Yesterday, I had the honour of delivering a special address at a truly historic dual event, the Maiden Katsina State MSME Awards and the Graduation Ceremony of the Dikko Social Innovation Academy (DSIA), held at the Government House Banquet Hall, Katsina.
The event, themed βCelebrating Innovation and Enterprise for a Prosperous Katsina State,β marks a major milestone in our collective journey to build an inclusive, dynamic, and opportunity-driven economy, one that empowers our people through creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Two years ago, we took a bold and visionary step by establishing the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA), a deliberate initiative to accelerate MSME growth, drive job creation, and promote wealth generation. Today, that decision is yielding visible and inspiring results.
Through KASEDA, we have launched the N5bn MSME Development Fund, the first of its kind in the history of our state, with N500m already disbursed to youth and women entrepreneurs across various sectors. We are also strengthening strategic partnerships with the Bank of Industry, Sterling Bank, SMEDAN, and the UNDP, which recently committed N542m to support MSMEs in conflict-affected communities within Katsina State.
Another significant highlight of the day was the graduation of the first cohort of 18 fellows from the Dikko Social Innovation Academy (DSIA), a transformative initiative designed to equip young people from underserved communities with essential skills in problem-solving, design thinking, and social entrepreneurship.
I am particularly proud that this initiative was inspired by a global model from Uganda, which we have successfully localized and adapted to the Katsina context. These young innovators are leaving the academy as confident leaders and changemakers, ready to drive meaningful impact within their communities and beyond.
I wish to profoundly express my deepest appreciation to His Excellency, Vice President Sen. Kashim Shettima (
@officialSKSM), GCON, for honouring us with his presence at this memorable event, a powerful demonstration of the Federal Governmentβs unwavering commitment to MSME growth and youth development across Nigeria.
Together, we are building a Katsina State where innovation thrives, enterprises flourish, and every young person has a fair and equal chance to succeed.