By Abbas Bamalli
Katsina, Jan. 10, 2026 (NAN)
In a significant boost to grassroots entrepreneurship, Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has publicly commended the political support group, Tinubu/Dikko Assured (TDA 2027), for its empowerment initiative targeting over 1,040 small-scale traders across the state. The program, which provides direct business grants, is being hailed as a practical intervention in the state’s economic landscape.
The governor’s praise was delivered on Friday during the empowerment ceremony for 330 beneficiaries from the Funtua Senatorial Zone, held in Funtua Local Government Area. Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Musa Adamu, Governor Radda framed the initiative as a vital complement to his administration’s own economic agenda.
“This empowerment will go a long way in boosting the state’s economy,” Radda stated. He elaborated that such programs are critical for encouraging youth entrepreneurship and strengthening small-scale enterprises, which collectively form the backbone of the state’s and indeed Nigeria’s economy. He highlighted the multi-faceted impact, noting it would “boost productivity, foster self-reliance, and contribute to reducing unemployment.” The governor pledged further collaboration with TDA, stating the initiative dovetails with his administration’s poverty reduction efforts under the ‘Building Your Future’ agenda.
Radda also issued a broader call to action, urging other organizations—corporate, non-profit, and political—to follow suit in promoting job and wealth creation by directly supporting the small business sector.
Deconstructing the Empowerment Model
Providing granular detail on the program’s structure, the TDA Chairman, Alhaji Umar Ahmad-Zayyad, explained the selection and distribution process. Beneficiaries were chosen from across the state’s 34 Local Government Areas (LGAs), with 30 selected from each LGA and an additional 50 from Katsina LGA, bringing the total to 1,040.
“Each of the beneficiaries will receive a N30,000 business incentive. Our aim is to boost entrepreneurship and economic growth,” Ahmad-Zayyad said. He contextualized the effort within national and state-level policy, noting it aligns with “the youth empowerment objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and also Governor Radda’s ‘Building Your Future’ agenda.”
The chairman provided a zonal breakdown: 360 beneficiaries empowered in the Daura zone, 350 in the Katsina zone, and the latest 330 in the Funtua zone. He emphasized inclusivity, revealing that the beneficiaries from each LGA comprised 15 women and 15 young men, ensuring gender-balanced support.
Beyond Cash: Context and Future Plans
Ahmad-Zayyad stressed that the financial grant is just the beginning. “We plan to empower more traders with business incentives to encourage youth entrepreneurship in the state,” he announced, signaling a sustained commitment. He also urged beneficiaries to use the funds judiciously to expand their business ventures, a critical factor for long-term sustainability beyond the initial capital injection.
Notably, the TDA chairman linked economic empowerment to security, commending the efforts of both the federal and Katsina state governments in combating insecurity. “This will encourage the growth of businesses in the state,” he noted, acknowledging that entrepreneurship cannot thrive in an environment of fear and instability.
Earlier, the Patron of TDA, Dr. Muttaqa Rabe-Darma, clarified the group’s broader mission, explaining it is actively engaged in mobilizing support for the policies and programs of both the Tinubu and Radda administrations. This statement positions the empowerment scheme not merely as charity, but as a tangible demonstration of the political agendas it seeks to promote.
This report highlights a growing model of political support groups moving beyond rallies and sloganeering to implement direct, micro-economic interventions, potentially setting a precedent for politically-linked philanthropy and grassroots economic stimulation in Nigeria.
AABS/BRM
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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
