By Mustapha Salisu
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) joined the rest of the world in commemorating the 2025 World Software Freedom Day with a chat session focused on advancing the adoption of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).
The event, held on Saturday at CITAD’s Kano office, brought together programmers, innovators, government representatives, and other key stakeholders to mark the global celebration.
Leading the commemoration, Malam Ibrahim Nuhu of CITAD explained that the session was aimed at creating public awareness on the importance of FOSS.
He emphasized that software freedom is not only about access to free tools, but also about empowering individuals and communities to build a digitally independent society.
According to him, FOSS grants users the freedom to run software for any purpose, study and adapt it to specific needs, and redistribute it for wider use.
Nuhu further stressed that embracing software freedom is critical to Africa’s transformation from being merely a consumer of technology to becoming a creator and innovator.
“To achieve this, there is the need to support local FOSS initiatives, invest in training and education, and develop clear government policies that promote open standards and FOSS,” he added.
In his remarks, Hon. Yusuf Ibrahim Sharada, Special Adviser to the Governor of Kano State on Digital Economy, commended CITAD for convening software developers and IT experts to deliberate on software freedom.
He noted that in today’s world, technology plays a pivotal role in addressing challenges across various sectors including education, health, security as well as water and that software development is central to these solutions.
“That is why we bring developers together to discuss both closed and open software, particularly the importance of software freedom,” he stated.
Hon. Sharada further reiterated that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration is committed to ensuring Kano State is not left behind in the technology space, citing the recent establishment of the Kano State Information Technology Development Agency (KASITDA) as evidence of this commitment.
Other highlights of the event included goodwill messages from the Ministry of Science and Technology, as well as presentations and demonstrations of open-source projects by innovators.
