Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has assured children in the state that their future remains the top priority of his administration as Nigeria marked the 2026 National Children’s Day.
The governor said his government had deliberately channelled policies and resources towards improving education, inclusion and child protection across the state.
Radda stated this in a Children’s Day message themed, “Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child,” contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, on Wednesday.
According to him, children remain “the heartbeat of today,” insisting that every government policy and investment must ultimately serve their interests.
The governor recalled the appointment of Faruq Umar Lema from Batagarawa Local Government Area as Special Assistant on Children’s Affairs, describing the move as a deliberate step towards giving children a voice in governance.
Radda also highlighted the establishment of three multi-million naira model smart secondary schools located in Radda, Jikamshi and Dumurkul across the three senatorial zones of the state.
He said the schools were designed for gifted children from poor and rural communities who ordinarily lacked access to quality education.
The governor disclosed that the schools were equipped with uninterrupted electricity, internet services, robotics and artificial intelligence laboratories as part of efforts to expose pupils to modern learning systems.
He added that no fewer than 996 students would commence studies in the schools after what he described as a transparent admission process praised by European Union diplomats and international education observers.
Radda further said his administration, in collaboration with the Gwagware Foundation, launched a Back to School Programme targeting out-of-school children across the state.
According to him, the intervention provides uniforms, writing materials as well as conditional cash and business grants to mothers to reduce poverty-driven school dropouts.
The governor also recalled appointing two Special Advisers on Out-of-School Children, saying the administration was tackling the crisis through institutional reforms rather than rhetoric.
“No child in Katsina should be roaming the streets when there is a classroom waiting for them,” he stated.
On school safety, Radda said the government recently introduced the Katsina State Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools aimed at tackling insecurity, bullying and gender-based violence in schools.
He added that the administration had consistently paid WAEC, NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS examination fees for secondary school students to ease pressure on struggling families.
The governor further disclosed that 2,000 students had been trained in bag production and vocational skills to encourage entrepreneurship and self-reliance among young people in the state.
He called on parents, teachers, community leaders and civil society groups to support efforts aimed at ensuring every Nigerian child is educated, protected and included in national development.