President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Hausa people for their contribution to Nigeria’s unity and development, describing them as an important force in the country’s progress.

Tinubu made the remarks on Wednesday in a message shared on his X account to mark Hausa Day, which is being observed at the historic Daura Palace in Katsina State.

The President said the Hausa community had continued to play a significant role in strengthening national cohesion, while noting the growing global influence of the Hausa language.

He congratulated Hausa people in Nigeria and across the world on the celebration, highlighting the language’s importance in communication, commerce and cultural exchange.

Hausa Day, also known as World Hausa Day or Ranar Hausa, is marked annually on August 26 to celebrate the Hausa language, culture and heritage.

The observance originated as a social media campaign initiated by Nigerian journalist Abdulbaki Aliyu Jari to encourage greater use of Hausa online and promote awareness of its cultural importance.

Since its introduction, the celebration has grown beyond Nigeria, with activities and observances reported across parts of Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas.

However, Hausa Day does not currently have formal recognition from the United Nations.

Hausa remains one of Nigeria’s major languages and is among the most widely spoken languages on the African continent, with millions of speakers worldwide.