Federal Government and Katsina State Government functionaries, including a visit to key iconic historical sites in the state.
