Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has joined the global community in marking this year’s International Youth Day, praising the creativity, resilience, and innovation of young people while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to building a future driven by youth empowerment.
Speaking in Katsina Governor Radda described the youth as “the heartbeat of innovation, community service, and nation-building,” adding that they are not just leaders of tomorrow, but the driving force of today.
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Over the past year, the Radda-led administration has rolled out an array of youth-focused initiatives targeting skills development, job creation, digital innovation, and education.
The state transformed the Katsina Youth Craft Village into a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Centre of Excellence, graduating 634 young people who each received trade-specific starter packs in tailoring, carpentry, ICT, welding, and other fields. The centre now boasts new departments, international accreditation, and partnerships with training institutions in Brazil and Kano.
Two new vocational sub-centres in Malumfashi and Daura have expanded access to skills training. In addition, the state established an Agricultural Mechanisation Centre in Katsina and set up sub-centres in all 34 LGAs. Every mechanic graduate from the Youth Craft Village has been employed to operate and maintain machinery at these centres, directly supporting local farmers.
Through the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA), the government allocated ₦3.1 billion in the 2025 budget to support interest-free loans for youth- and women-owned MSMEs, mentorship programmes, and start-up training. KASEDA also launched a Digital Academy and disbursed ₦10 million to 200 local entrepreneurs.
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The agency distributed ₦252 million to over 1,000 youths under an empowerment scheme aimed at discouraging political thuggery.
Renovated and equipped skills centres in Katsina, Kaita, Funtua, and Baure trained 455 girls, who each received empowerment kits and cash support. The Girl Education Development Initiative supplied thousands of female students with learning materials, while 104,000 girls across 255 schools benefited from conditional cash transfers to reduce dropout rates.
The governor honoured exceptional young innovators during a youth colloquium, sponsoring one for overseas software training. He also awarded full scholarships to 68 students to study Artificial Intelligence and Biotechnology in China, and to 44 others to study medicine in Egypt.
Through the Katsina Information and Communication Technology Directorate (KATDICT), the Kirkira Innovation Hub — the first tech hub in Northern Nigeria — has trained more than 3,000 youths through hackathons, coding camps, and workshops, and now serves as the state’s lead institution for the federal iDICE Programme.
Youth Leadership and Civic Engagement
Community-based youth leadership forums have been established in all local government areas to strengthen civic participation and give 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,” Radda said, pledging to continue working with the private sector, development agencies, and global partners to expand opportunities.
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He urged Katsina’s youth to remain focused and committed to their dreams, saying, “Together, we will build a Katsina State and a Nigeria that truly reflects the aspirations of its vibrant youth population.”