Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has flagged off an empowerment scheme for 14,450 women engaged in small businesses and traditional economic activities across the 34 Local Government Areas of Katsina State.
The flag-off took place on Tuesday at the People’s Square, with widows, mothers, artisans, traders, farmers, tailors, food processors, and other vulnerable citizens listed among the beneficiaries of the programme.
Speaking during the disbursement ceremony, Governor Radda described women as the engine of the state’s economy, noting that their daily efforts have powered and sustained markets for decades while preserving Katsina’s cultural heritage.
According to him, women play a central role in household stability and community growth, adding that when women control income, up to 90 percent is invested back into families’ nutrition, children’s education, and community wellbeing.
“Empowering women is not just policy, it’s a peace-building initiative. Today we are not just investing in businesses, we are investing in hope, stability, and the future of Katsina State,” the governor said.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Katsina State Commissioner for Women Affairs, A’isha Malumfashi, said the initiative reflects the unwavering commitment of the state government to inclusive governance and sustainable development.
Malumfashi explained that the programme aligns with the governor’s Building Your Future Strategic Document, which serves as a collective vision for reducing poverty, strengthening livelihoods, and creating opportunities for women to become economically independent and self-reliant.
She noted that the empowerment scheme goes beyond financial assistance, stressing that it also focuses on restoring women’s dignity, building confidence, and unlocking hidden potential across sectors of the local economy.
The commissioner urged beneficiaries to make effective and responsible use of the support provided to grow their businesses, support their families, and serve as ambassadors of positive change.
“When we empower a woman, we know that we have empowered a family and a community; thus, community will thrive and prosper,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Katsina State First Lady, Zulaihat Radda, described women as the backbone of families, communities, and the local economy, urging beneficiaries to use the empowerment opportunity to secure a brighter future.
She announced that sanitary pads would soon be distributed to 10,000 women across the state under the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu.
“I am grateful for my husband for his women’s inclusion vision in his governance,” Mrs Radda stated.
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