By Lawal Sale
Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State has led a high-level delegation to China to strengthen partnerships on artificial intelligence, smart governance and agricultural mechanisation.
Radda said the strategic technology and industrial partnership mission was aimed at advancing his administration’s “Building Your Future” agenda through practical technology solutions for governance, education, agriculture, security and economic development.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday via his Facebook account, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, said the delegation engaged leading Chinese technology and industrial firms to deepen existing partnerships and explore new areas of collaboration.
The governor according to the statement, emphasized that technology had remained central to his administration’s development strategy since assuming office.
“Technology has been integrated into our development strategy since the beginning of this administration.
“We are using it to improve public services, create economic opportunities, strengthen security and support growth across key sectors,” he added.
Radda said the state had, through the Katsina Directorate of Information and Communications Technology (KATDICT), implemented several initiatives to lay the foundation for a modern digital government.
He identified the Radda Smart Model School, developed in partnership with Huawei Technologies, as one of the administration’s flagship projects.
According to him, the school operates with uninterrupted power supply, high-speed internet, interactive smart boards and a Learning Management System to support digital learning.
The governor further said that Huawei, in collaboration with KATDICT, had also donated a Mobile Digital Learning Truck to expand digital literacy and technology education to schools and underserved communities across the state.
On agriculture, Radda said the state government was partnering Chinese firms to establish the Katsina Agricultural Mechanisation Centre to improve farmers’ access to modern equipment, increase productivity and enhance food security.
During the visit, the delegation held discussions with leading Chinese technology and industrial companies on digital government, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, smart education, innovation ecosystems and digital public infrastructure.
The delegation also toured Huawei’s Global Training Centre, research and development facilities, manufacturing plants, Smart Campus and Integrated Operations Centre (IOC).
Radda said the Integrated Operations Centre demonstrated how technology could support intelligence-led governance through data integration, real-time monitoring and coordinated emergency response.
“The insights gained will help us strengthen security and improve coordination across government institutions in Katsina State,” he said.
The delegation also visited Geely Holding Group, where discussions centred on sustainable mobility, electric vehicles, intelligent manufacturing and industrial development.
According to the governor, the engagements provided valuable insights into how technology, industrialisation and skills development could promote economic diversification and create employment opportunities.
The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to deploying practical technology-driven solutions to improve education, healthcare, agriculture, security, commerce and public administration.
He said the mission was intended to consolidate existing partnerships while identifying new opportunities that would support sustainable development and accelerate the state’s transformation agenda.
Members of the delegation include the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Hon. Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji; Director-General of KATDICT, Naufal Ahmad; Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Development Management Board, Mustapha Shehu; and the Special Adviser on Intergovernmental Affairs, Hajiya Hadiza Maikudi. (GSF)
