Governor, Malam Umaru Radda has launched the Katsina State Community Development Programme (KSCDP), an initiative designed to empower communities and foster grassroots development through participatory governance.
The launch held at the Government House was attended by traditional rulers, development partners and key stakeholders.
Addressing the audience, Governor Radda emphasised the initiative’s transformative potential, stating, “Development is not a gift, it is a collective effort. This programme represents our belief in the potential of every community, every family and every individual in Katsina State.
“The KSCDP introduces a novel approach to community development by establishing community development centres in all 361 wards across Katsina’s 34 local governments. These centres will focus on three critical pillars: community development to address infrastructure and service delivery gaps, enhance social services and economic empowerment and promote education, capacity building and environmental sustainability.”
Governor Radda highlighted the initiative’s key goals, including social cohesion, economic empowerment, gender equity and improved infrastructure.
Drawing on global best practices, he cited successful community-driven development models like India’s Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and Brazil’s Bolsa Família programme.
The governor also announced the appointment of Dr. Kamaludeen Kabir, a renowned academic and expert in community development, as the state coordinator of KSCDP.
The programme has received resounding support from international development organisations. World Bank country director, Mr. Ndiame Diop, praised the bottom-up approach, saying, “Community-driven development empowers local populations to identify and address their own needs. This ensures that projects are strategically located, well-targeted, and embraced by the communities themselves.”
The African Development Bank (AfDB) Representative, Mr. Taibi Karikari, congratulated Governor Radda for aligning KSCDP with the AfDB’s 10-Year Strategy for Africa.
“This initiative is in line with our goals of fostering inclusive, resilient, and green growth across the continent,” he noted.
Nigeria’s permanent representative to ECOWAS, Ambassador Sani Musa Nuhu, also expressed strong support for the programme, stating, “One of the core principles of good governance is involving citizens in decision-making.”
