The Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with stakeholders and improving communication with business owners to enhance the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the state.
The Agency emphasized that stakeholders’ engagement sessions are crucial for listening to public complaints, suggestions, and recommendations aimed at improving government policies and service delivery.
According to a report obtained by Nigerian Post, the event was held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the Katsina Local Government Service Commission Conference Hall, with the participation of business owners from different parts of the state.
Speaking during the session, the DG, Dr. Babangida Kabir Ruma, said the engagement was organized to provide members of the public with an opportunity to express their views on issues affecting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Katsina State. He noted that participants were free to ask questions and receive direct responses on issues relating to KASEDA and other relevant agencies.
He instructed participants to first introduce themselves, state the nature of their businesses, and mention their respective local government areas before presenting their questions to representatives of SON, NAFDAC, KASEDA, ARCON, and NEPC.
Dr. Ruma stressed that policymaking should not be carried out from government offices without consulting the people, adding that the primary objective of the engagement was to give citizens, especially business owners, the opportunity to present their concerns directly to government officials.
He disclosed that participants received clarifications on several long-standing issues affecting their businesses. He also revealed that leaders of business associations expressed concerns over the lack of timely information about government programmes.
To address the challenge, he announced that KASEDA would establish a comprehensive database of all business associations across the state to ensure effective dissemination of information on government initiatives and opportunities.
According to him, the agency will commence the registration and compilation of business association data from next week to guarantee that relevant information reaches all stakeholders promptly.
Dr. Ruma further revealed that the Katsina State Government, under the leadership of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, has introduced two major intervention programmes to support small businesses. He explained that the government has already captured the data of over 62,000 informal business operators, including vendors selling bean cakes (kosai), tea, awara, and other small-scale enterprises, while the verification process is ongoing.
He said the state government has earmarked funds to provide grants to qualified beneficiaries, with some receiving ₦100,000, others ₦150,000, and some ₦200,000 to expand their businesses.
In addition, he announced an interest-free loan scheme of ₦100,000 for rural residents, repayable over a period of two years. He explained that applicants are not required to have CAC registration, but must meet the conditions set by the government before benefiting from the programme.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises at KASEDA, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Gani, urged business owners to report any business-related challenges to the agency, assuring them that KASEDA would work towards resolving such issues promptly.
He noted that participants were encouraged to ask questions directly, while representatives of KASEDA, SON, NAFDAC, ARCON, and NEPC provided immediate responses and guidance on issues within their respective mandates.
At the end of the engagement, participants expressed appreciation to the Executive Chairman of KASEDA, Dr. Babangida Kabir Ruma, and Governor Dikko Umaru Radda for the government’s continued commitment to supporting business owners and promoting entrepreneurship across Katsina State.
