The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called for a transformative shift in Kano State’s economic strategy, urging stakeholders to leverage innovation, technology, and collaboration as key drivers of growth in the 21st century.
Speaking at the Kano Startup Weekend, Inuwa acknowledged Kano’s longstanding status as the commercial hub of Northern Nigeria and the wider Sahelian region, noting that its history of trade, enterprise, and human capital provides a strong foundation for future development. He emphasized that while these traditional strengths have powered Kano’s success for centuries, the modern economy now offers greater opportunities through innovation and technology.
“Innovation is the process of taking an idea from inception to impact. Invention on its own is a cost centre, but when you commercialise an idea—turning it into a product or service that solves a real problem and creates value—you begin to drive economic growth and inclusion,” Inuwa said.
Highlighting the state’s rich educational landscape, he pointed out that Kano hosts numerous degree-awarding institutions across federal, state, and private ownership, providing a strong base for human capital development. However, he expressed concern that these institutions often operate in isolation from industry, with research outputs rarely translating into commercial or industrial applications.
Inuwa stressed that innovation does not occur in silos, calling for a strong, interconnected ecosystem that brings together academia, industry, startups, entrepreneurs, and government. Universities, he said, should align research with industry needs; industries should leverage research to boost productivity and competitiveness; and startups should act as bridges to convert ideas into market-ready solutions.
He further encouraged entrepreneurs to adopt a global mindset from day one. “You can start your business here in Kano, but your thinking must be global. Technology has removed barriers. With the right skills and platforms, a startup in Kano can build solutions that serve not just Nigeria, but the world,” he said.
Inuwa also highlighted NITDA’s ongoing interventions, including the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, which equips Nigerians with essential digital skills, and the 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT) programme, aimed at producing globally competitive professionals in software development, data analysis, and emerging technologies.
“Through DL4ALL, we ensure Nigerians at all levels have the basic digital skills needed to participate in the digital economy, while 3MTT deliberately builds a pipeline of technical talents who can drive innovation, create jobs, and attract investment,” he said.
The NITDA DG explained that these programmes are key pillars of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes skills development, innovation, job creation, and inclusive growth as pathways to national prosperity.
Inuwa urged all stakeholders in Kano to collaborate in building a functional innovation ecosystem capable of unlocking the state’s vast potential. He expressed confidence that with the right mindset, sustained investment, and strong collaboration, Kano could reclaim its historic leadership role and emerge as a major innovation and entrepreneurship hub in Nigeria and beyond.
