Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has inaugurated the Katsina State Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship, positioning the state as the first sub-national government in Nigeria to fully domesticate and institutionalize the Startup Law.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Government House on Thursday, Governor Radda announced the establishment of a Startup Grants and Investment Fund with a guaranteed minimum of N250 million annually to help innovative businesses grow, scale, and compete globally. He described the event as a significant milestone in the state’s journey toward building a modern and inclusive digital economy.
“The Katsina Startup Law is not just another policy document; it is an engine for growth. It provides a solid framework to create an enabling environment, streamline regulations, promote research and development, support incubation and acceleration, and connect startups with investment and markets,” Governor Radda stated.
The governor explained that creating the council aligns with his administration’s broader vision to modernize governance, diversify the economy, create jobs, and promote shared prosperity across all local government areas. He emphasized that this vision has already produced key institutions such as the Katsina State Directorate of Information and Communication Technology (KATDICT) and the Katsina Development and Management Board (KDMB), both of which play vital roles in advancing the state’s technology and innovation agenda.
Radda noted that Nigeria’s ICT sector currently contributes about 18 percent to the national GDP, highlighting the growing importance of technology in shaping the future of work and industry. “Katsina must not stand behind; we must lead. We are sending a clear message that this state is ready to build a strong innovation economy capable of nurturing globally competitive startups and creating meaningful jobs for our youth,” he declared.
The Director General of the Katsina Directorate of Information and Communications Technology, Naufal Ahmad, explained that the Startup Bill establishes a complete end-to-end innovation support system. This includes incubators, accelerators, venture-building programmes, and a Credit Guarantee Scheme that allows startups to access capital using intellectual property, shares, and chattel assets as collateral.
Ahmad noted that Governor Radda’s commitment to digital innovation began even before the bill’s passage, as he initiated and funded the first state-backed startup incubation programme in partnership with Katsina’s first technology hub. “At the Arewa Tech Festival, startups from Katsina took home every prize, and many went on to win at national and international stages. That success was not luck—it was deliberate leadership,” Ahmad said.
He revealed that the state would soon launch a Startup Support and Engagement Portal—a one-stop platform for registration, incentives, market access, procurement, and investment opportunities. Alongside the portal, a Startup Consultative Forum will be established to ensure ecosystem participation in decision-making.
Ahmad added that the state plans to set up innovation clusters, technology parks, and enterprise centres across all local government areas to attract investments and support digital entrepreneurship. He explained that the aim is to distribute innovation and economic growth evenly across the state through talent development centres and Technology Development Zones that will encourage exports and create sustainable employment.
The KATDICT Director General said the new council integrates a triple-helix model of innovation that brings together government, academia, and industry, ensuring collaboration and shared responsibility in driving technological progress.
Governor Radda also announced that he would personally chair the council to ensure effective implementation and accountability. The council includes his Economic Adviser, the Director-General of the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA), the Executive Secretary of the Katsina Development and Management Board (KTDMB), and the Commissioners for Budget and Economic Planning, Finance, and Justice. In addition, there will be two representatives from academia, two from the ICT ecosystem, and three from the Startup Consultative Forum, including two women.
“I have chosen to chair this council myself to ensure our goals are achieved with urgency and precision. Together, we will build an economy where young people turn ideas into enterprises, where businesses grow with confidence, and where technology becomes a true tool for prosperity, peace, and progress,” the governor said.
Ahmad assured that KATDICT, as the council’s secretariat, will coordinate programmes, manage the startup portal, and support capacity building while ensuring every founder has access to the resources needed for success.
Dignitaries at the event included the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; Principal Private Secretary, Hon. Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji; Executive Secretary of KTDMB, Dr. Mustapha Shehu; representatives of the Director-General of NITDA; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Aminu Malumfashi; Director-General of KASEDA, Dr. Babangida Ruma; Economic Adviser, Khalil Nura Khalil; and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Fadila Muhammad Dikko.