Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has disbursed ₦102 million in starter packs to 102 graduates of the revived Songhai Comprehensive Centre, signaling a fresh milestone in his agricultural transformation agenda.
Hikaya Newspaper reports that each beneficiary, drawn from all 34 local government areas, received ₦1 million as seed capital after completing six months of intensive training in modern agriculture.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Katsina, Governor Radda described the initiative as a “turning point in the history of agriculture in Katsina State.” He highlighted sweeping reforms under his administration, including the 2023 dry-season farming program, large-scale distribution of subsidized farm inputs, and the mechanization drive that provided tractors, power tillers, irrigation pumps, and fertilizers at affordable rates.
The Governor further announced that the next phase of the Songhai program will train 361 participants one from each ward of the state to deepen grassroots inclusion. He pledged continued investment in farm settlements, cotton production, and youth empowerment, stressing that the goal is to move Katsina from subsistence to commercial farming, thereby creating jobs, reducing poverty, and boosting food security.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. Ahmed Bakori, described the event as the beginning of a new chapter in Katsina’s agricultural journey, while ALGON Deputy Chairman, Rabo Tambaya, and House Majority Leader, Hon. Shamsudeen Abubakar Dabai, pledged the support of local governments and lawmakers. Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Umar Mukhtar vowed that they would use their skills to improve food production and contribute to the state’s development.