The Katsina State Development Management Board (KTDMB) recently hosted a one-day meeting aimed at enhancing collaboration between the state government, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and development partners. The event brought together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for sustainable and inclusive development across the state.
In her opening remarks, Hajiya Bilkisu Sulaiman Ibrahim, Executive Secretary of KTDMB, emphasized the need for strong partnerships with CSOs to ensure that development goals, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are achieved.
She reaffirmed the board’s commitment to transparency, innovation, and collaboration, urging development partners to explore opportunities within the state.
The Deputy Governor of Katsina State, Faruk Lawal Jobe, in his keynote address, highlighted the administration’s dedication to ensuring equitable development across all three zones of the state. He commended the CSOs for their role in monitoring and evaluating ongoing projects and called for continued collaboration to sustain the state’s progress.
Maryam Musa Yahaya, Executive Director of Development Partners at KTDMB, followed with remarks on the importance of trust, communication, and capacity building among development partners. She stressed the need for collaborative efforts that work within existing structures to ensure environmental sustainability and effective governance. Hajiya Aisha Aminu Malumfashi, Director General of the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency, further highlighted the role of enterprise development in driving the state’s economy, emphasizing the need to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The panel discussion, moderated by Maryam Musa Yahaya, was highly interactive and featured contributions from key panelists, including Mal. Abdulraman Abdullahi Dutsinma (Chairman Coalition of Civil Society Katsina), Dr. Bashir Usman Ruwan Godiya, Founder of the Partnership against Violence Extremism; Dr. Kabir Ali Masanawa, Executive Director of Economic Development and Investment; and Muhammad Nagaske, Special Adviser on Student Matters. The panelists discussed key priorities such as youth involvement, better coordination with international NGOs, and addressing local challenges.
The session also identified several action items to guide future engagements:
1. Developing communication strategies to enhance collaboration between the government and CSOs.
2. Creating reporting tools to measure progress, with key indicators focusing on project sustainability and community impact.
3. Submitting a comprehensive report to His Excellency on the outcomes of the engagement.
4. Drafting a policy on partnerships and collaboration to formalize roles and expectations.
5. Launching inclusion campaigns focused on youth, women, and children.
6. Enhancing data collection and disaggregating CSOs by focus areas.
7. Building the capacity of CSOs to contribute to the state’s budgetary process and development plan.
8. Promoting social and financial inclusion, with a focus on inclusive policies that address the needs of persons with disabilities.
9. Documenting best practices and utilizing existing state structures for project co-production, ensuring a sense of ownership among stakeholders.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment from all participants to strengthen partnerships and continue working towards sustainable and inclusive development in Katsina State.
