When Fatima Umar, a 28-year-old fashion entrepreneur in Dandume, received a ₦50,000 business support grant in June 2025, it wasn’t just cash in her hand—it was a sign of a government that finally sees small businesses as central to development.
“For years, we ran our shops alone, no support, no visibility. Now, with the training I received from KASEDA and the grant, my business has a future,” she said, her eyes gleaming with hope.
This story is no longer rare in Katsina State. Under Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, a silent revolution is unfolding in the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, fundamentally reshaping the state’s economy and redefining how government engages its citizens.
Radda’s commitment to MSME development wasn’t an afterthought—it was embedded in his campaign blueprint, “Building Your Future.” It outlined bold steps to tackle unemployment and poverty by investing in human capital and grassroots enterprise.
Barely two years into his administration, he has delivered—chief among them, the creation of the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA).
“KASEDA is unprecedented in the history of Katsina. For the first time, we have a state-level institution solely focused on building businesses from the ground up,” said Dr. Ibrahim Musa Gani, Director Enterprise Development, at the agency.
KASEDA functions as the nucleus of Radda’s enterprise development drive—providing advisory services, training, digital tools, and financial access to entrepreneurs across the state’s 34 LGAs.
According to official figures, over 8,000 MSMEs have received grants or business development support in just 18 months. More than ₦3.4 billion in interest-free loans and matching funds has been injected into the system through partnerships with Bank of Industry, Sterling Bank, SMEDAN, and international donors.
“This is not politics as usual,” noted Amina Kofar-Sauri, an economic analyst based in Katsina. “Radda is building an ecosystem—finance, skills, mentorship, markets. That’s how you transform an economy sustainably.”
One of the flagship initiatives is the Dikko Rural Women and Youth Entrepreneurship Support Programme, a ₦500 million intervention targeting over 7,000 grassroots entrepreneurs with funding and mentorship.
In celebration of International MSME Day on June 26, 2025, Radda launched the KASEDA Digital Academy. The platform offers free, self-paced courses in digital marketing, e-commerce, business strategy, and financial literacy. It aims to equip MSMEs—especially youth—with future-ready skills.
“This is about future-proofing our economy,” Governor Radda said at the launch event. “We're not giving fish; we are teaching people how to fish and how to sell it online.”
Also introduced was the Dikko BDS Corps, a team of 136 trained business advisors deployed across the state to mentor micro and small businesses on strategy, record keeping, and accessing credit.
What makes this initiative unique is its inclusivity. From Jibia to Faskari, Baure to Kankara, MSMEs are now at the heart of government strategy.
“We have gone to the most remote communities, asking people what they need,” said Saidu Idris, one of the BDS Corps members. “It’s not one-size-fits-all. We tailor the support to each business.”
Beyond financial support, the administration has also mapped over 600,000 small businesses, registered 50,000 informal enterprises, and revived the dormant SMEDEN Industrial Development Centre in Katsina city.
This is not merely a government program. What’s taking shape in Katsina is a movement of enterprise—driven by policy but rooted in people’s dreams.
“Before now, my husband and I thought of moving to Kano or Abuja,” said Hassanatu Usman, who now runs a poultry business in Malumfashi with support from KASEDA. “But today, we’re staying. The help is here.”
Governor Radda’s MSME agenda is not without challenges, but it’s grounded in vision, data, and delivery. With over ₦5 billion already deployed, hundreds trained, and systems institutionalized, Katsina State is showing how to move from campaign slogans to actual economic transformation.
Radda is not just building infrastructure—he’s building people. And in the villages, markets, and startup corners of Katsina, the future is already under construction.
Ahmed Abdulkadir is the Board Chairman, Katsina State Radio and Television Services.
Tags
Articles