Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has received the Archbishop of Canterbury, His Grace Justin Portal Welby, on a courtesy visit at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna, during the cleric’s engagement in the state.
The visit took place on the sidelines of the Archbishop’s participation as Guest Speaker at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria Convocation Lecture, and was described as a significant moment reflecting Kaduna State’s evolving peace and unity narrative.
Speaking during the visit, Archbishop Welby recalled his first trip to Kaduna in 2002, a period he noted was characterised by deep ethno-religious tensions and recurrent crises.
He observed that the state has made remarkable progress since then, citing the relative peace, unity, and stability now evident in public life.
According to the Archbishop, this visible transformation informed his decision to visit the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, both to acknowledge the efforts of the current administration and to encourage sustained commitment to reconciliation and social cohesion.
Governor Sani expressed appreciation to the Archbishop for the visit and his reflections, describing them as both encouraging and affirming. The Governor highlighted what he termed the “Kaduna Peace Model,” an approach rooted in dialogue, inclusion, and fairness.
He noted that over the past two and a half years, the model has produced measurable outcomes, including the absence of ethno-religious conflict in a state once synonymous with division. He stressed that the progress was the result of deliberate governance choices and a firm resolve to prevent identity differences from becoming sources of instability.
Governor Sani further explained that his administration has anchored peace on inclusive governance, guided by equity, justice, and mutual respect, prioritising dialogue over discord and participation over exclusion. He added that development policies are designed to reach all communities, with the aim of replacing fear with trust and fostering a shared sense of purpose.
The Governor reaffirmed Kaduna State’s commitment to deepening its culture of peace, strengthening unity across differences, and building a future defined by collective progress and enduring harmony rather than past divisions.
