Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s administration is scripting a new chapter in Katsina State’s development journey—one rooted in data, digital innovation, and merit-based governance. With a forward-looking strategy inspired by international best practices, Governor Radda has laid the groundwork for what many now consider the most comprehensive public administration reforms in the state’s history.
Two trailblazing institutions—the Directorate of Information and Communication Technology (KATDICT) and the Katsina Geographic Information Service (KATGIS)—have emerged at the heart of this transformation. These departments, alongside the Katsina State Bureau of Statistics, are making Governor Radda’s “Building Your Future” development blueprint a living reality.
Building Data-Driven Governance: The Katsina State Bureau of Statistics
Governor Radda’s emphasis on data is not theoretical. Under the leadership of Professor Saifullahi Sani Matazu, the Katsina State Bureau of Statistics has empowered over 500 young people through ad-hoc survey and data collection engagements across the state.
This initiative achieves two major goals: it builds local statistical capacity for evidence-based policy planning while simultaneously empowering youth with relevant technical skills. By linking data generation directly to policymaking, Katsina is ensuring that no decision is made without credible numbers to back it.
This model mirrors the governance strategy used in developed nations like Finland, Germany, and Singapore, where robust statistical systems form the backbone of decision-making in health, education, urban planning, and social welfare. Governor Radda is, in effect, importing global standards to the grassroots.
KATDICT: The Engine Room of Digital Governance
In another unprecedented move, the Radda administration established the Katsina State Directorate of Information and Communication Technology (KATDICT) to coordinate all ICT-related activities across ministries, departments, and agencies. The directorate is also tasked with advising the Governor and implementing the Katsina ICT policy framework.
KATDICT plays a central role in ensuring that digital systems introduced in ministries are interoperable, secure, and aligned with the state’s broader development vision. This is particularly vital for digital transparency, e-governance, revenue tracking, and effective service delivery.
Such a central ICT agency is the hallmark of digitally progressive governments globally. Estonia, for instance, transformed its public sector through a unified national ICT strategy—a model now echoed in Katsina through KATDICT.
KATGIS: Revolutionizing Land Management through Data
Land administration—historically mired in bureaucracy and corruption—is being reformed through the Katsina Geographic Information Service (KATGIS). The service recently began training data enumerators to digitize all existing land records, including those dating back to the colonial era.
This massive data capture exercise is being carried out using the newly developed KATGIS application, under the leadership of Dr. Mansir Aminu (Director General, KATGIS) and Dr. Faisal Umar Kaita (Commissioner, Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning).
The process involves uploading, managing, and verifying land records, ensuring that every plot of land in Katsina has a digital footprint. This not only fosters transparency and efficiency in land transactions but also enhances investor confidence and increases the economic value of land across the state.
Speaking during a recent inspection, Governor Radda stressed the significance of this initiative:
“Digitizing our land records is not just about documents—it’s about accountability, economic empowerment, and future-proofing governance.”
Countries like Rwanda and India have undergone similar land digitization processes to unlock economic potential, reduce land disputes, and improve rural-urban planning. With KATGIS, Katsina is adopting these global best practices.
Reform Beyond Technology: Values, Merit, and Public Trust
At the International Conference on Public Administration and Governance hosted by Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Governor Radda emphasized that reform must go beyond technology—it must change mindsets.
Delivering his keynote address, the Governor said:
“Development cannot stand on a weak bridge—and that bridge is the administrative system. We’ve introduced digital systems to make government work better for the people, but the real reform is in values and service.”
Governor Radda outlined how all Permanent Secretaries in Katsina were appointed through a merit-based, competitive process, marking a decisive break from the politics of patronage. He also referenced the “Change Aqala” civic campaign, aimed at resetting public service values to prioritize discipline, accountability, and responsiveness.
A National Model in the Making
ABU Vice Chancellor, Professor Adamu Ahmed, praised the Governor's reforms, stating:
“Your use of technology in governance, land reform efforts, and investment in people-centered development have made you a reference point in good governance.”
These reforms are being closely watched across Nigeria, offering a replicable model for states seeking to modernize their governance structures using local talent, homegrown solutions, and global standards.
Conclusion: The Future Is Already Happening in Katsina
What Governor Radda is building in Katsina is more than a government—it is a data-empowered, digitally-driven development ecosystem. Through institutions like KATDICT, KATGIS, and the State Bureau of Statistics, his administration is showing that 21st-century governance must be smart, inclusive, and accountable.
These reforms are not only delivering services more efficiently—they are restoring trust in public institutions, empowering the youth, and laying the foundation for a truly modern Katsina State.
In the words of Governor Radda:
“We are not just building infrastructure—we are building systems. We are not just serving today—we are preparing for tomorrow.”
Written by: Ahmed Abdulkadir,
Board Chairman, Katsina State Radio and Television Services.
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