When Malam Dikko Umaru Radda became Governor of Katsina State two years ago, he made a simple but profound promise—to build a future where everyone has a stake, especially the most vulnerable. And quietly but deliberately, he’s been delivering on that promise—one woman, one family, and one community at a time.
Today, the evidence is everywhere. You’ll see it in the goat pens of a widow in Kafur. You’ll see it in the confident gait of a teenage girl in Daura who now receives cash transfers to stay in school. You’ll see it in the smile of a market woman in Funtua who has joined a cooperative and accessed her first business loan. These are not isolated stories. They are part of a quiet revolution.
Just days ago, Governor Radda announced a staggering ₦4 billion budget allocation to scale up the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP) across all 34 local governments in the state. He made this declaration at the North West Scale-Up Summit of the NFWP—an initiative supported by the World Bank and recognized as the most comprehensive gender equity project on the continent.
“This is not just policy—it is a grassroots movement built on dignity, inclusion, and resilience,” the Governor told a hall full of government officials, traditional leaders, women entrepreneurs, and international partners.
Currently operational in Daura, Katsina, and Funtua LGAs, the project will now reach every corner of the state. Over 800,000 women are expected to benefit through Women Affinity Groups (WAGs), access to microcredit, entrepreneurship training, and cooperatives. Gender desks are also being established in every LGA to ensure proper monitoring and support.
“Our women are not waiting to be helped—they are already leading change,” Governor Radda said.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, couldn’t agree more. She described Katsina as a model of inclusive governance, praising the Governor’s ₦1 billion budgetary provision to combat gender-based violence and the establishment of Women Affairs offices in all 34 LGAs.
Earlier this year, Governor Radda launched one of the most practical and impactful empowerment programs seen in the North—a ₦5.7 billion goat rearing scheme exclusively for women.
In this program, 3,610 women—ten from each of the state’s 361 wards—received four goats each. That’s over 14,000 goats already distributed, with plans to reach up to 40,000 animals. The idea is as simple as it is brilliant: the women keep the goats, breed them, and then repay in kind—returning a specified number of goats so that other women can benefit in the next cycle.
To support the initiative, the government established a livestock breeding and training center in Rimi Local Government Area. Here, women receive training in animal health, feeding, and sustainable livestock management. It’s not just a handout—it’s an investment in generational livelihoods.
What makes this initiative truly stand out is its ripple effect: increased household income, improved nutrition, and growing financial literacy among rural women who previously had little to no access to formal economic structures.
During the 2025 International Women’s Day celebration, Governor Radda went even further. He announced the training of 500 young girls in various vocational skills—each to be supported with starter kits upon completion. He also launched conditional cash transfers for over 104,000 schoolgirls spread across 255 secondary schools in the state.
These programs are rooted in a simple truth: when you invest in a woman, you change an entire family. And when you invest in a girl, you shape the future.
Empowerment isn’t just about skills or money. It’s also about safety, dignity, and having a voice. That’s why Governor Radda didn’t stop at economic inclusion. He allocated ₦1 billion to the fight against gender-based violence—backing it with action by setting up fully functional Women Affairs offices and gender desks across the state.
His administration is building an institutional framework that not only empowers women but protects them too. According to the World Bank, Nigeria could grow its GDP by as much as $27 billion simply by removing barriers to women’s full participation in the economy. With the steps taken so far, Katsina is well on its way.
What makes Governor Radda’s women’s empowerment drive unique isn’t just the money or the scale—it’s the philosophy behind it. There’s a deep understanding that women in Katsina do not lack discipline or ambition. What they often lack is access and opportunity.
By bridging that gap with tangible programs—from goats and loans to education and protection—Radda is changing the narrative. He is not just empowering women; he is trusting them, partnering with them, and betting on them to lead their communities into a better future.
And from all indications, it’s a bet that’s already paying off.
Written by Ahmed Abdulkadir,
Board Chairman, Katsina State Radio and Television Services.
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