Dr. Usman Mohammed Shettima Revives Borno’s Horse Racing Tradition with Grand Competition
By Dahiru Mamman Lawal
President Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant on Administration and Office Coordination, Dr. Usman Mohammed Shettima, has revived the historic tradition of horse racing in Borno by organizing a grand competition to honor the wedding of His Royal Highness, the Shehu of Borno, Dr. Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi’s daughters.
The event kicked off on Saturday at 4 pm, immediately following the marriage solemnization at Ramat Square.
The competition drew an impressive array of dignitaries, including the Shehu of Borno, Mai Hassan Ibn Ahmad, and the Mai Aririyu of Chad Republic.
The final day of the event saw attendance from district heads and various traditional title holders, highlighting the cultural significance of the occasion.
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Bazannah Kakaje, representing the Turb Club and the Lawan of Fezzan ward, praised Dr. Shettima for rejuvenating the horse racing tradition, noting that such an event had not been seen since 2011.
Kakaje expressed hope that this would mark the beginning of regular horse races, proposing quarterly events to further enrich the cultural heritage of the Borno Emirate.
With a total prize allocation of one million and five hundred thousand naira for the top three winners, the competition has become a symbol of community pride and tradition. Participants and celebrants alike expressed their happiness, viewing the race as an encouragement for youth engagement and a unifying force for the state’s young people.
The horse racing competition successfully brought together residents from various parts of Maiduguri, fostering a renewed sense of unity and cultural pride within the Borno Emirate. The event has set a precedent for future celebrations that honor and preserve the region’s rich traditions.