* Outlines reforms in security, healthcare, education, agriculture and infrastructure
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has called for leadership anchored on responsibility, authenticity, reflection and effective policy implementation, stressing that governance must translate into measurable improvements in the lives of citizens.
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A statement signed by Ibrahim kaula Mohammad, chief press secretary to the Governor, said Governor Radda made the call on Tuesday while delivering his keynote address at the opening of the 4th Executive Leadership Dialogue held at Hillside Hotel, Katsina.
The dialogue was organised by the Peace Building Development Consult (PBDC), in partnership with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).
Governor Radda said Katsina was deliberately chosen to host the strategic gathering because of its historical significance as a centre of commerce, Islamic scholarship, culture and hospitality.
“Leadership is not a title; it is a trust. It is not about privilege; it is about responsibility,” the Governor said.
He urged leaders to embrace reflection, noting that effective leadership requires the courage to examine decisions, question motives and align actions with the greater good.
“In times of uncertainty, reflection becomes our compass. It guides us towards integrity, courage and wisdom. Without reflection, leadership risks becoming reactive. With reflection, leadership becomes transformative,” he said.
Speaking on his administration’s Building Your Future Agenda, Governor Radda outlined interventions across key sectors, including security, agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure, education, youth empowerment and digital governance.
On security, he said the administration introduced the Community Watch Corps as a home-grown approach to grassroots security management, while investing in security equipment and combining kinetic measures with community engagement, rehabilitation and poverty-reduction initiatives.
“We have sought to embody these principles in Katsina State through the Building Your Future Agenda,” he said.
On healthcare, Governor Radda said the administration had established and upgraded health facilities across the state, including primary healthcare centres across the 361 wards, alongside the revitalisation of existing facilities and expansion of emergency medical services.
He also highlighted investments in an international-standard imaging centre, pharmaceutical manufacturing and dialysis services as part of efforts to strengthen specialised healthcare delivery.
On infrastructure, the Governor said his administration had expanded road connectivity across urban and rural communities, completed the 24-kilometre Eastern Bypass Township Road, implemented urban renewal and solar street-lighting projects, and improved rural road networks.
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He said the interventions were designed to ease transportation, stimulate commerce and strengthen socioeconomic activities across the state.
In education, Governor Radda disclosed that more than ₦120 billion had been invested in the sector, with model schools, junior and senior secondary schools, rehabilitation projects, ICT centres, robotics and artificial intelligence laboratories among the major interventions.
He also highlighted the expansion of scholarship opportunities for students studying within Nigeria and abroad.
On youth and women empowerment, the Governor said thousands of young people and women had benefited from skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programmes covering ICT, agriculture and modern trades.
He added that the state had established an enterprise development agency and committed more than ₦10 billion to supporting young entrepreneurs.
Governor Radda further disclosed that his administration had digitalised 118 ministries, departments and agencies, implemented the Treasury Single Account and increased monthly internally generated revenue from more than ₦400 million to over ₦3 billion.
He also cited investments in renewable energy and the introduction of CNG hybrid vehicles as part of the state’s efforts towards sustainable development.
“These achievements are not just milestones. They are a reflection of leadership rooted in authenticity, service and resilience,” he said.
The Governor said the interventions represented building blocks for a secure, prosperous and inclusive Katsina where “peace reigns, agriculture feeds, healthcare heals, education empowers and every citizen has the chance to prosper.”
Governor Radda described the Executive Leadership Dialogue as an opportunity for participants to move beyond discussion and develop practical responses to contemporary challenges.
“This dialogue is not just another conference. It is a platform to strengthen governance capacity, enhance policy implementation and foster adaptive, high-performance leadership,” he said.
He urged participants to focus on economic transformation, youth empowerment, human security, governance reforms, digital disruption and institutional strengthening.
“Let this dialogue be more than a deliberation. Let it be a catalyst for action,” the Governor declared.
Those in attendance included the Deputy Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Faruk Lawal Jobe; former Chief of Defence Staff of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Martin Luther Agwai; a former Director-General of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency Ambassador Ahmed Rufa’i.
Also were Secretary to the Katsina State Government Barr Abdullahi Garba Faskari; Head of Service Hon Alhaji Masudu Mustapha Banye; Chief of Staff Hon Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; members of the State Executive Council; the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Katsina State; Permanent Secretaries; members of the security agencies.
