Governor Dikko Radda Builds on Masari’s Talent Hunt Legacy, Targets 10,000 Artisans for Skills Training in Kastina State

By Fatima Saka

KATSINA — Governor Dikko Umaru Radda is set to build on the talent development foundation laid by his predecessor, Aminu Bello Masari, as the Katsina State Talent Hunt and Innovation Centre plans to train 10,000 artisans across the state’s 34 local government areas in vocational and technical skills.

The 18-month skills acquisition and empowerment programme, scheduled to commence in September 2026, is designed to equip beneficiaries with marketable skills, promote self-reliance, create employment opportunities and strengthen the state’s skilled workforce.

The Coordinator of the Katsina State Talent Hunt and Innovation Centre, Faisal Jafar Rafindadi, disclosed this on Wednesday, in Abuja while outlining the plan of the centre’s next phase of talent development and vocational training activities.

Rafindadi said the centre had spent about a decade discovering, developing and motivating individuals with diverse talents, helping many young people and artisans identify their strengths and transform them into productive ventures.

He said the proposed training would cover a wide range of construction and technology-related trades, including carpentry, plastering, interlocking production and installation, plumbing, electrical works, Plaster of Paris (POP) installation, aluminium window and door fabrication, as well as Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

According to him, the programme will provide structured and practical training for 10,000 beneficiaries drawn from across the 34 local government areas of Katsina State.

“The objective is to equip participants with practical skills that can enable them to establish businesses, secure employment and contribute meaningfully to the economic development of Katsina State,” he said.

Rafindadi explained that forms would be sent to the local government areas to facilitate the selection of beneficiaries, while the centre would coordinate the overall implementation of the programme from its headquarters in Katsina.

He said the 18-month programme would provide participants with practical and specialised instruction in their chosen fields, with the aim of producing a new generation of skilled artisans and entrepreneurs.

The coordinator also disclosed plans to officially launch an office for the Katsina State Talent Hunt and Innovation Centre, which is expected to serve as a hub for coordinating the skills acquisition programme and other talent discovery and innovation activities.

Governor Radda is expected to inaugurate the centre as part of efforts to strengthen vocational development and expand opportunities for young people and skilled workers in the state.

Rafindadi added that the centre is working in partnership with the Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to support the implementation and expansion of the initiative.

He expressed optimism that the programme would boost entrepreneurship, reduce unemployment and enable participants to convert their talents and acquired skills into sustainable sources of livelihood.

Further details on registration, training locations and beneficiary selection are expected to be announced ahead of the commencement of the programme in September.

The planned training of 10,000 artisans represents a new phase in the evolution of the Katsina National Talent Hunt Challenge, which was launched in late 2020 under the administration of former Governor Aminu Bello Masari.

The initiative was conceived as a platform for identifying, nurturing and promoting the hidden talents and innovative abilities of young people in Katsina State. Through the Katsina Public Exhibition and Innovation Centre, the programme sought to encourage youth innovation, reduce restiveness and provide productive economic opportunities for young people.

It was also designed to steer vulnerable youths away from social vices and provide positive alternatives to criminal activities, including recruitment into banditry.

At its inception, the initiative established registration and coordination platforms to enable talented individuals from different parts of the state to showcase their abilities in various fields.

The maiden edition of the Katsina National Talent Hunt Challenge reached its climax in February 2022 at the Bello Kofar Bai Hall in Katsina, with participants competing in categories including ICT, Art and Design, Automobile Modelling, Music and Entertainment, among others.

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Outstanding participants received significant cash rewards, with winners in some categories taking home prizes of up to ₦5 million, alongside vehicles and other empowerment packages.

Building on its success in Katsina, the initiative has continued to evolve, with plans for broader expansion through the Nigeria Talent Exploration Challenge and partnerships with relevant technical and vocational institutions.

The proposed training of 10,000 artisans under the Radda administration therefore represents a continuation and expansion of the talent development vision initiated during the Masari era, with a renewed focus on vocational skills, innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods for Katsina residents.