A historic moment unfolded this week in Northern Nigeria. The Dikko Social Innovation Academy (DSIA), the first SINA Community in Nigeria commissioned and supported by the local Katsina Government, held its first graduation ceremony of its pioneer scholars in the Applied Social Innovation Stage of the SINA Framework These 18 young Nigerians, many of whom entered the academy without prior formal employment or confidence in their own voice, are now emerging as trained changemakers with nine social innovation projects already in action which are tackling issues in health, climate, agriculture, and beyond.
The Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, joined the occasion and underlined the need to turn Northern Nigeria’s raw materials and youthful potential into sustainable industries and solutions. “Katsina is reviving its legacy of craftsmanship and scholarship by empowering its young people to solve real problems,” he said. Also, Governor Dikko Radda, shared how DSIA has been a locally adapted replication of the SINA model and how a second cohort with 30 scholars, and a third cohort is set to begin in January 2026.
The event also featured the inaugural Katsina MSME Awards, and announcements of over ₦1 billion in investments for youth and enterprise interventions by the local government. The presence of national leaders at this graduation shows that youth-led innovation and regenerative community development are no longer fringe ideas but they are becoming central to regional strategies for transformation.
DSIA is proudly part of the broader SINA ecosystem of 23+ communities across Africa. Each one is unique and locally owned, yet all share the belief that purpose-driven action can reshape futures. Congratulations to our first Nigerian scholars. You are not the end of a journey, but the beginning of a new story for your communities and for Nigeria.