By Zaharaddeen Ishaq Abubakar & Auwal Isah Musa | Katsina TIMES
The Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA) marked the 2025 International Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day on Thursday, 26th June, with a major event celebrating local businesses and unveiling the KASEDA Digital Academy — an online platform for virtual skills acquisition aimed at empowering residents through digital vocational training.
The event, held at Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina, featured an exhibition of MSMEs from across the state, particularly those trained and supported by KASEDA. It drew participation from government officials, traditional leaders, business stakeholders, and hundreds of entrepreneurs.
Governor Dikko Umar Radda, who attended the ceremony, commended MSME operators for their contributions to community development and economic progress. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the sector.
“Katsina State has invested more than any other state in supporting young entrepreneurs,” Governor Radda said. “We are bridging the financing gap that has hindered MSME growth for too long.”
He disclosed that his government has allocated substantial funding to KASEDA to offer loans and business support to small enterprises across the state.
Representing KASEDA’s Director General, Hajiya Amina Aminu Malumfashi, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Business Development, Dr. Babangida Kabir Ruma, highlighted the agency’s impact since its establishment two years ago.
He stated that over 8,000 MSMEs have benefitted from the state’s flagship “Building Your Future” programme, which offers financial support, mentorship, and strategic business advice.
“We have disbursed ₦3.4 billion in interest-free loans, conducted Katsina’s first MSME census, and identified more than 650,000 small and medium-scale enterprises across the state,” Dr. Ruma said.
He also announced the successful training of over 3,000 youths in automobile mechanics in collaboration with the National Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), while more than 1,000 youths have started their own businesses through KASEDA’s empowerment schemes.
In a key highlight of the event, Dr. Ruma officially launched the KASEDA Digital Academy, a web-based platform (www.kaseda.ng) designed to provide residents with access to free online training in vocational and business skills, aligning with the state's digital economy initiative.
The celebration reaffirmed Katsina State’s position as a leading force in youth empowerment and MSME development in Nigeria.
