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.
