KATSINA — The World Bank has commenced a comprehensive review of its development programmes in Katsina State, focusing on implementation progress, financial performance and measures to accelerate development outcomes.
The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, led a delegation to Katsina on Saturday for the review, which covered Investment Project Financing (IPF) and Programme-for-Results (PforR) operations.
The delegation met with Governor Dikko Umaru Radda at the Government House, where it commended the state’s coordination of development partners through the Katsina State Development Management Board (KTDMB) and its community-driven approach to development.
The bank specifically cited the Community Development Programme and ward-level participatory budgeting as mechanisms for ensuring that interventions reflect community priorities, while promoting citizen participation, accountability and ownership.
Speaking during the meeting, Radda said his administration adopted the community-driven model to enable communities to identify their priorities, participate in implementation and take ownership of development projects.
He said the approach informed the Community Development Programme and the strengthening of ward-level participatory budgeting, which gives citizens a direct voice in the budget process.
Radda said the KTDMB had been empowered as the overarching coordination mechanism for development partners to reduce duplication and ensure alignment with government priorities, financing agreements and implementation commitments.
The governor assured the World Bank delegation that his administration would continue to strengthen collaboration, address implementation bottlenecks and ensure development financing translates into measurable and sustainable results.
The delegation included the Task Team Leader and Co-Task Team Leader for the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up, the National Project Coordinator of the Nigeria for Women Project and the World Bank’s Head of Country Management and Development.
The meeting was attended by the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji; KTDMB Executive Director, Mustapha Shehu; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Aminu Malumfashi, and other senior government officials.
