PRESS STATEMENT - Oct 12, 2008

GOVERNOR NAMADI SAMBO TAKES QUEST FOR RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF KADUNA STATE TO FRANKFURT, GERMANY

His Excellency Arc Mohammed Namadi Sambo the Executive Governor of Kaduna State has once again demonstrated his determination to rapidly transform the socio-economic well being of the citizens of Kaduna State by taking his dream abroad.

He exemplified this when he led a powerful delegation of relevant functionaries of the state to attend the 19th Biennial meeting of the Society for Africanist Archaeologists (SAFA) which took place in the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, in Frankfurt, Germany. The meeting which took place under the theme: Cultural Diversity of Africa's Past took place between 8th and 12th September, 2008.

The invitation to attend the meeting was extended to His Excellency by an international interdisciplinary team of Scientists based in Germany. These are Archeologists that are engaged in research work in Africa in general and Nok in Kaduna state in particular.

Declaring the Conference open, the Governor thanked the organizers for inviting him to be part of the conference and enjoined them to continue to extend the frontiers of their research as there were so many areas of Africa's past in Kaduna State that were awaiting further research. He also called on those of them from advanced countries to continue to exchange ideas with their Nigerian and indeed African colleagues so as to enrich and broaden their horizon. He assured them of the support of the Kaduna State Government by providing the necessary intellectual input to ensure the success of their assignment. He then called on the authorities of Johann Wolfgang Goethe -University to assist the Kaduna State Government in its quest at developing the Nok area into a Tourist and Research center of international standing, pledging that as soon as this is done, he will be willing to co-host one of the SAFA meetings in Nok.

Later on the same day, the organizers of the conference and authorities of the University hosted the Nigerian delegation to a meeting where the Governor reiterated his desire for them to assist the Kaduna state Government in developing Nok. At the meeting, the President of the University promised to include the request in their funding requirement from the German Government.

The five day conference saw presentation of progress report from Archeologists the world over that undertook research in Africa. Prominent among papers presented were those on Nok culture.

Other members of His Excellency's entourage include: The Hon. Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Mr. Yohanna Allahmagani, Chairman House Committee on Culture and Tourism Mal Yunusa Garba Turawa, His Royal Highness the Kpop Ham Mr. Dnaladi Gyet Maude and the Special Adviser to His Excellency on Media & Public Affairs Mal Umar Sani.

Umar Sani

Special Adviser Media & Public Affairs