Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has approved the release of N4 billion for the second phase of the Community Development Programme (CDP), paving the way for the execution of grassroots projects across all 361 wards in the state.

The approval was granted during the 12th regular meeting of the Katsina State Executive Council for 2026 held on Wednesday at the Government House, Katsina.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the Coordinator of the Community Development Programme, Dr. Kamaladden Kabir, said the council endorsed the release of the funds to sustain community-driven development initiatives aimed at addressing critical needs at the grassroots level.

According to him, each of the 361 wards will receive N10 million to implement projects selected by residents based on their most urgent developmental priorities.

Kabir explained that the decision was informed by the successes recorded during the first phase of the programme, which enabled communities to identify and execute projects tailored to their specific needs.

He noted that the fresh funding would empower community development committees to continue delivering interventions that directly improve the welfare and living conditions of residents.

“The release of these funds demonstrates Governor Radda’s commitment to grassroots development by empowering communities to identify and execute projects that have direct impact on the lives of the people,” Kabir said.

The latest approval is expected to further strengthen the administration’s community-driven development strategy, which places local residents at the centre of decision-making and project implementation.

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Meanwhile, the Executive Council also approved the award of a contract for the supply and installation of Smart School Information Technology Infrastructure at the newly established model secondary schools in Jikamshi and Dumurkul.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hon. Yusuf Suleiman Jibia, said the project forms part of the state government’s efforts to modernise education and equip students with digital skills required in a rapidly evolving world.

He disclosed that the initiative will provide smart classrooms, interactive digital boards, campus-wide ICT and network infrastructure, as well as other modern educational technologies designed to create safe and technology-driven learning environments.

Jibia said the project aligns with Governor Radda’s broader agenda of transforming the education sector through innovation and technology.

“This initiative reflects Governor Radda’s vision of transforming education through digital innovation and preparing our students with the technological skills required to compete in the 21st-century knowledge economy,” he said.

The approvals underscore the administration’s continued investment in both grassroots development and education reform, two sectors regarded as critical to the state’s long-term growth and socio-economic advancement.