Katsina State governor, Malam Umaru Radda, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to turning the youth population into a competent and reliable workforce.
He pledged to run a data-driven government, saying the state will strengthen planning and investment to ensure that its growing population is matched with adequate jobs, healthcare, education and critical infrastructure.
The governor’s position was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, to commemorate the 2026 World Population Day.
Governor Radda said population growth should not be viewed merely as a demographic challenge but as an opportunity that can drive sustainable development if properly managed through effective planning and evidence-based policymaking
He stressed that his administration remains committed to ensuring that government policies, budgets and development programmes are anchored on accurate population data to improve service delivery and meet the needs of the people.
According to him, deliberate planning has become imperative as the state’s population continues to grow, noting that every sector of the economy must be adequately prepared to accommodate increasing demands for healthcare, education, housing, employment and other essential social services.
The governor maintained that Katsina’s large and youthful population represents one of its greatest assets and should be transformed into a productive workforce capable of driving economic growth and development.
“We must plan with numbers. Every child born, every young person entering the job market, and every family seeking health care must be accounted for in our budget and programmes,” the governor said.
Governor Radda stressed that his administration would not rely on assumptions in designing development policies, insisting that planning must be guided by credible demographic statistics and reliable data.
He said the state government would strengthen data collection systems, expand access to family planning services, invest in skills acquisition and vocational training, and create a more enabling environment for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to absorb the growing number of young people entering the labour market.
The governor explained that improving data quality would enhance the state’s ability to allocate resources efficiently, monitor development indicators and formulate policies capable of addressing the needs of citizens across urban and rural communities.
As part of measures to institutionalise evidence-based governance, Governor Radda directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to align their 2026 work plans with current population data and demographic realities.
He said the directive is aimed at ensuring that public institutions develop programmes that respond directly to the needs of the people while advancing the state’s development agenda.
The governor identified maternal health, girl-child education, youth employment and food security as priority sectors that would receive sustained attention under his administration.
He also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations and the media to support government efforts by sensitising communities on responsible family size, the importance of birth registration and other population management initiatives.
According to him, accurate birth registration and reliable demographic data remain critical to effective planning, equitable allocation of resources and improved access to government services.
Governor Radda further congratulated Katsina State’s representative at the National Population Commission (NPC), Prof Sadiq Isa Radda, on his inauguration as a Federal Commissioner of the commission.
Prof Radda was sworn in by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The governor expressed confidence that the new NPC commissioner would deploy his wealth of experience to ensure that Katsina State enjoys effective representation while contributing to the generation of credible population data for national planning and development.