The Katsina State Government has approved the enrollment of 361 additional trainees into the second batch of the Dikko Radda Agripreneurship Training and Empowerment Scheme as part of efforts to strengthen youth participation in agriculture and agribusiness across the state.
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The approval was granted during the 8th Regular Meeting of the Katsina State Executive Council chaired by Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda on Wednesday at the General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB) House in Katsina.
Speaking during a press briefing after the meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Dr. Bala Salisu Zango, said the new trainees would undergo intensive agricultural and entrepreneurship training at the Makera Songhai Training Centre in Dutsin-ma.
According to the government, the programme is designed to equip young people with practical knowledge in modern integrated farming systems and agribusiness management.
The training covers crop production, livestock farming, aquaculture, agro-processing and agri-business development, with the state government positioning the initiative as a major strategy for youth empowerment and food security.
Officials said the additional intake into Batch 2 reflects the growing demand for agricultural training opportunities among young people in Katsina and the administration’s commitment to reducing unemployment through skills development.
“The Council enrolled an additional 361 candidate trainees in the second batch of the Dikko Radda Agripreneurship Training and Empowerment Scheme at Makera Songhai Training Center, Dutsin-ma,” the government stated during the briefing.
The Dikko Radda Agripreneurship Training and Empowerment Scheme is one of the flagship youth-focused programmes introduced by the current administration under its Building Your Future agenda.
The initiative combines technical agricultural training with entrepreneurship support to prepare participants for self-employment and commercial farming opportunities.
Observers say the programme aligns with broader national conversations around food production, youth employment and economic diversification, especially as many state governments increasingly turn to agriculture as a tool for economic growth.
The Katsina State Government has continued to invest in agricultural development through training programmes, empowerment initiatives and rural development projects aimed at improving livelihoods across local communities.
The latest approval comes at a time when interest in agribusiness is rising among Nigerian youths due to increasing opportunities in food processing, poultry, aquaculture and agricultural value chains.
Beyond the agripreneurship scheme, the State Executive Council also approved several projects covering education, sports infrastructure, water supply and data-driven development planning.
However, the enrollment of the 361 trainees stood out as one of the major youth empowerment decisions from the meeting, highlighting the administration’s push to build a new generation of trained agricultural entrepreneurs in Katsina State.
