Did you know that Katsina State, a region in northern Nigeria, wasn’t established until 1987? This guide provides a complete list of governors who have served Katsina, from the first military administrator to the current governor, Dikko Umar Radda, a prominent economist who took office in 2023.
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Complete List Of Past And Current Govenors Of Katsina State
Name | Began Tenure | Ended Tenure | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar | September 1987 | July 1988 | Military |
Lawrence Onoja | July 1988 | December 1989 | Military |
John Madaki | December 1989 | January 1992 | Military |
Saidu Barda | January 1992 | November 1993 | NRC |
Emmanuel Acholonu | 9 December 1993 | 22 August 1996 | Military |
Samaila Bature Chamah | 22 August 1996 | August 1998 | Military |
Joseph Akaagerger | August 1998 | May 1999 | Military |
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua | 29 May 1999 | 29 May 2007 | PDP |
Ibrahim Shema | 29 May 2007 | 29 May 2015 | PDP |
Aminu Bello Masari | 29 May 2015 | 29 May 2023 | APC |
Dikko Umar Radda | 29 May 2023 | Incumbent | APC |
Who Was The First Governor Of Katsina State?
The first governor of Katsina State was Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar. He took office in September 1987 and served until July 1988. Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar had a notable career in the Nigerian Army, rising to Major General.
Mukhtar’s military career included serving as the general officer commanding the first division of the Nigerian Army in Kaduna State. He also held the position of Chief of Staff of a peacekeeping force in Liberia.
During the mid-1990s, Mukhtar was one of the few high-ranking officers who openly expressed concerns about the detention and trial of former President Obasanjo and his deputy Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.
He was known for his principles and charisma, which earned the respect of President Obasanjo for his refusal to comply with the demands of Sani Abacha regarding the treatment of coup suspects in 1995.
Mukhtar’s integrity and dedication to upholding the rule of law began his tenure as governor of Katsina State. After his term as governor, Mukhtar continued to serve in different capacities, including as the National Security Adviser to the President of Nigeria.
He also served as the military governor of Kaduna State before his appointment as the first governor of Katsina State.
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Who Is The Current Governor Of Katsina State?
Dikko Umar Radda is the current governor of Katsina State since 2023. He is a Nigerian economist and politician. Radda previously served as the director-general of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) before he was elected governor in the 2023 Nigerian gubernatorial elections.
Radda’s educational career began at Radda Primary School from 1974 to 1980. He continued his studies at Zaria Teachers College and Kafanchan College of Education.
Later, he pursued higher education at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University and Ahmadu Bello University, where he obtained master’s degrees and a Ph.D. in Agriculture and Rural Sociology.
In his political career, Radda bore different positions within the All Progressives Congress (APC), having served as the APC National Welfare Secretary from 2014 to 2015.
After the 2015 general elections, he became the Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari.
Radda’s tenure as director-general of SMEDAN was seen by numerous achievements and programs aimed at developing the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.
These include the implementation of the Conditional Grant Scheme, One Local Government One Product initiative, and conducting national surveys on MSMEs in partnership with the National Bureau of Statistics. Outside of politics and governance, Radda established the Gwagware Foundation in 2016.
The foundation focuses on improving the living conditions of people in rural communities through the provision of social amenities and support services.
It has undertaken various philanthropic activities, including distributing food items, providing medical care, and offering skills training to youths and women in Katsina State.