Born on March 30, 1933, Hassan Usman Katsina was the son of His Royal Highness Alhaji Usman Nagogo, the 48th Emir of Katsina. He emerged as one of Nigeria’s most prominent military leaders and statesmen during the formative decades following independence.
His early education took him through Kankiya Elementary School, Katsina Middle School (1944–1947), and Kaduna College (1948–1951). He then attended the Institute of Administration, Zaria in 1952 and continued at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology in Zaria from 1953 to 1955.
Pursuing a military career, Katsina trained at several prestigious institutions, including the Regular Officers Special Training School in Accra, Ghana; Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England; and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He later advanced his skills at the Small Arms School, Keat; the School of Infantry in Warminster, England; the U.S. Army School of Infantry at Fort Benning; the Staff College in Camberley; and the Royal College for Defence Studies in England.
He served in the 2nd and 5th Battalions of the Nigerian Army and was Staff Officer for the 3rd Brigade during Nigeria’s peacekeeping mission in the Congo. From 1965 to 1966, he was Commanding Officer of the Recce Regiment.
In the turbulent period following the first military coup, Hassan Usman Katsina was appointed Military Governor of the Northern Region (1966–1967), a critical role during the lead-up to the Nigerian Civil War. He later served as Chairman of the Interim Common Services Agency (ICSA) and was appointed Chief of Army Staff by General Yakubu Gowon in 1968. By 1972, he became Deputy Chief of Staff at the Supreme Headquarters.
Turbaned as the Ciroman Katsina in 1968 by the Emirate Council, Katsina was also deeply engaged in civic and sporting affairs. He chaired the Nigerian Polo Association from 1987 to 1995 and served as Chairman of the National Oil and Marketing Company (Nigeria Ltd).
In recognition of his service to the nation, he was awarded the national honour of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 1982 by the administration of President Shehu Shagari.
Major General Hassan Usman Katsina passed away on July 24, 1995, at the age of 62.
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