NITDA’s Kashifu Inuwa Urges Bold Path to Elevate Northern Innovation into a Tech Powerhouse

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, has challenged stakeholders in Northern Nigeria to move beyond traditional trade and embrace a strategic, innovation-driven economy.

Speaking at Fireside Chat of the Futuremap Roundtable 1.0 (North-West Edition) in Kano, Inuwa detailed a roadmap to elevate the region’s tech ecosystem to global competitiveness, emphasizing that the uneven distribution of innovation is not a result of a lack of talent but a lack of intentional strategy.

Inuwa outlined a foundational framework for building a sustainable digital economy based on five critical pillars: human capital, infrastructure, funding, demand, and policy. He noted that the vision of past leadership, such as the establishment of Galaxy ITT in Jigawa in the early 2000s, proved that intentional investments in research hubs and technology skills can create a lasting impact on a region’s developmental trajectory.

Sharing a personal anecdote to inspire the young entrepreneurs in attendance, Inuwa recalled using his NYSC stipend to build his first website, a move that launched his career and eventual business success.

However, he warned that technical talent alone is insufficient, pointing to a lack of soft skills as a primary barrier to scaling businesses in the North. He advocated for a shift in mindset, urging tech professionals to develop the business communication and emotional intelligence required to lead growth-oriented enterprises.

To strengthen the ecosystem, the NITDA boss proposed a Quadruple Helix Model involving academia, corporate organizations, entrepreneurs, and government. He stressed the importance of domesticating national digital policies at the state level to ensure effective implementation. Inuwa also highlighted the need for a gender-inclusive approach and the integration of tech skills into formal education from kindergarten to tertiary levels to build a generational problem-solving mindset.

Addressing the challenge of sustainability, Inuwa raised the issue of accountability at the sub-national level. He suggested that innovation hubs and startups should move away from total government dependency by seeking angel investors and private-sector co-founders.

The event, attended by digital entrepreneurs, scholars, and business leaders, concluded with a call for a stewardship system where the government provides the enabling environment while the private sector drives the innovation.