January 20, 2026
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has empowered 14,450 women drawn from all 34 local government areas of the state, in what he described as a strategic investment in inclusive growth, economic dignity and sustainable development.
The empowerment programme, held on Tuesday at the People’s Square, Government House, Katsina, provided beneficiaries with tools, equipment, consumables, livestock inputs and cash support to strengthen existing small-scale businesses and livelihoods.
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda
Speaking at the event, Governor Radda said the initiative was designed to support women who are actively engaged in legitimate economic activities, stressing that the intervention was not a handout but seed capital to expand productivity and restore dignity.
“These women are not passive beneficiaries. They are the backbone of our local economy, sustaining households, driving markets and preserving our productive and cultural heritage,” the governor said.
He explained that the programme, implemented under the Building Your Future Agenda, was transparently executed and targeted at verified beneficiaries, noting that empowering women remained central to his administration’s economic and social strategy.
According to him, global and local evidence shows that when women control income, more resources are invested in children’s education, family nutrition and community stability, making women empowerment both an economic strategy and a social investment.
Governor Radda announced plans to sustain the programme through capacity building, mentorship, cooperative development and the establishment of Women Enterprise Hubs in all 34 local government areas. The hubs, he said, would offer training in record-keeping, product quality, digital skills and market access.
He urged beneficiaries to use the support responsibly, grow their businesses, strengthen their cooperatives and serve as positive role models in their communities, while calling on the public to patronise women-owned businesses.
“This administration believes that economic dignity is the foundation of security and social cohesion. By empowering women, we are investing in peace, stability and the future of Katsina State,” he added.
The beneficiaries cut across various sectors, including food processing, trading, tailoring, livestock rearing and the creative economy. They included producers of fura da nono, awara and kuli-kuli; poultry keepers; roadside food vendors; artisans such as tailors, cap makers, hairdressers and henna artists; used-clothes traders; as well as widows and persons living with disabilities.
Hajiya Zulaihat Dikko Radda
In her remarks, the First Lady of Katsina State, Hajiya Zulaihat Dikko Radda, commended the governor for his commitment to inclusiveness and economic justice, describing the empowerment as a reflection of his vision for women’s development.
She disclosed that her office, through the Safe Space Humanitarian Initiative (SASHIN), was complementing government efforts by providing financial assistance and capacity building to promote women’s self-reliance and strengthen family incomes.
Hajiya Aisha Aminu Malunfashi
Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Aminu Malunfashi, said the programme followed a comprehensive needs assessment across the state and was implemented in partnership with development partners, local councils and community structures.
She noted that beneficiaries received items such as grains, cooking inputs, deep freezers, grinding machines, poultry birds, feeds and veterinary drugs, as well as cash and working materials for those in the creative and traditional economy.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Hon. Ali Abubakar Albaba, assured beneficiaries of the Katsina State House of Assembly’s continued support for women-focused initiatives, while other speakers urged the women to utilise the empowerment to support their families and communities.
The event was attended by the Speaker and members of the Katsina State House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council, the Chief Judge of Katsina State, the Secretary to the State Government, local government chairmen, permanent secretaries, heads of MDAs and development partners.
The programme was disclosed in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed.
