The Kano State Government has called for stronger economic and development cooperation with Saudi Arabia, particularly in agriculture, trade, investment, education, healthcare, industrialisation and renewable energy
Deputy Governor Aminu Sule Garo, who represented Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, made the call at a ceremony marking Saudi Arabia’s 96th National Day, organised by the Royal Consulate General of Saudi Arabia in Kano
Garo said the longstanding relationship between Kano and Saudi Arabia, built over centuries through religion, trade and Islamic scholarship, should be transformed into practical partnerships capable of delivering tangible benefits to the people
He said Kano had enormous opportunities for deeper cooperation with the Kingdom beyond their historical religious and cultural ties
The deputy governor also commended the Saudi government for its humanitarian interventions in Nigeria through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre
He particularly cited the recent sponsorship of a surgical operation to separate conjoined twins from Kano as evidence of Saudi Arabia’s continued humanitarian support for the people of the state
Yusuf congratulated the government and people of Saudi Arabia on the National Day, describing the occasion as a celebration of unity, cohesion and development
Earlier, the Consul General of Saudi Arabia in Kano, Khalil Ahmed Al-Adamawi, reaffirmed the enduring ties between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, particularly Kano
He said the shared religious, cultural and historical connections between the two countries had continued to strengthen relations between both sides
The event was attended by representatives of the governors of Jigawa, Katsina and Sokoto states, members of the diplomatic corps, academics, senior officers of the Nigerian Army, police and other security agencies, Islamic scholars and members of the business community