Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has brought together Kanuri descendants from across Africa at the 2025 Kanem-Borno Cultural Summit in Maiduguri, drawing thousands of participants from more than ten countries.
The high-level gathering featured 161 emirs, top government officials, and large delegations of Kanuri communities from Ghana, Sudan, Gabon, Niger, the Central African Republic, Senegal, Libya, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin. The event underscored the enduring historical ties that bind Kanuri people beyond modern national boundaries.
Organised to revitalise cross-border family links and promote shared progress, the summit focused on strengthening unity among Kanuri populations while safeguarding the cultural heritage of the ancient Kanem-Borno civilisation.
Discussions centred on cooperation in education, entrepreneurship, and regional socio-economic advancement. The event was enlivened by cultural exhibitions, traditional dances, and performances presented by delegations from participating countries, reflecting the depth and variety of Kanuri cultural expression across the continent.
The Kanem-Borno Empire, regarded as one of Africa’s most enduring civilisations, thrived for over a thousand years between the 9th and 19th centuries around the Lake Chad Basin, encompassing parts of present-day Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Cameroon, Libya, and beyond.
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Addressing the gathering in the Kanuri language, Governor Zulum called for stronger educational exchanges, economic collaboration, and social programmes aimed at improving the welfare of Kanuri communities worldwide. He also announced scholarship awards for 150 students from countries that were once part of the historic empire, describing the initiative as a practical step towards fostering unity and shared identity.
The President of Chad, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, was represented by the Governor of Lac Province, Major General Saleh Haggar Tidjani.
Other prominent figures at the summit included Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni; Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Mallam Jibril Baba Ndace; Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Dr Mohammed Bulama; former Vice President, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III; and Senators Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Mohammed Ali Ndume, and Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan.
Lawmakers, Speakers of the Borno and Yobe State Houses of Assembly, traditional rulers, state legislators, commissioners, and senior officials of the Borno State Government were also in attendance.
