Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has announced the expansion of automatic employment opportunities for indigenes of the state who graduate with first-class degrees from tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the governor made the announcement on Sunday at the grand finale and award ceremony of the maiden Katsina State Students’ Week, held at Bayero University, Kano.
Radda explained that the policy was aimed at drawing top academic performers into the state civil service in order to improve efficiency and strengthen governance delivery.
“When I assumed office, I introduced automatic employment for students who graduated with first-class degrees. We implemented this policy at Umaru Musa Yar’adua University and other institutions located in Katsina State.
“Today, I am pleased to expand the offer to all Katsina State students across the country who graduate with first-class degrees from this year onward.
“This decision is deliberate. If we recruit a significant number of first-class graduates into the civil service, Katsina State will have one of the most efficient and productive civil services in the country within the next 10 to 15 years.
“You will have a civil service that can compete favourably with any state in the federation and even rival those at the federal level because we are bringing highly talented individuals into the service,” he said.
He further noted that his administration had prioritised clearing outstanding scholarship arrears while also increasing bursary payments to support students financially and encourage academic pursuit.
According to him, these interventions have helped reduce the number of out-of-school children in the state and curbed the risk of youths drifting into social vices.
Radda added that education remained a central pillar of his government’s agenda, reflected in significant budget allocations to the sector.
He also disclosed that more than 10,000 teachers had been recruited, while new schools have been constructed and existing educational facilities rehabilitated across the state.
The governor urged students to remain committed to academic excellence and to actively contribute to the development of Katsina State.
He expressed pride in the achievements of Katsina students, saying their performance reflects positively on both the state and its leadership.
Also speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University Kano, Haruna Musa-Muhammad, described Radda as a student-friendly governor.
Musa-Muhammad commended the upward review of the state scholarship scheme and expressed the institution’s readiness to partner with the Katsina State Government in advancing educational development.
Earlier, the convener of the programme and Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Matters, Muhammad Nagaske, said the Students’ Week was designed to promote collaboration among students, encourage academic excellence, and nurture talent through cultural and sporting activities.
NAN reports that students from Katsina studying in institutions across Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Borno and other states participated in the week-long event, with winners in sports, academics and cultural competitions receiving various prizes.
