Katsina State


Katsina, usually referred to as Katsina State to distinguish it from the city of Katsina, is a state in North West zone of Nigeria. Its capital is Katsina, and its Governor is Aminu Bello Masari, a member of the All Progressives Congress. Katsina State was brought out of old Kaduna State in 1987.

Demography

The Hausa people are the largest ethnic group.

Religion

The state is predominantly Muslim, and Gobarau Minaret is an important building. Sharia is valid in the entire state. The Church of Nigeria has a Diocese of Katsina.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God and the Roman Catholic Church are fairly present in the state.

Local Government Areas

Katsina State consists of thirty-four Local Government Areas. They are:
Katsina State is a centre of both formal and informal education. Currently it has Federal College of Education Katsina, Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, the federal University of katsina state, which was renamed after the late President Umaru Musa Yar'adua, Umaru Musa Yar'adua University, Alqalam University Katsina; Yusufu Bala Usman College of Legal, and General Studies, Daura and the School of Basic and Remedial Studies, Funtua and Isa Kaita College of Education Dutsin-Ma, located at Dutsin-ma town.
There are seven degree awarding institutions in the state. Owned by different bodies the institutions are Umaru Musa Yar'adua University, owned by the state government. Alqalam University Katsina, the first Islamic university in Nigeria and it is privately owned. Federal University Dutsinma, owned by the federal government. Federal College of Education Katsina. National Open University of Nigeria, Isa Kaita College of Education Dutsinma, a state owned college of education. Cherish Institute Batsari, a privately owned university awarding degree in health courses.

Coronavirus

In spite of measures taken by the state government to prevent the spread of COVID-19 into the state, on 7 April 2020, a doctor died of cases related to Coronavirus and his family members were tested positive. Later, one of the doctor's patients also died.
To contain the spread of the virus, state government ordered lockdown in the state and dispatched police to assure obedience of the law. However, there have been cases violating the order and people accused the government for locking down worshiping grounds such as churches and Juma'ah mosques while major markets such as Yar Kutungu, Himata, Greenhouse, Mudassir etc were operating. There was a clash between police and youths in Kusada local government area resulting to death and arrests of civilians.

Notable people from Katsina State