World Bank officials have commended Katsina State’s community-driven development strategy and its streamlined project oversight following a portfolio review meeting with Governor Dikko Umaru Radda at the Government House in Katsina.

?Led by Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, the World Bank delegation highlighted the state's work in coordinating development partners and embedding citizen participation across various sectors.

Verghis was joined by key officials, including the Task Team Leader and Co-Task Team Leader for the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up, the National Project Coordinator, and the Head of Country Management and Development.

?During the visit, which focused on reviewing World Bank-supported Investment Project Financing and Program-for-Results operations, the delegation noted that Katsina is establishing a replicable system for bottom-up planning.

The Bank praised the state’s ward-level participatory budgeting process and the Community Development Programme, which enables local communities to directly identify priorities and oversee project execution.

?Governor Radda emphasized his administration’s commitment to transparency, project accountability, and sustainable development outcomes.

He explained that empowering the Katsina State Development Management Board (KTDMB) as an overarching coordination body ensures all international partners align with state priorities, eliminating duplicate efforts and streamlining implementation.

?The World Bank team recognized the state’s achievements across education, agriculture, livelihoods, and social development, noting that Katsina's institutional model aligns with global best practices for sustainable development.