Katsina State has become the first state in Nigeria to fully domesticate and institutionalize the Startup Law with the inauguration of the Katsina State Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Governor Dikko Umar Radda, who inaugurated the Council on Wednesday, described the event as a defining moment in the state’s digital transformation journey.
He said the domestication of the Startup Law marked a bold step toward creating a digitally empowered and innovation-driven economy that unlocks the potential of young innovators and entrepreneurs.
The governor recalled that the journey began with the signing of the Katsina State Startup Bill into law earlier in the year, establishing a legal framework to support startups, streamline regulations, and foster collaboration between government, academia, and industry.
“Since signing the bill, our administration has worked tirelessly to translate policy into action,” Governor Radda stated. “Through the Katsina State Directorate of Information and Communication Technology (KATDICT), we began implementing programmes that connect innovation to opportunity.”
He noted that the state has launched startup incubation and acceleration programmes, partnered with local and national tech hubs, and empowered youths with digital skills and access to markets — efforts that have already produced visible results with Katsina startups gaining national and international recognition.
Governor Radda said the newly inaugurated Council would serve as the coordinating body for innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital policy in the state, bringing together stakeholders from government, academia, the private sector, and investors to grow the digital economy.
To further strengthen the initiative, he announced the creation of the Katsina Startup Grants and Investment Fund, with a guaranteed minimum of ₦250 million annually to support emerging businesses and help them scale globally.
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He emphasized that the Startup Law was not merely a policy document but “an engine for economic transformation,” positioning Katsina as a leading frontier for digital growth in northern Nigeria and beyond.
Governor Radda, who will personally chair the Startup Council, pledged that its work would be guided by transparency, urgency, and measurable impact.
“Our goal is to build an economy where young people turn ideas into thriving enterprises, where innovation drives job creation, and where technology becomes a tool for prosperity, peace, and progress,” he said.
“Katsina is ready for the future — one powered by innovation, driven by youth, and sustained by enterprise,” the governor affirmed.
