In a state where unemployment among young people has long been a growing concern, a new chapter is being written boldly, deliberately, and with billions of naira in tools, training, and vision.
That chapter is unfolding in Katsina State under the leadership of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, and its most compelling headline yet is the graduation of 634 young men and women from the Katsina Youth Craft Village (KYCV). Each will walk away with practical skills and full-fledged, trade-specific starter packs to launch their businesses immediately.
No more waiting for jobs. No more empty certificates. No more wasted potential. Radda’s message is clear: the youth are not the leaders of tomorrow, they’re the business owners of today.
Held at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, the event was part graduation, part economic revolution. The atmosphere buzzed with pride, optimism, and possibility as 634 young artisans trained across 15 specialised trades ranging from tailoring and catering to GSM repairs, shoemaking, welding, carpentry, and ICT took centre stage.
Each received a customised starter pack loaded with industry-standard equipment, not token tools but actual entrepreneurial kits designed to help them hit the ground running.
Governor Radda didn’t mince words: “These starter packs are not handouts; they are investments, empowerment tools designed to transform potential into productivity.”
To guard against misuse, his administration has implemented strict monitoring protocols. Recipients signed agreements in the presence of their parents or guardians, while security agencies and tracking systems will ensure compliance.
“If you sell your starter pack, there will be consequences,” Radda warned, as applause roared from the crowd. It wasn’t a threat; it was a promise that the era of wastage is over.
The Katsina Youth Craft Village isn’t new, but under Governor Radda, it has been reborn. He said KYCV has now been transformed into a “Centre of Excellence in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).”
This isn’t political rhetoric; it’s backed by structural, strategic, and global-facing reforms.
The governor listed a series of key interventions: Business plan and sustainability framework to keep the centre thriving beyond political tenures, International benchmarking through study visits to institutions like SENAI in Brazil; accreditation under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and ISO standards; massive equipment upgrades, bringing in modern, industry-standard tools; and Instructor up-skilling, alumni engagement, and M&E systems for real-time performance checks.
KYCV is no longer just a training centre; it’s an enterprise pipeline, feeding skilled youth into real-world businesses with practical support structures to succeed.
In a ground-breaking move, KYCV isn’t operating in isolation. It has been woven into Katsina’s broader community development fabric.
Facilities like the Multipurpose Women’s Centre in Filin Samji, the Groundnut Processing Centre in Kankiya, and the Furniture Production Initiative in secondary schools have all been integrated into KYCV’s ecosystem, allowing trainees to gain hands-on experience while simultaneously serving community needs.
“True learning must go beyond the classroom,” Radda stated, explaining that skills become most effective when they meet actual, local demand.
Not resting on this achievement, the governor unveiled plans to introduce ten new departments at KYCV and renovate existing facilities, solidifying the institution’s position as a national flagship in vocational education.
“We’re not just preparing youth for jobs, we’re preparing them to create jobs,” he said.
This level of ambition sets the tone for a new kind of leadership that does not simply acknowledge problems but engineers transformative solutions around them.
One of the initiative’s most commendable features is its emphasis on merit and inclusion. KYCV coordinator Engr. Kabir Abdullahi revealed that all 634 trainees were selected purely on merit, with every local government area represented.
This is significant in a region where political influence often distorts access to public programmes.
Kabir also announced a strategic partnership with a leading skills institution in Kano, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen KYCV’s reach, quality, and national recognition.
“KYCV now operates with modern tools, a stronger workforce, and a growing international reputation,” he proudly declared.
The former Governor Shehu Shema stirred emotion and inspiration as he took the stage at the Karanda Stadium to address hundreds of graduands from the KYCV, a legacy project he founded in 2009 that has now become a beacon of innovation and youth empowerment in northern Nigeria.
The occasion was more than a graduation; it was a celebration of continuity, creativity, and a sustained vision that has survived political transitions and flourished under new leadership.
Recalling moments of ingenuity that stunned both local and federal dignitaries, Shema shared compelling anecdotes of KYCV’s early triumphs, including the development of a remote-controlled generator and a specially fabricated open jeep for pitch-side medical emergencies. Both were built from scratch by trainees in auto-mechanic, electrical, welding, and carpentry units.
“These inventions were more than just technical feats; they were affirmations that our young people, when given the right tools and support, can produce solutions that rival global standards,” Shema said.
Since its founding, he expressed deep pride in the institution’s consistency in empowering youth from all 34 LGAs.
In a powerful nod to leadership continuity, Shema hailed Governor Radda for sustaining and expanding the KYCV initiative.
He praised the governor’s commitment to skill acquisition, noting that the distribution of starter packs to the graduates was not only generous but transformative.
“This kind of continuity in purpose is the hallmark of visionary leadership,” Shema said, highlighting that investment in people, not just infrastructure, is what guarantees the future of Katsina.
The graduates, trained in fields ranging from tailoring and GSM repair to cinematography and auto mechanics, are now equipped with practical tools and entrepreneurial hope, thanks to technical collaborations with organisations like CISCO, the Nigeria Film Institute, and other international partners.
In closing, Shema urged the graduating youth to become creators and changemakers: “You now possess tools not just of trade, but of transformation. Go forth and prove that you are the architects of the Katsina we hope for.”
This act of respect and continuation stood out in a political climate where projects are often abandoned at the whim of new administrations.
The graduation drew a crowd of proud parents, traditional rulers, development partners, and key government officials, including Rt. Hon. Nasir Yahaya Daura (Speaker, Katsina State House of Assembly) and the commissioners of various ministries.
Their presence underscored the collective ownership of this transformation and the shared belief that youth empowerment is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity.
Governor Radda’s youth empowerment blueprint isn’t just about graduates; it’s about generational upliftment. The 634 trainees who left KYCV aren’t just skilled; they’re armed with tools, vision, and support.
They’re not looking for jobs, they’re building businesses. They’re not liabilities, they’re leaders.
As the dust settles at Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, one thing is clear:
Katsina is no longer waiting for change. Katsina is making it, one empowered youth at a time.
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