The Gombe state governor and chairman of the Northern Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NNGF), Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has described the Hausa language as an important tool for promoting peace, unity and cultural understanding across Africa.

Yahaya stated this in a message Wednesday to mark the 2026 International Hausa Day, being celebrated in Daura, Katsina state, under the theme: “Our Culture, Our Future.”

The governor congratulated Hausa communities in Nigeria and across the Diaspora, saying the celebration offered an opportunity to reflect on the importance of preserving the language and cultural heritage of the Hausa people.

He said Hausa had grown beyond its ethnic origin to become one of Africa’s major languages and an important means of communication across West Africa.

“Hausa has transcended its ethnic origins to become one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa and a major lingua franca across West Africa,”  Yahaya said.

He added that the language has played a significant role in facilitating communication, commerce, governance and peaceful coexistence among people of different backgrounds.