International Youth Day: Governor Radda celebrates youth, reaffirms commitment to empowering next generation

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Anthony Maliki, Abuja

Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has joined the global community in marking this year’s International Youth Day, commending the energy, creativity, and resilience of young people in Katsina State, across Nigeria, and around the world.

Governor Radda described the youth as “the heartbeat of innovation, community service, and nation-building”, emphasising that they are not only the leaders of tomorrow but also the driving force of today.

This was contained in a statement by Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Katsina State.

“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,” the Governor said.

Over the past year, the Radda-led administration has rolled out a wide range of youth-focused initiatives designed to promote self-reliance, creativity, and sustainable livelihoods. These include:

Youth Craft Village Transformation, A total of 634 young people have successfully graduated from the Youth Craft Village, each receiving trade-specific entrepreneurial starter packs in areas such as tailoring, carpentry, ICT, welding, and more. The facility itself has undergone a major transformation, now upgraded into a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Centre of Excellence.

This upgrade includes the creation of new departments, the securing of international accreditation, and strategic partnerships with 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 his 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.”
Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development

Through the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA), the government allocated ₦3.1 billion in the 2025 budget to support 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.

Combating Youth Political Thuggery, Through KASEDA, over 1,000 youths benefited from ₦252 million in empowerment packages under initiatives designed to promote entrepreneurship and discourage political violence.

Empowering Girls and Protecting Their Future, Skills centres 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.

Governor Radda 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.

The Governor 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,” Governor Radda urged.