Governor of Katsina State Dikko Umaru Radda has disbursed N50,000 each to 200 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) vendors, totalling N10 million during the 2025 International MSME Day celebration in the state capital.
The cash support is part of a broader empowerment initiative aimed at boosting small-scale enterprises, enhancing local productivity, and creating new opportunities for job creation and innovation.
“Today, we are not just giving money; we are investing in the courage and creativity of our people,” Governor Radda said.
“These entrepreneurs are the backbone of our economy. We are committed to helping them grow, thrive, and lead the way to a more prosperous Katsina.”
The governor used the occasion to highlight his administration’s ongoing commitment to enterprise development. Since assuming office, he said, his government has repositioned Katsina as a hub of entrepreneurship by strengthening institutions like the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA), expanding access to business training, and rolling out outreach programmes in rural and semi-urban areas.
In a major announcement, Governor Radda officially launched the KASEDA Digital Academy, a platform designed to equip MSMEs with modern skills in digital marketing, e-commerce, business development, and financial literacy, all accessible remotely.
“This academy is designed to future-proof our MSMEs,” he said. “With it, our youth and women entrepreneurs can gain vital knowledge right from their shops or homes.”
Radda also revealed that his administration is working closely with national financial institutions such as the Bank of Industry and Sterling Bank, as well as global development agencies, to expand access to funding, training, and technology for local businesses.
“We are calling on our youth, the funds and tools are here. Step forward and take them. You have our full support,” he urged.
As part of the MSME Day celebration, the 200 selected vendors will also undergo a two-day intensive training programme on business sustainability, customer service, and innovation designed to strengthen their enterprises beyond financial assistance.
The event drew hundreds of participants, including artisans, techpreneurs, fashion designers, and local manufacturers who showcased their products at the MSME fair. Governor Radda praised their innovation and resilience, calling them “the true builders of our economy.”
He concluded with a message of hope and inclusivity,
“Let’s build a Katsina where no one is too small to succeed, and every idea is given a chance to flourish.”
In her opening remarks, KASEDA director general, Aisha Aminu Malumfashi, represented by the technical assistant to the Governor on Enterprise Development, Babangida Kabir Ruma, said the agency has recorded remarkable progress in less than two years of the current administration.
She revealed that KASEDA has supported over 8,000 SMEs through access to finance and enterprise development programmes, facilitating over N3.4 billion in interest-free development funding for small businesses across Katsina.
