Katsina Students Urged to Focus on Studies, Make State Proud as Radda Reaffirms Commitment to Education

Gov. Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina State has called on students to remain committed to their studies, shun social vices and strive to make the state proud through academic excellence and good conduct.

Radda made the call at the grand finale of the 2026 Katsina State Students’ Week held at Bayero University Kano, where he reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritising education as a key driver of development.

The governor said that since assuming office, his administration had implemented strategic policies aimed at improving access to quality education across the state. He disclosed that more than 10,000 teachers had been recruited on merit, while substantial investments had been made in educational infrastructure, including the construction and renovation of schools and classrooms.

Radda further stated that the government had established modern smart schools to provide children in rural communities with access to quality education. He announced that allowances for students in nursing and other critical professional courses would soon be reviewed upward and assured that any Katsina indigene who graduates with a first-class degree from any institution in the country would be offered automatic employment by the state government.

According to him, the state is also sponsoring students to study medicine, artificial intelligence and other specialised disciplines to equip them with the skills required to address emerging global challenges. He said the initiative was part of broader efforts to build a highly skilled workforce capable of driving the state’s socio-economic development.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University Kano, Professor Haruna Musa, commended Radda for initiating the Katsina State Students’ Week and described the programme as a laudable platform for youth development. He assured the governor of the university’s continued partnership with the state government and noted that the institution had maintained a reputation for academic excellence within and outside Nigeria.

Musa also praised the governor for recognising and appointing some members of the university’s academic community into key public offices, describing the gesture as a demonstration of confidence in the institution’s human resources.

In his remarks, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Students’ Matters, Mohammad Nuhu Nagaske, said the Students’ Week was designed to foster unity, collaboration and leadership among students. He described education as the backbone of development and said the programme provided an opportunity for students from different institutions to network, share ideas and discover talents.

Nagaske commended the state government for the construction and rehabilitation of educational institutions, sponsorship of students abroad to study medicine and other science-related courses, as well as interventions aimed at improving tertiary education. He added that plans were underway to extend the Students’ Week initiative to institutions in other states.

The event featured sporting activities, academic quizzes, presentation of awards and souvenirs, among other activities aimed at promoting excellence and unity among students.