Katsina State Governor, Dr Dikko Radda, has granted a N361 million take-off package for 316 agripreneurs to enable them to commence their own businesses in the sector.

A statement by spokesperson to the governor, Ibrahim Mohammed, said Radda announced the package at the graduation ceremony held for trainees of the Makera Songhai Comprehensive Agricultural Training Centre, Dutsinma.

He said each of the beneficiaries is to get N1 million, and that the agripreneurs graduated from the second batch of the Dikko Radda Agripreneurship Training and Empowerment Scheme-Songhai (DRATESS-Songhai).

The governor, during the event, said each beneficiary would receive an initial N500,000, while the balance will be disbursed in phases based on the establishment and performance of viable agribusiness enterprises.

Describing the graduation as a major step in moving agriculture from subsistence to a modern, technology-driven and commercially viable sector, Governor Radda said, “Today is not merely a certificate presentation ceremony. It is a celebration of knowledge acquired, skills developed, confidence built and opportunities created.”

The governor added that agriculture is not just about producing food; it is a business, a profession, an investment opportunity and a powerful instrument for economic transformation.

Radda further said his administration is building a productive, climate-smart, market-oriented and innovation-driven agricultural system, noting that DRATESS-Songhai equips young people with practical skills in crop production, livestock, fisheries, agro-processing, renewable energy, waste recycling and agribusiness.

He announced plans to upgrade and expand the Makera Songhai Centre to accommodate up to 1,000 trainees at a time.

“I want to see some of the next Dangotes coming from you. Think beyond small businesses. Build enterprises that will create jobs and transform communities,” Governor Radda told the graduates.

“Do not frame your certificates and wait for government jobs. Convert your skills into enterprises and your enterprises into opportunities for others,” the governor added.

He also explained that one of the challenges before the administration is to transform abundant agricultural resources into sustainable economic opportunities.

“You have an important role to play in this transformation. I want to see you transform farms into businesses, businesses into industries and industries into opportunities for our people,” he added.

Governor Radda assured the graduates of continued linkage to financial institutions, investors, markets and development programmes and encouraged them to sustain cooperative societies to improve access to finance and markets.

Earlier, the Coordinator of the Agricultural Development Programmes Unit (ADPU), Dr. Suleiman Umar, said DRATESS-Songhai was designed as a practical pathway from training to enterprise development, income generation and job creation.

“DRATESS-Songhai is more than a training programme; it is an investment in human capital, food security, agricultural productivity and the economic future of Katsina State,” Dr. Umar said.

He disclosed that 361 youths graduated from the second batch, following a pilot phase of 102 beneficiaries, while another 361 are currently undergoing training.

He said that the six-month programme combines classroom instruction with practical training and includes accommodation, three meals daily, sports and recreational facilities, and a N30,000 monthly stipend.

The Director-General of the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA), Dr. Babangida Ruma, assured beneficiaries that KASEDA would facilitate registration of their businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to strengthen access to finance and markets.

Speaking on behalf of the graduating trainees, Hamza Yahaya and Fatima Babangida expressed appreciation to Radda and the Katsina State Government for the practical training, accommodation, feeding, stipends, and other support, and pledged to utilise the knowledge and skills to establish productive enterprises and contribute to the economic development of the state.