Showcasing Kaduna’s Grand Debut In ICT Super Highway

By Nasir Dambatta

With ICT being virtually the main driver of the global economy of the current times, keying into everything about it and its value chain has become one of the wisest things to do by every level of the human society.

One of the most-critical components of the ICT value chain is the expansive investment opportunities spreading out for modern societies to explore to bolster and ensure sustainable prosperous economies.

To secure an ICT-driven prosperous economic future, every level of the modern human society has now opened its eyes wide to the crucial imperative of nurturing ICT-creative minds to provide the veritable platform for the the required productive investment.

With Kaduna State being one of the most-economically prosperous states of Nigeria, the Governor Uba Sani-led government of the state has since keyed into global ICT vogue and the crucial imperative of investing in the vast opportunities it offers to secure the state’s enviable economic status in the country.

Engr. Shuaib Bello, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Uba Sani on ICT, during a recent ICT Road Show in Kaduna by Gitex, comprehensively expressed the state government’s landmark resolve to key into everything about ICT.

Bello rolled out the plan by the state government to nurture opportunities for creative minds and local startups on ICT as part of the broad plan to attract investors to the state, which has been a key item on the development agenda of the Uba Sani administration.

The Gitex Road Show, organized by Pinnacle International Consulting, a US-based subsidiary of Gitex, showcased numerous ideas by local ICT startup owners possessing the potential to vie for investment. The Gitex Road Show featured startup owners competing for spots in the upcoming Gitex show in Marrakech, Morocco.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the event, Engr. Bello encouraged Kaduna residents to raise the tempo of showcasing their talents on ICT to bolster the efforts by Governor Sani to host programmes capable of luring innovators and providing a supportive network for the youth.

Highlighting some of Governor Sani’s investment ICT, Engr. Bello stated that N250 million had been infused into local startups, and the state has acted as venture capital with potential returns.

Listen to him: “This fund is designed to revolve, allowing subsequent investments once profits are realized. The strategic partnership between Governor Uba Sani and the Dubai World Trade Centre paved the way for this Gitext Roadshow 2024.”

Engr. Bello explained that the Gitex event provides startups with an opportunity to showcase their products, aiming for sponsorship to Gitext Africa show in Morroco and, ultimately, the Gitext global event.

“Kaduna’s resilient tech ecosystem, as recognized by the Governor, is becoming a focal point for collaboration with Gitext organizers. This collaborative effort aims to shape Kaduna’s digital economy by attracting capital and investments through events like the Gitex Roadshow,” the governor’s aide on ICT affairs said ambitiously.

Describing Kaduna as a force to reckon with in Nigeria’s tech landscape, Engr. Bello drew attention to, and, in fact, underscored the high youth population of the state, which has constituted a matter for grave concern to Governor Sani and his administration.

“The government’s approach involves equipping the youth with essential skills and providing access to funding to enhance productivity and achieve their entrepreneurial dreams,” he assured.

Akande Ojo, the President and CEO of Pinnacle International Consulting LLC, rolled out the aims of the Roadshow which, principally, aimed at selecting standout participants from the programme for sponsorship to Marrakech, Morocco grand continental show.

“This annual roadshow, spanning Lagos, Abuja, and Kaduna for the first time, follows last year’s successful sponsorship of startups to Dubai, providing a unique opportunity for both the less privileged and those who struggle to communicate their message effectively.”

Two startups which emerged winners of the Kaduna Roadshow competition, are to join their counterparts from Abuja and Lagos to compete in the next talent show in grand Morroco event.

Dubai World Trade Centre, owned by Dubai Govt, is the organizer of GITEX GLOBAL

There are several event under GITEX Global and the North Star ( Startup) is one of them. The startup event is called the North Star.

GITEX Africa is a new event in partnership with the Moroccan Govt. Pinnacle International Consulting, LLC is the Country Representative of DWTC- Nigeria in Nigeria.

Recall that Governor became the first in the country to partner with Google to train 5,000 women and girls in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and the entrepreneurial application of digital technologies.

He eventually got awarded as the 2023 NITMA-Digital Governor of the Year by the Nigeria Computer Society(NCS) sometime in November last year.

It is becoming clear that Kaduna is leading in Internet and Communications Technology, at least in the North. This development holds great promises for the future of Kaduna State in the real of ICT and related area of specialisation.

Dambattq is Senior Special Assistant on print media to the governor of Kaduna State