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 key drivers of growth in the 21st century.
Speaking at the Kano Startup Weekend, Inuwa acknowledged Kano’s long-standing reputation as the commercial nerve centre of Northern Nigeria and the wider Sahelian region, noting that its rich history of trade, enterprise and human capital provides a solid foundation for future growth.
He emphasised that while these strengths powered Kano’s success for centuries, the modern economy now presents even greater opportunities through innovation and technology.
Describing innovation as the transformation of ideas into impactful solutions through commercialisation, Inuwa stressed that when ideas are effectively deployed, they create value, address societal challenges and generate sustainable economic growth.
He noted that Kano’s large market, strategic location and vibrant entrepreneurial culture place it in a strong position to harness innovation-driven opportunities.
According to him, “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.”
Inuwa observed that the state 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.
He explained that innovation does not thrive in silos and stressed the need for a strong, interconnected ecosystem that brings together academia, industry, startups, entrepreneurs and government.
According to him, universities should conduct research guided by industry needs, industries should leverage research to enhance productivity and competitiveness, while startups should serve as bridges that convert ideas into market-ready solutions.
He further encouraged entrepreneurs to leverage technology to build businesses capable of expanding beyond local markets, noting that innovation-driven enterprises have the capacity to scale rapidly, create jobs and position Kano competitively at both national and global levels.