The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called for a fundamental shift in Kano State’s economic strategy, urging stakeholders to embrace innovation, technology, and collaboration as the primary drivers of growth in the 21st century.
Speaking at the Kano Startup Weekend, Inuwa acknowledged Kano’s long-standing reputation as the commercial nerve center of Northern Nigeria, noting that its history of trade and vibrant human capital provides a solid foundation. However, he emphasized that the modern economy requires tapping into even greater opportunities through innovation and technology.
Inuwa defined innovation as the process of transforming ideas into impactful solutions through commercialization. He stressed that when ideas are effectively deployed, they create value, solve societal challenges, and generate sustainable economic growth.
“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, when you turn it into a product or service that solves a real problem and creates value, that is when you begin to drive economic growth and inclusion,” he stated.
He noted that Kano’s large market, strategic location, and entrepreneurial culture place it in a strong position to leverage these opportunities.
The NITDA DG stressed that innovation does not happen in silos and called for a strong, interconnected ecosystem that unites academia, industry, startups, entrepreneurs, and government.
He expressed concern that the state’s numerous degree-granting institutions often operate in isolation from industry, leading to research that rarely translates into commercial applications.
Inuwa laid out clear roles for each pillar: Academia should conduct research informed by industry needs, Industry should leverage research to improve productivity and competitiveness, and Startups should act as the bridge that converts ideas into market-ready solutions.
Thinking Global from Kano
Inuwa encouraged entrepreneurs to leverage technology to build businesses that can grow beyond local markets. He explained that innovation-driven enterprises have the power to scale rapidly, create jobs, and position Kano competitively at both national and global levels.
“You can start your business here in Kano, but your thinking must be global from day one. 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 noted.
NITDA’s Commitment to Digital Capacity
Highlighting NITDA’s commitment to building national innovation capacity, the Director General outlined key ongoing initiatives:
- Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL): A programme to equip Nigerians across all segments of society with essential digital skills.
- 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT): A major initiative designed to produce a pipeline of globally competitive technical professionals in areas such as software development and data analysis.
These programmes, he explained, are key pillars of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes skills development, innovation, job creation, and inclusive economic growth.
Inuwa concluded by urging all Kano stakeholders to collaborate in building a functional innovation ecosystem, expressing confidence that with the right mindset and sustained investment, Kano can reclaim its historic leadership role and emerge as a major innovation and entrepreneurship hub in Nigeria and beyond.