Katsina Becomes First State to Fully Operationalise Startup Law as Radda Inaugurates Innovation Council
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has inaugurated the Katsina State Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship, officially activating the state’s Startup Law and making Katsina the first state in Nigeria to fully operationalise such legislation.
The inauguration, held on Tuesday, also saw the establishment of the Katsina Startup Fund and the constitution of the Startup Consultative Forum, three key institutions expected to support young entrepreneurs, attract investment and promote technology-driven businesses across the state.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abdulkadir Nasir Mamman, Governor Radda described the event as the beginning of the full implementation of his administration’s vision for a technology-driven economy.
“I convey the warm regards of Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, whose vision for a technology-driven and knowledge-based economy has made today’s gathering possible. The establishment of this Council is another demonstration of his administration’s belief that innovation is no longer on the margins of development, it is central to it,” he said.
The governor said the Startup Law had already provided the legal framework for innovation and entrepreneurship, stressing that the Council’s responsibility was to ensure the law delivers tangible benefits to the people.
“We should therefore see this Council for what it is: not another committee, and certainly not an implementing agency. We are the State’s highest strategic body on digital innovation and entrepreneurship. Our responsibility is to provide direction, shape policy, remove barriers, build partnerships and ensure that innovation becomes a driver of economic growth across our State,” he stated.
Radda explained that the Startup Law was designed as an economic development tool aimed at creating employment opportunities for young people, attracting investment and helping entrepreneurs transform innovative ideas into sustainable businesses.
“This will equally help in building companies that create value, generate employment and contribute to the prosperity of our State,” he said.
According to him, the initiative is expected to have a positive impact across sectors including agriculture, healthcare, education and manufacturing.
“The real measure of our success will not be the number of meetings we hold or resolutions we pass. It will be whether more young people find meaningful opportunities; whether more startups survive and grow; whether more investors choose Katsina; whether our universities become centres of innovation; and whether technology begins to solve everyday challenges for our citizens,” the governor added.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Katsina State Directorate of Information and Communication Technology (KATDICT), Naufal Ahmad, said the state had laid a solid foundation for building an innovation-driven economy.
“We now have a system where founders can build, investors can come in with confidence, and young people can turn ideas into businesses that create jobs and wealth,” Ahmad said.
He noted that the Startup Law would improve access to support for entrepreneurs, strengthen collaboration between government and the private sector, and attract greater investment into technology-enabled enterprises.
“With this step, Governor Radda has set a national example of how to turn policy into institutions that deliver growth that is inclusive,” he added.
The newly inaugurated Katsina State Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship will be chaired by Governor Radda, while the Director-General of KATDICT, Naufal Ahmad, will serve as Secretary.
Other members of the council include the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Malik Anas; Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Bello Hussaini Kagara; Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Fadila Muhammad Dikko; the Governor’s Economic Adviser, Khalil Nura Khalil; Director-General of KASEDA, Dr. Babangida Ruma; Executive Secretary of KTDMB, Dr. Mustapha Shehu; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Aminu (Malumfashi); academics Hajia Zainab Lawal Sani and Dr. Armaya’u Zango; and representatives of the technology ecosystem, Umar Mustapha Kutawa, Chief Executive Officer of LumiLab, and Huzaifa Yakubu Musa, Chief Executive Officer of Kirkira.
