By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

KAFANCHAN — Former Lord Mayor of Leeds in the United Kingdom, Mrs. Abigail Marshall Katung, has been honoured with the Southern Kaduna Merit Award in recognition of her contributions to the development and international projection of Southern Kaduna.

Katung, who served as the 130th Lord Mayor of Leeds and is the wife of Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, received the award at the Southern Kaduna Cultural Festival held in Kafanchan, headquarters of Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The festival, organised by the Southern Kaduna Festival Initiative (SKFEST), brought together cultural groups, community leaders and dignitaries from across the region to celebrate the heritage and achievements of the area.

Presenting the award, organisers said it was in recognition of her service to the development of Southern Kaduna and her efforts in projecting the region’s values of resilience, excellence and compassion on the global stage.

They noted that Katung has remained a strong ambassador of the region, leveraging her public service experience and leadership roles to support initiatives that promote community development and a positive international image.

According to them, her achievements reflect a commitment to service, inclusion and the advancement of Southern Kaduna interests.

Receiving the award, Katung expressed appreciation to the organisers and the people of Southern Kaduna, describing the honour as a collective achievement.

“This honour belongs to all of us. Southern Kaduna is a land of resilience and excellence, and I remain committed to using every platform to project our values, tell our story, and support initiatives that bring development and pride to our people,” she said.

She added that her tenure as Lord Mayor of Leeds provided an opportunity to showcase the talent and potential of Southern Kaduna globally, pledging continued support for initiatives that would benefit the region.

The award was one of the highlights of this year’s Southern Kaduna Cultural Festival, which celebrates the cultural diversity and contributions of the people to national development.