By News Desk

KATSINA, Nigeria — Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has announced expanded support packages for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), calling on local entrepreneurs to prioritize packaging, branding, and value addition to expand their market reach.

The Governor made the statement at the Government House in Katsina while receiving executive leaders of the newly formed MSME Coalition for Dikko Radda 2027, led by the Director-General of the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA), Dr. Babangida Kabir Ruma.

Executive Guidance on Enterprise Sustainability

Drawing on his background as former Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Governor Radda highlighted key structural shifts required to scale small businesses across the state:

• Focus on Processing and Packaging: The Governor noted that raw commodities often yield minimal profit margins, directing KASEDA to scale up Business Development Services (BDS) to assist entrepreneurs with product design, quality certification, and access to regional markets.
• Revolving Fund Discipline: Radda emphasized that government interventions—comprising grants and interest-free loans—operate on a revolving model requiring timely repayment to allow sequential access for new applicants.
• Financial Record Keeping: Business owners were urged to keep transparent operational accounts to remain eligible for upcoming state and federal enterprise programs.

MSME Coalition Formed by 20,000 Beneficiaries

During the reception, KASEDA Director-General Dr. Babangida Kabir Ruma disclosed that beneficiaries of state enterprise support have organized into a 20,000-member coalition:

• Scope of Support: The coalition comprises business owners, artisans, and youth entrepreneurs who received state enterprise funding ranging from ₦50,000 to ₦5 million based on business scale.
• Operational Infrastructure: To support state development initiatives, the coalition announced plans to establish a dedicated situation room, a community call center, and an online membership portal.
• Organizational Endorsement: The group formally endorsed the economic development agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, presenting a ₦1 million donation toward coalition operational activities.

The meeting was attended by senior government officials, including the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Hon. Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji, former SMEDAN Director-General Oluwale Fasanya, and members of the Katsina State Executive Council.