Dikko Umar Radda

Dikko Umar Radda (born 10 September 1969) is a Nigerian economist and politician who is the current governor of Katsina State since 2023. He served as the director-general of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). He was elected governor of Katsina State in the 2023 Nigerian gubernatorial elections.

Early life and education
He was born on 10 September 1969 in Hayin Gada Town, a Fulani from Dutsin-Ma Local government area of Katsina state, Nigeria.

Education
Radda started his basic education at Radda Primary School from 1974 to 1980. He went to Zaria Teachers College between 1980 and 1985. He also attended Kafanchan College of Education in 1986–1990, where he obtained his NCE certificate. Later, he attended Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi in 1992–1996, where he completed his B-Tech. Agricultural Economic and Extension (Hons) studies, then got admission into Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 1998- 2004 where he received MSC Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology 2004. He returned to ABU Zaria in 2005 to obtain a master's degree in international affairs and diplomacy. He completed his Ph.D. in Agriculture and Rural Sociology in 2015.

Political career
The period between 2013 to 2015 gave birth to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Radda held posts in the party hierarchy, which saw him emerge as the APC National Welfare Secretary, a position he held for a period of one year, from 2014 to 2015. After the 2015 general elections, he was appointed as Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Rt Hon Aminu Bello Masari.

SMEDAN
During his term, SMEDAN implemented programs such as: The Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) for micro entrepreneurs, the One Local Government One Product (OLOP), Establishment of accreditation and certification framework for Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs), conduction of a 2017 and 2021 national survey on MSMEs in partnership with the National Bureau of Statistics, upgrade of the Industrial Development Centers (IDC), establishment of the Market Place MSMe Database in Nigeria, implementation of Young Business Owners programme, implementation of Agricultural business, and implementation of Talent Hunt in Nigeria.

Philanthropy
Radda established the Gwagware Foundation in 2016. It helps people from rural communities improve their living conditions through the provision of basic social amenities. He supports them with foodstuff, medical care, water supply, and employment opportunities. For Dan Musa and Safana Local Government Areas, which are the second most affected areas in the state, in terms of bandits' attacks, the foundation distributed 70 bags of these items to each of the areas. For the other six most affected local government areas, the foundation distributed 40 bags of the same items to each of them. Gwagware Foundation extended the same humanitarian gesture to Malumfashi Local Government Prison Service. During fasting, members of the foundation took time one day and broke their fasts with 150 inmates. Six inmates with minor cases were also freed by the foundation. On January 17, 2022, five hundred youths from Katsina State were successfully trained in computer skills and tailoring by the Gwagware Foundation. The participants, including both youths and women, were drawn from Daura, Funtua, and Katsina zones. Upon completing the training, they received start-up packs to enhance their entrepreneurial skills, enabling them to contribute to the growth and development of the state. On 31 January 2022, Gwagware Foundation donated 5,000 books on different subjects to Junior and Senior Secondary Schools in Batagarawa local government area of Katsina state. The Foundation attaches a lot of importance to the development of education in Katsina State.

Accolades
Radda received the Distinguished Leadership Award from the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) in 2019. The REVENUE Magazine Public Sector Excellence Award in 2022.