Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum on Thursday, 1 January, 2026, hosted thousands of Kanuri kinsmen from across Africa as Maiduguri played host to this year’s Kanem-Borno Cultural Summit.
The gathering attracted Kanuri delegates from at least 10 countries, including Ghana, Sudan, Gabon, Niger, Central African Republic, Senegal, Libya, Chad, Cameroon and Benin.
In attendance were 161 emirs, senior government officials and traditional leaders, underscoring the historic and cultural significance of the summit.
The event was conceived as a platform to revive transnational kinship ties rooted in shared Kanuri heritage, while fostering cooperation in education, economic development and social advancement among Kanuri communities spread across borders.
Colourful cultural displays and traditional dance performances by delegations from the participating countries highlighted the rich heritage of the Kanem-Borno civilisation, one of Africa’s longest-surviving empires which thrived for over a millennium around the Lake Chad region.
Addressing participants in the Kanuri language, Zulum called for renewed commitment to educational exchange, entrepreneurship and collective socio-economic initiatives that would uplift Kanuri communities globally. He announced the award of scholarships to 150 students from countries that once formed part of the historic Kanem-Borno Empire, describing the gesture as a step towards strengthening unity and fraternity.
The Chadian President, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, was represented at the summit by the Governor of Lac Province, Major General Saleh Haggar Tidjani.
Other prominent personalities at the event included Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni; former Vice President, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III; Senators Mohammed Tahir Monguno and Mohammed Ali Ndume; and Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan.
Also present were members of the House of Representatives, speakers of the Borno and Yobe State Houses of Assembly, traditional rulers from different parts of Nigeria, members of the Borno State House of Assembly, commissioners and senior officials of the Borno State Government.
The summit concluded with a renewed call for collaboration among Kanuri descendants worldwide to preserve their cultural legacy and channel shared identity into sustainable development for future generations.
