Open Congratulatory Letter to Dr. Bashir Abdu Muzakkari on His Appointment as Director General, Kano State Information and Communication Technologies (KASITDA)

Date: July 6, 2025

From: Musa Abdullahi Sufi
To: Dr. Bashir A. Muzakkar

Congratulations and Strategic Recommendations for Digital Transformation in Kano State

Dear Dr. Bashir A. Muzakkar,

Warmest Congratulations on your well-deserved appointment as Director General, Kano State Information & Communication Technologies (KASITDA) by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji. Abba Kabir Yusuf . Been a former Special Adviser on Digital & Creative Economy at Kano State Government your appointment is a bold and visionary step toward reshaping the digital future of our beloved state.

I am confident that you are the right person to lead this, charge with wisdom, innovation, and inclusivity.

Your vast experience in technology, education, and leadership, coupled with your humble and community-oriented spirit, makes you an exceptional fit for this strategic role in today’s rapidly advancing digital era.

I write not only as a friend and brother, but as a fellow advocate of progress, to offer support, inspiration, and key recommendations to help this office become a model for sub-national digital transformation in Africa.

Unlocking the Digital Future of Kano State: Opportunities and Strategic Recommendations

1. Develop a Digital Transformation Masterplan for Kano State
• Create a comprehensive and citizen-centered digital masterplan that aligns with global trends. This masterplan should include:
• Smart Governance: Introduce e-Government services across ministries and LGAs to improve transparency, reduce corruption, and enhance service delivery.
• Digital Infrastructure: Expand broadband and fiber connectivity to rural and underserved communities.
• Tech-Enabled Education: Collaborate with the Ministry of Education to digitalize schools, integrate ICT into the curriculum, and support STEM programs, especially for girls.
• Digital Health Systems: Support the integration of electronic health records and AI-assisted diagnostics across primary health care centers.

2. Establish the Kano Digital Innovation & Startup Hub: Advancing the recent Tech Hub Lunch

Set up a world-class innovation hub to:
• Incubate startups and tech talent across the state.
• Partner with global tech companies (Google, Meta, Microsoft, Huawei etc) for training, funding, and infrastructure.
• Promote youth innovation challenges, hackathons, and coding bootcamps.

3. Create the Kano State Digital Literacy & Inclusion Program
Design targeted digital literacy campaigns across 44 LGAs, focusing on:

• Women and girls, persons with disabilities, and older populations.
• Skills like basic computing, smartphone use, digital marketing, and online safety.
• Community-based learning centers and mobile ICT buses for rural outreach.

4. Embrace Emerging Technologies
Integrate and explore:
• AI, Blockchain, IoT, Cloud Computing in state operations.
• Smart agriculture using drones and sensors to boost productivity.
• Predictive analytics in traffic, water management, and urban planning.

5. Build a Data-Driven Government
Support the development of a State Data Center to:
• Consolidate all government data for effective planning.
• Ensure data security, privacy, and interoperability across agencies.
• Leverage data for public decision-making and policy advocacy.

All these initiatives should be strategically initiated and implemented in phases using a pilot-based approach to ensure effectiveness, adaptability, and scalability. In doing so, the services of Galaxy Backbone and other reliable Internet Service Providers (ISPs) may be explored to harness available digital infrastructure and connectivity solutions that can support the success of these innovations.

Global Best Practices You Can Champion

• Rwanda’s Irembo Portal: A one-stop digital government service platform.
• Estonia’s Digital ID: Universal digital identity and seamless citizen service access.
• India’s Digital India Program: Local tech startups powering rural development.
• Singapore’s Smart Nation Framework: Real-time data, AI, and citizen co-creation.
• Saudi Arabia: Vision 2030 Digital Transformation Program Initiative: Saudi Vision 2030 – National Transformation Program (NTP)
• United Kingdom (UK): GOV.UK & Smart Nation Strategy Initiative: GOV.UK One-Stop Digital Government Portal
• Dubai, UAE: Smart Dubai Government Initiative Initiative: Smart Dubai Strategy & DubaiNow App
• United States: U.S. Digital Service (USDS) & Broadband Expansion Initiative: U.S. Digital Service & Connect America Fund

Adopting global tools while localizing them to fit Kano’s unique social and cultural landscape can place the state among Africa’s digitally advanced regions.

Community Engagement & Advocacy: A Must
Your office must be visible and accessible. I encourage you to:
• Establish a Digital Stakeholders Forum: Include CSOs, youth leaders, media, religious institutions, and academia.
• Champion open communication and feedback loops with the public.
• Leverage radio, TV, Hausa-based podcasts, and online media to educate citizens on digital rights, opportunities, and cyber safety.

Sustainability and Institutionalization
• Push for state-level ICT laws and policy frameworks.
• Institutionalize regular digital skills assessments and training for civil servants.
• Integrate ICT development into LGAs through partnerships and capacity building.

Recommending Local Partnership

I strongly recommend the establishment of a robust partnership with the Katsina State Directorate of Information and Communications Technology (KATDICT) and related. Their experience in subnational digital transformation, particularly in Northern Nigeria, offers valuable lessons and collaborative potential that can benefit Kano State’s ICT advancement.

Additionally, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy should be considered a key national figure for strategic collaboration. His wealth of experience, global networks, and pioneering role in Nigeria’s digital policy architecture make him an invaluable partner for high-level advisory support and innovation alignment with international best practices.

These partnerships can serve as a catalyst to accelerate Kano’s digital ecosystem, foster inter-state knowledge exchange, and enhance the credibility and sustainability of the state’s digital transformation agenda.

Closing Words of Encouragement

Dr. Bashir, you now stand at the intersection of history and hope. Your role is not just technical; it is transformational. You represent the dreams of millions of Kano youths who believe in innovation and inclusive progress.

With clarity of purpose, courage, collaboration, and community connection, your tenure can set an inspiring precedent for the future of ICT governance in Kano and Nigeria.

Please count on us, and many others in the technology, innovation and development space locally and internationally who are ready to support your vision with ideas, partnerships, training, and advocacy. Let us build a Digitally Smart Kano that lifts every community.

Once again, congratulations, and may Allah grant you wisdom, health, and the right team to make a lasting impact.

With deep respect and unwavering support,
Yours in friendship, progress, and innovation.

Musa Abdullahi Sufi
Founder/Director, SIDES
Kano, Nigeria