Mrs Abigail Marshall Katung, wife of the Senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, was formally bestowed with a traditional title by the Bajju people of Kaduna State on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. The event took place at the palace of the Paramount Ruler of the Bajju Traditional Council in Zonkwa, headquarters of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area.
Mrs Katung was crowned “Myiriya Bajju,” a title which, according to the traditional council, signifies comfort, peace, respect and appreciation. The honour, conferred by His Royal Highness, Luka Kogi Yabwat (Agwam Bajju II), celebrates her longstanding commitment to humanitarian service, peacebuilding and community development among the Bajju people.
In his address during the ceremony, Agwam Bajju II articulated the profound significance of the honour.
He said, “The title of Myiriya Bajju symbolises peace, comfort, respect and appreciation. It reflects the high esteem in which the Bajju people hold Mrs Katung.”
The monarch further underscored that such honours are customarily bestowed only on individuals whose actions and lives demonstrate dedication to the welfare of others and contributions to societal wellbeing.
Mrs Katung, who also serves as the 130th Lord Mayor of Leeds City in the United Kingdom, received the title with gratitude, emphasising its personal and communal meaning.
She accepted with gratitude by saying, “I accept this title with humility and a renewed commitment to serve the people.”
Her acceptance speech highlighted the honour’s role in motivating her continued advocacy for peace, community development and cross-cultural engagement, values she has championed both within Nigeria and abroad.
Her husband, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, who represents the Kaduna South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, also spoke at the event. He thanked the traditional ruler and council, describing the conferment as a confirmation of his wife’s humanitarian contributions.
“This honour affirms her commitment to humanity and her love for the Bajju people. We are deeply grateful to the traditional council,” the senator said, while urging residents of Southern Kaduna to uphold peace and unity in their communities.
The title presentation was attended by a cross-section of dignitaries, including traditional rulers, political leaders and community members, who converged at the palace in Zonkwa to celebrate the occasion. The atmosphere was reported as celebratory, marked by expressions of goodwill and cultural solidarity.
