NITDA, Futuremap Unveil Plan for Cutting‑Edge Film Studio to Power Kannywood and Tech Growth
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has unveiled an ambitious plan to partner with Future map Foundation to transform Northern Nigeria’s creative and digital industry by establishing a world-class film studio and providing specialized capacity-building in emerging technologies.
Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, announced the intervention during a high-level roundtable with tech innovators and Kannywood stakeholders at the PRNigeria Centre for Research and Development in Kano.
He made the announcement with a reference to the Future Map Foundation roundtable in Kano which concluded with a clear commitment to accelerating Northern Nigeria’s digital transformation.
The initiative is designed to align the region’s creative operations with global best practices, leveraging the power of the digital economy to drive national growth.
Addressing the influential Kannywood film industry, Inuwa highlighted that filmmakers often wield more power in shaping public perception and behavioral change than political actors. He urged producers to move beyond profit-seeking and create content that inspires the next generation of tech builders.
The NITDA boss pledged that the agency would provide advanced infrastructure through a modern studio, incubation centers for emerging technologies, and training to enhance content quality.
The President of the Professional Film Directors Association of Nigeria, Nasiru B. Muhammad, welcomed the news, noting that the industry has struggled with an “unfriendly operational environment.” He specifically requested NITDA’s assistance in developing AI-driven translation and subtitling software to help Kannywood films break into international markets.
The event also served as a platform for local digital innovators to showcase home-grown software solutions. Two major presentations caught the DG’s attention: PRev, a human-augmented media intelligence software developed by Shuaib S. Agaka for news monitoring, and SchoolTra, an educational technology platform by Abdullahi Sani Mahuta designed for managing student records.
Inuwa commended the developers, urging them to collaborate with other experts to increase the visibility and marketability of their products on a national scale. He explained that this intervention forms part of a broader strategy to leverage technology to grow the creative industry and strengthen the country’s digital economy.
Impact and Future Outlook for 2026
The roundtable underscored a long-standing partnership between NITDA and the PRNigeria Centre. Malam Yushau A. Shuaib, CEO of Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), revealed that the centre has trained over 2,500 beneficiaries in digital skills since 2021. This group includes journalists and students from universities, polytechnics, and secondary schools across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
As part of the 2026 roadmap, Shuaib announced plans to expand these training programs to focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications. By integrating these high-tech tools into the creative and media sectors, NITDA aims to solidify Nigeria’s position as a leader in the African digital landscape.
Meanwhile, at the previous event by futuremap foundation, stakeholders agreed on practical steps to strengthen innovation ecosystems, expand digital skills, support startups, and deepen collaboration between government, academia, and industry. The event ended with a shared resolve to position the region as a competitive hub for technology and future‑ready talent.
