Youth development stakeholders' engagement

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu.

It is with immense humility and a deep sense of responsibility that I welcome you to this Youth Development Stakeholder’s Engagement for Sustainable Livelihood. This forum is more than a policy conversation it is a reaffirmation of our unwavering belief that the future of Katsina State lies in the hands of our young people. We are not here to talk about the youth, we are here to talk with the youth. From the formally educated to the artisans, from our Qur’an memorizers to those just begin their journey, I welcome you all. You are the pulse of our present and the promise of our future.

WHY YOUTH EMPOWERMENT IS CENTRAL TO OUR VISION

Katsina State is home to one of the youngest populations in Nigeria with over 65% of our people are under 35. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity. If neglected, this demographic could become a source of instability. But if harnessed, it can be the engine of prosperity, innovation, and peace.

This administration chooses to see our youth not as a burden, but as our greatest blessing. However, youth unemployment and underemployment standing at over 40% nationally pose a serious risk to our stability. We cannot afford to delay. The time to act is now with courage, strategy, and unity of purpose.

OUR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AGENDA: ACHIEVEMENTS AND INITIATIVES

Our youth development strategy is anchored on three pillars: Skills, Access and Opportunity. Allow me to highlight some key milestones:

• Sports Development

The Government has demonstrated a growing commitment to promoting and developing sports as a vital component of youth empowerment, national integration, and talent development. Some of the key initiatives and efforts of the present administration include:

• Infrastructure Development and Rehabilitation
• Promotion of Grassroots Sports
• Support for Local Athletes and Teams
• Policy Framework and Institutional Support

While more still needs to be done to fully harness the potential of sports in Katsina State, the current administration has laid a solid foundation. With continued investment, policy support, and stakeholder collaboration, Katsina is poised to become a major contributor to Nigeria’s sports landscape, producing world-class athletes and fostering healthier, more active communities.

• Youth Empowerment Support

Youth support such as Build your Future with Dan Amana that took place in February, 2025 where over N252,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Two Million Naira) only was disbursed to 1016 youth of which many were active youth in politics and empowered to support their micro and small businesses to discourage idleness.

• Skills Acquisition and Vocational Empowerment

Over 12,000 youths trained across our 15 zonal skill centres in ICT, tailoring, carpentry, welding, leather work, and phone/laptop repairs.

• In collaboration with SMEDAN and NDE, we distributed starter packs and soft loans to over 4,500 young entrepreneurs.
• Our Youth Innovation & Tech Hub in partnership with the private sector, is training of over 1,000 youths in coding, digital marketing and data analytics.
• Education and Alternative Learning

Through our “Catch Them Young” campaign, over 8,000 Almajiri children have been re-integrated into formal and vocational education systems. 2,300 Qur’an memorizers are now part of a curriculum blending Islamic scholarship with entrepreneurship and civic education. We introduced a scholarship scheme supporting 2,100 indigent students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

• Agriculture and Youth Enterprise
• Under the Youth in Agriculture Programme (YAP-Katsina), over 7,500 youths have received tools, inputs, and access to land across all 34 LGAs.
• Our Youth Agribusiness Incubation Programme now boasts 200 youth-led cooperatives supplying local markets and schools.
• Access to Finance
• Through the Youth Enterprise Fund with the Bank of Industry and Microfinance Banks, over ₦1.2 billion in soft loans has reached 3,800 youth-led businesses.
• A new Public-Private Youth Cooperative Financing Scheme is targeting a ₦500 million revolving fund to empower 10,000 youth within 24 months.

BUILDING ON OUR STRENGTHS: FAITH, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY

Any meaningful youth agenda in Katsina State must reflect our cultural and religious values. That is why this engagement includes our revered Ulama and Religious Leaders. Your role in shaping disciplined, morally upright, and purpose-driven youths is invaluable.

We continue to support over 400 Islamic learning centres with infrastructure, educational materials, and stipends for volunteer teachers, reinforcing values of hard work, integrity, and service.

PARTNERSHIPS THAT WORK

I commend the tireless work of our Ministries of Youth and Sports, Education, Agriculture, Women Affairs, and ICT. Your dedication is producing real results.

To our development partners UNICEF, UNDP, World Bank, AfDB, Family Homes Fund, and others thank you for walking this path with us. We look forward to scaling our partnerships to reach even more youth across the State.

THE FUTURE: YOUTH-INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE

Today marks the beginning of our Katsina State Youth Sustainable Livelihood Plan (2025–2030) a strategic framework co-created with the youth, for the youth.

We are introducing:

• Youth Advisory Councils at both State and LGA levels
• Expanded TVET programs linked with industries
• A Digital Youth Empowerment Portal for job and training access
• A Monthly Youth Governor’s Forum to directly hear from youth across senatorial zones

A PERSONAL CHARGE TO THE YOUTHS OF KATSINA STATE

To our young people: the future is yours, but it will not build itself.

• To the educated: use your knowledge to lead with vision and humility.
• To the semi-educated: continue to upskill and never stop learning.
• To the uneducated: know that dignity, knowledge, and opportunity remain within your reach.
• To our Qur’an memorizers: embody the moral strength, honesty, and leadership our society needs.

We will provide the tools. But you must bring the will.

CONCLUSION

Let us walk together in building a Katsina State where no youth is left behind where our young people are not just employed, but empowered; not just hopeful, but confident; not just seen, but heard.

This is our shared mission. This is our collective legacy.

May God bless the youth of Katsina State.

May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Thank you, and Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatuhu