The Katsina North Youth Development and Awareness Initiative, KNYDAI, has empowered 1,500 widows, persons with disabilities, vulnerable residents and other grassroots members with financial and material support to enable them establish or expand small businesses.
The empowerment programme was held on Wednesday at Daura Motel and was championed by the Grand Patron of KNYDAI, Alhaji Lawal Sade, Sarkin Fadan Daura, as part of efforts to promote self-reliance and improve household incomes.
Speaking at the event, Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, commended KNYDAI for supporting vulnerable residents and described the intervention as a strategic contribution to poverty reduction and job creation at the grassroots.
“This programme will help our youths and vulnerable citizens acquire skills, establish businesses and become self-reliant. Government cannot do it alone. We need partners like KNYDAI,” Radda said.
The governor said interventions targeted at vulnerable groups were important to complement government efforts to improve living conditions and create sustainable economic opportunities.
He urged the beneficiaries to utilise the assistance productively by investing it in businesses and other ventures capable of generating sustainable income.
Radda assured residents of Daura and other communities across Katsina North of continued government investment in development programmes and wider access to government interventions.
He also commended Alhaji Lawal Sade and the organisation for identifying residents in need and providing them with resources to improve their economic circumstances.
The KNYDAI intervention targeted widows, persons living with disabilities, vulnerable individuals and other grassroots residents, with the organisers saying the beneficiaries were selected to help increase household income and promote economic independence.
Earlier, KNYDAI Chairman, Dr Imam U.M. Aljazira, said the organisation focuses on education, youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, civic awareness and community development.
Aljazira said the empowerment programme was designed to provide beneficiaries with the means to establish or expand small-scale businesses and improve their livelihoods.
He said KNYDAI remained committed to initiatives that directly address economic challenges facing vulnerable residents and young people in the communities.
The chairman also announced that KNYDAI had endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Radda for the 2027 elections.
He attributed the decision to what he described as the administrations’ commitment to youth development, education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure and digital growth.
Aljazira said continued cooperation between the Federal and state governments was necessary to ensure that development programmes produced tangible benefits for communities.
“I believe continued Federal-State collaboration is critical to delivering tangible benefits to our communities,” he said.
The event was attended by the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Hon. Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji; members of the Katsina State Executive Council; community leaders and other stakeholders.
The empowerment comes amid growing efforts by government agencies, community organisations and other stakeholders to support vulnerable households through financial assistance, skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programmes.
For many beneficiaries, access to start-up capital and material support can provide an opportunity to establish small businesses and reduce dependence on irregular sources of income.
West Trybe reports that the KNYDAI intervention highlights the role of community-based organisations in complementing government efforts to reduce poverty and expand economic opportunities among vulnerable residents. The empowerment of 1,500 people also reflects the growing emphasis on grassroots interventions as a means of strengthening household resilience and promoting self-reliance.
