Governor Dikko Radda has expanded the Katsina First-Class Jobs initiative to include all indigenes of the state who graduate with first-class degrees from higher institutions across Nigeria. The governor announced the decision during the grand finale of the maiden Katsina State Students’ Week held at Bayero University Kano, saying the policy is aimed at attracting highly talented graduates into the state civil service.
Radda explained that the automatic employment programme was initially limited to graduates of Umaru Musa Yar’adua University and other tertiary institutions located within Katsina State.
According to him, the expanded Katsina First-Class Jobs programme will now cover students from universities and higher institutions across the country who graduate with first-class honours from 2026 onward. He said recruiting exceptional graduates would strengthen the quality and productivity of the civil service over the next decade.
“When I assumed office, I introduced automatic employment for students who graduated with first-class degrees. 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,” Radda said.
The governor said his administration has continued to prioritise education through scholarship payments, bursary support and infrastructure development. He disclosed that the government has recruited more than 10,000 teachers, built new schools and rehabilitated educational facilities across the state.
Radda added that investments in education have helped reduce the number of out-of-school children and encouraged more young people to remain focused on their studies. He noted that the Katsina first-class Jobs initiative forms part of broader efforts to reward academic excellence and build a stronger public service.
Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University Kano, Professor Haruna Musa-Muhammad, described Radda as a student-friendly governor and praised the upward review of scholarship programmes for Katsina students.
He also expressed the institution’s readiness to collaborate with the state government on educational development initiatives. Earlier, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Matters, Muhammad Nagaske, said the Students’ Week was organised to encourage academic excellence, cultural exchange, talent discovery and collaboration among students.
The week-long event brought together students from Katsina State studying in Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Borno and other parts of the country.
Participants who excelled in sports competitions, academic contests and cultural activities received awards and prizes during the closing ceremony. Observers say the expanded Katsina first-class Jobs programme could further motivate students to pursue academic excellence while strengthening the state’s future workforce.
