Katsina State Governor, Dr Dikko Radda, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a stronger entrepreneurial economy in the state.

Radda stated this Saturday at the fourth CEOs Round Table Summit and Exhibition, organised in Katsina by the Initiative of Innovative Youthpreneurs Sustainable Development.

He said enterprise development remains important to household prosperity, job creation and the wider economy, but that access to money alone does not guarantee business success.

He said entrepreneurs require the right skills, viable markets as well as financing to build enterprises capable of surviving beyond their early stages.

He, therefore, called on women and young people to develop the skills, capacity and markets needed to turn their ideas into sustainable businesses.

“The links are capacity, market and finance,” Radda said, assuring entrepreneurs who meet the necessary requirements that the state government remains open to supporting them, particularly women.

Radda further linked productive engagement to security and social stability, observing that creating economic opportunities for young people can reduce idleness and some of the social pressures that contribute to insecurity.

He encouraged young entrepreneurs not to abandon vocational skills and traditional trades, but to modernise them, improve their capacity and build viable markets around their products.

The governor commended the resilience of women entrepreneurs, noting their growing contribution to commerce and family livelihoods.

Earlier, the Convener of the CEOs Round Table, Lubabatu Ahmed, said the initiative was created to connect entrepreneurs with ideas, opportunities and successful business leaders from whom they could learn.

Ahmed said the Round Table had grown beyond simply bringing entrepreneurs together, with its focus now on helping participants explore opportunities capable of turning their ideas into successful ventures.

She described the fourth edition as another step towards developing a new generation of entrepreneurs who can build businesses from Katsina and compete beyond the state and Nigeria.

She lauded Radda administration’s support for small and medium-scale enterprises, adding that interventions through agencies and programmes including KASEDA, Women Affairs and Girl-Child Education had empowered 17,400 people in the state.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Aliyu Shargalle highlighted the administration’s investment in practical skills and enterprise development.

Shargalle disclosed that 120 young people were trained under the Songhai programme in the first year, followed by 361 in the second year and another 361 currently undergoing training, bringing the total to more than 800 beneficiaries.

He added that beneficiaries also receive start-up capital and grants after completing their training.

He added that about 700 young men and women are undergoing additional skills acquisition and educational training, with the government providing financial support, modern toolkits and monthly allowances to help them succeed.

On her part, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Aisha Malumfashi, said the administration was expanding economic opportunities for women through the Nigeria for Women Project.

Malumfashi said more than 4,000 women are expected to showcase their businesses at an exhibition scheduled for October 6, while 2,200 women are expected to receive grants.

She added that 1,700 Women Affinity Groups had already been formed under the programme.

Our correspondent reports that the CEOs Round Table brought together government officials, business leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and other stakeholders to exchange ideas, build networks and explore opportunities for sustainable enterprise development in the state.