The Katsina State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has begun a three-day capacity building workshop for selected government officials in the state.
The capacity building workshop, began in Katsina on Tuesday, with officials of the state’s Bureau of Statistics as beneficiaries. The workshop was aimed at enhancing the knowledge of the participants on security, peace, and climate resilience.
The workshops was also organised in partnership of the Norwegian Climate Security Project to strengthen the state’s Bureau institutional capacity.
The Statistician General of the state, Prof. Saifullahi Sani, said the training comes at a crucial time when accurate data is needed to understand climate and conflict impacts.
He noted that knowledge gained from the workshop would improve participants’ ability to collect, analyse and use data for better planning, and develop evidence-based solutions to emerging challenges.
According to Prof. Sani, climate change and conflict remain pressing issues with far-reaching effects on communities with Katsina state and beyond.
Sani emphasized that rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and frequent extreme weather events are worsening tensions and posing fresh threats to peace and security.
He added that Katsina had witnessed the damaging impact of climate change and conflict but also the resilience of its communities in facing such adversity.
The States’ Statistician General appealed to the participants to harness resilience and determination to build a peaceful and sustainable future for the state.
He stated that Katsina ranked top in the 2025 sub-national climate governance index due to its heavy investment in data systems and clean energy.
He commended the UNDP for its support, expressing confidence that the training would contribute to a more resilient and peaceful Katsina State.
On his part, the Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Malik Anas, said the training marked another step toward achieving sustainable development and resilience in the state.
Represented by planning officer, Fatima Abdulaziz, Anas said the training would help directors of planning and research gather and process accurate data for government use.
The UNDP representative, Mr Adamu Musa, said the workshop was aimed at enhancing staff competence in modern data software, quality assurance, and data interpretation.
He added that the initiative has improved the Bureau’s ability to generate credible, evidence-based data to support policy formulation and climate security planning in the state. (GSF)
