Radda expresses pride in Katsina youths’ contributions to national development
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has commended the energy, creativity, and resilience of young people in Katsina State, who are making tremendous contributions to Nigeria and across the globe.
He said as the heartbeat of innovation, community service, and nation-building, “our youths are the changemakers of our time. My administration remains firmly committed to equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.”
In his remarks to mark the 2025 International Youth Day, the governor recalled that his administration has over the years rolled out wide range of youth-focused initiatives designed to promote self-reliance, creativity, and sustainable livelihoods.
These, he said, include the training of 634 young people at the Youth Craft Village, each receiving trade-specific entrepreneurial starter packs in areas such as tailoring, carpentry, ICT, welding, and more.
Radda added that the Youth Craft Village has undergone a major transformation and now upgraded into a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Centre of Excellence, with links training institutes in Brazil and Kano.
“In addition, new KYCV sub-centre vocational institutions have been established in Malumfashi and Daura, expanding access to hands-on skills development across the state.
“In a complementary effort to boost agricultural productivity, the Katsina State Government has established an Agricultural Mechanisation Centre in Katsina, fully equipped with modern farming machinery. Furthermore, sub-centres have been set up in all 34 Local Government Areas to ensure the initiative reaches every community.
“As part of this programme, every mechanic graduate from the Katsina Youth Craft Village in each local government has been employed by their respective Agricultural Mechanisation Centres. These young professionals now serve as custodians of the facilities, tasked with operating, maintaining, and managing the machinery that supports local farmers.”
Governor Radda expressed pride in this milestone, stating “I am very proud of this achievement. We trained these young people, provided them with starter packs, and ensured their local government centres employed them. This is not just about boosting agriculture it is a kind gesture that empowers our youth and strengthens our communities.”
On entrepreneurship and enterprise development, he said that the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA), under which ₦3.1 billion was budgeted in 2025, the government offered interest-free revolving loans for youth and women-owned MSMEs, mentorship and apprenticeship programmes, and start-up business skills training.
“KASEDA also launched a Digital Academy and disbursed ₦10 million to 200 local entrepreneurs, reinforcing the state’s commitment to building both digital and entrepreneurial capacity.”
The governor also recalled efforts made to end the activities of political thugs, saying KASEDA provided empowerment packages to over 1,000 youths.
He also said the government skills centres for girls in Katsina, Kaita, Funtua, and Baure were renovated and equipped, enabling 455 girls to graduate and receive empowerment kits along with cash support.
“Supporting Exceptional Young Professionals, During a youth colloquium, the Governor honoured talented innovators, sponsoring one participant for overseas software training. He also fully funded scholarships for 68 students to study Artificial Intelligence and Biotechnology in China, and for 44 students to study MBBS in Egypt.
“Enhancing Access to Education and Health for Youth, The Girl Education Development Initiative provided thousands of female students with learning materials. Over 104,000 girls in 255 schools benefited from conditional cash transfers, reducing dropout rates and improving attendance. Additionally, a mass measles vaccination campaign reached more than 2.2 million children across the state.
“Digital Innovation and Technology Hubs, Through KATDICT, the Kirkira Innovation Hub Northern Nigeria’s first tech hub has trained over 3,000 youths through hackathons, coding camps, and workshops, while supporting several digital startups. Today, it stands as a vibrant centre for young creators and serves as Katsina’s lead institution for the federal iDICE Programme,” he added.
The governor also highlighted the creation of community-based youth leadership forums in all local government areas, aimed at encouraging civic engagement and giving young people a stronger voice in governance.
“As a former teacher and youth development advocate, I understand the transformative power of investing in the young generation. That’s why we are working tirelessly to remove barriers that hold our youths back, whether in education, employment, or civic participation,” he stated.
He reaffirmed his administration’s partnerships with the private sector, development agencies, and global institutions to further expand internship pipelines, mentorship opportunities, and innovation hubs for Katsina’s young innovators and change-makers.
“As we celebrate International Youth Day, I call on our young people to remain focused, disciplined, and committed to their dreams. Together, we will build a Katsina State and a Nigeria that truly reflects the aspirations of its vibrant youth population.”
