KATSINA — The Katsina State Government plans to upgrade the Agripreneurship Training Centre in Dutsin-Ma and expand its enrolment to more than 1,000 youths under the 2027 budget, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has said.
Radda disclosed this on Wednesday during a field visit to the centre to assess ongoing training activities and identify areas requiring government support.
He said the 2027 budget would include funding for the upgrade of the facility, while enrolment would be increased from one trainee per ward to three, translating to more than 1,000 trainees across the state.
The Governor said the visit was aimed at evaluating the quality of training being provided and determining the additional support required to strengthen the institution.
He charged the trainees to be diligent and courageous, saying the programme was designed to produce independent agripreneurs capable of creating jobs rather than seeking employment.
Radda assured the trainees that the state government would provide the necessary support to enable them establish themselves and contribute to the state’s development.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Lawal Zakari Shargelle, urged the trainees to appreciate the vision behind the programme and recognise their role in driving change in their communities.
He charged them to change their mindset, acquire the necessary skills with dedication and return to their respective wards to train others and create employment opportunities.
Shargelle added that beneficiaries who distinguished themselves through the programme would become ambassadors of the administration at the grassroots.
The Governor was received at the centre by members of the State Executive Council, the Coordinator of the Agricultural Development Programme, the Chairman of Dutsin-Ma Local Government, the Village Head of Makera and heads of relevant government agencies.
