The Katsina State Government has restated its plan to create employment opportunities for between 7,000 and 8,000 young people across the state by leveraging ongoing federal government recruitment programmes.
The commitment was disclosed by Hon. Ahmad Nowa, Special Adviser on Employment Promotions, who said the initiative is part of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s “Building Your Future” agenda, aimed at reducing youth unemployment and strengthening economic stability before 2027.
According to Nowa, unemployment among young people remains a major concern for the state, but strategic engagement with federal recruitment opportunities is already producing results.
He revealed that in 2025 alone, Katsina recorded significant success during the Nigerian Army 89th and 90th Regular Recruitment Exercises, where about 800 candidates from the state’s 34 local government areas were enlisted.
The Police Service Commission recruitment also contributed to job creation, with between 286 and 300 youths recruited in the second batch, alongside 525 candidates enlisted during the first batch carried out in 2024.
Beyond the Army and Police, the state has continued to benefit from recruitment into several federal institutions, including the Nigerian Navy, Air Force, Civil Defence, Correctional Service, Immigration Service, Customs Service, and the Federal Fire Service.
Nowa noted that additional recruitment processes are currently ongoing, with some application portals already open. Many candidates, he said, have completed their CBT examinations and are awaiting the screening stage.
While the level of participation across the state has been impressive, he explained that available slots often limit the number of successful applicants. He cited 2024 as an example, when over 27,000 applicants were shortlisted, but only 800 to 1,000 candidates were eventually enlisted.
The Special Adviser stressed that youth unemployment has seen noticeable improvement under the current administration, driven by deliberate employment policies at both the federal and state levels.
He added that upon assuming office, the Radda-led administration recruited 10,000 youths as teachers in primary and secondary schools and an additional 6,000 youths into the Katsina Community Watch Corps to address security challenges across the state.
According to Nowa, these combined efforts reflect the government’s determination to provide sustainable employment opportunities and build a productive future for young people in Katsina State.
