Sultan of Sokoto receives Hungary’s Foreign Ministry Secretary, Ambassador in audience

By KEMI KASUMU and OUR REPORTER, Sokoto

The Sultan of Sokoto Caliphate and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, plays host to a delegation of Hungary’s government in his Usmaniyyah Palace in Sokoto City, Sokoto State on Wednesday April 2, 2025.

The DEFENDER reports that the Hungarian Foreign Ministry’s Secretary, Mr Tristan Azbej was accompanied to the Sultan’s Palace by the Ambassador of Hungary to Nigeria, His Excellency Lorand Endreffy.

During the courtesy visit, important issues were discussed. They centered on and around traditional and cultural heritage Sokoto Caliphate as bee endowed since its establishment in 1804.

According to our reporter, purpose of the visit was to further strengthen the traditional and cultural heritage endowed with Sokoto Caliphate to see to the existing cordial relationship between Hungary and Nigeria, especially on issues concerning insecurity, poverty, unity among others.

The minister further mentioned that his country, Hungary, had never colonized any country in Africa, neither was it after colonizing Nigeria.

Instead, he said the administration back home is interested in strengthening relations between the two countries, or any country in Africa.

He made it clear that he is willing to offer a helping hand on the issues bothering the Sokoto Caliphate, which had been in existence since 1804.

Responding, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, while expressing his happiness that Hungary authorities like many others had thought it fit to visit the Caliphate and see things for themselves, said he had visited many countries in the world but was never opportune to visit Hungary.

However, the Sultan said that he heard about their mission to unite countries in Africa, adding that there are Nigerian students studying medicine there in Hungary and, again, appreciated their effort and assured them that his palace is open to all, to discuss whatever issue they need to be discussed.

Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar said, “you can come to me whether in Sokoto, Abuja or anywhere for useful information or any other discussions without booking official appointments.

“The services are for the people and my purpose here is for the people, and whosoever has an issue can come to me directly for possible solution,” he said.

Top Sultanate Council members who were on ground with the Sultan to receive the visitors included the Waziri of Sokoto, His Royal Highness Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu, Galadima Gerin Sokoto, His Royal Highness Alhaji Attahiru Aliyu Galadanci, Magaji Rafin Sokoto, Alhaji (Barrister) Rilwanu Bello Maiwurno, Sarkin Kilgori, His Royal Highness Dr. Muhammad Kilgori, Deputy Secretary General World Zakat Forum and Executive Chairman Sokoto State Zakat and Endowment Commission, Engr Lawal Maidoki, Sadaokin Sokoto, Secretary to the Sultanate Council Sokoto, Alhaji Sai’du Maccido, among others.

The DEFENDER reports that the Sultan Palace under the sitting 20th Sultan of Sokoto has received several visitors from within Nigeria and around the globe including successive Secretaries of State of the United States of America.

This global online newspaper has severally reported that the Sultan’s territory extends over nine provinces of Republic of Nigeria and across the Sahel region of West Africa and that his untiring effort to cooperate with Nigerian political leadership in building a united, peaceful and developed country has spurred him further to the global arena where he has been Co-President of World Religions for Peace that is headquartered in the New York, United States of America.

The multifaceted leader’s commitment to unity of the over 110 million-member Muslim Ummah that he leads in Nigeria has ot only been felt and appreciated locally but also globally as he has continued maintained his space as number 17 of 500 most influential Muslims in the world for any years now.