NEW YORK — Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has called for deeper collaboration between state governments and fintech companies to expand financial inclusion and improve access to credit for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Radda made the call at a high-level roundtable, Africa Forward: Investing in the Next Decade of Growth, held in New York on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The roundtable, convened by Flutterwave, brought together government officials, global investors and technology executives to discuss pathways for scaling African businesses into global players through stronger financial infrastructure and unified cross-border payment systems.
Radda said subnational governments had a critical role to play in creating an enabling environment for technology entrepreneurs and businesses to grow.
According to him, innovation scales fastest when policy, infrastructure and regulation are aligned to support it.
“Our MSMEs do not lack ideas or energy. What they lack is access. When government and fintechs work together, we can close that gap,” Radda said.
The Governor also urged Nigerian technology companies to expand their focus beyond consumer markets and develop more solutions for the public sector.
He said such solutions could strengthen transparency and make governance easier for both government and citizens.
The session was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Nigeria’s Finance Minister; and executives from Goldman Sachs, Africa50, 500 Global, Absa, Africa Finance Corporation and Amazon, among others.
Radda reaffirmed the Katsina State Government’s commitment to using technology and strategic partnerships to promote inclusive economic growth, empower MSMEs and attract investment to the state.
The roundtable formed part of engagements taking place during the 81st UN General Assembly, bringing together African policymakers, investors and technology-sector leaders to discuss financing and infrastructure for the continent’s next phase of economic growth.
