“Your Future Is Our First Priority, says Governor Radda on Children’s Day

Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has extended warm and heartfelt felicitations to the children of Katsina State and across Nigeria on the occasion of the 2026 National Children’s Day celebration, themed, “Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child.”

Governor Radda described children as the most sacred trust any society holds — and reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that every child in Katsina, regardless of background, ability, or circumstance, has a genuine and dignified shot at a bright future.

“Today belongs to our children. They are not merely the leaders of tomorrow — they are the heartbeat of today. Every policy we make, every naira we invest, and every structure we build is ultimately for them,” Governor Radda said.

The Governor noted the appointment of Faruq Umar Lema, a young boy from Batagarawa LG as his Special Assistant on Children’s Affairs, adding that it symbolizes deep commitment to placing Children’s voices at the centre of governance decision-making.

He further explained that the three multi-million naira Model and Smart Secondary Schools in the three senatorial zones — in Radda, Jikamshi, and Dumurkul — specifically designed for gifted children from poor, rural, and disadvantaged backgrounds who would otherwise have no access to quality education.

He said the facilities boast 24-hour electricity, internet connectivity, robotics and artificial intelligence laboratories, and a fully digital learning ecosystem — bringing technology-driven education to children who need it most.

The Governor noted with pride that 996 students are set to begin studies in the new schools, following a transparent special admissions process that has drawn commendation from European Union diplomats and international education observers alike.

Recognising that inclusion begins with getting every child through the school gate, the Building Your Future administration — in partnership with the Gwagware Foundation — launched the Back to School Programme, a dedicated intervention scheme targeting out-of-school children across the State.

The programme provides beneficiaries with school uniforms, writing materials, and conditional cash and business grants to mothers — removing the financial barriers that keep too many children on the wrong side of the classroom door.

The Governor recall that two dedicated Special Advisers on Out-of-School Children were appointed and swore-in, he described the decision as a governance that is committed to solving problems through structural means.

“No child in Katsina should be roaming the streets when there is a classroom waiting for them. We are not just talking about inclusion — we are funding it, staffing it, and tracking it,” the Governor affirmed.

Governor Radda, this month, officially launched the Katsina State Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools— a comprehensive framework designed to protect students and teachers from insecurity, bullying, and gender-based violence across all schools in the State.

“The policy ensures that every school in Katsina functions as a safe, secure, and peaceful haven — an environment where children can focus entirely on growing, learning, and becoming,” Governor Radda explained.

Beyond physical safety, the Governor’s administration has also consistently absorbed the full cost of WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, and NBAIS examination fees for all secondary school students in the State — lifting a burden that has historically forced many families to choose between survival and education.

“We declared war on school violence because our children deserve peace in their classrooms. And we paid their examination fees because no child’s future should be held hostage by an invoice,” Governor Radda said.

Going beyond the classroom, the administration has trained 2,000 students in bag production and other vocational skills, as a systematic way of equipping young Katsina people with entrepreneurial tools to create value, generate income, and build independence long after they leave school.

In closing his Children’s Day message, Governor Radda called on parents, teachers, community leaders, and civil society to join hands in creating environments where every Nigerian child is safe, educated, included, and celebrated — not just on Children’s Day, but every day of the year.

Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed,
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Katsina State.

27 May, 2026.