NITDA partners with FutureMap to develop Northern Nigeria’s creative industry through digital training and a world-class film studio

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced a collaboration with FutureMap Foundation to transform Northern Nigeria’s creative and digital sectors, including technology capacity building and the establishment of a modern film studio.

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Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, unveiled the initiative during a high-level roundtable with tech innovators and Kannywood stakeholders at the PRNigeria Centre for Research and Development in Kano.

Mr Inuwa said filmmakers hold significant influence in shaping public perception and behavioural change, urging producers to prioritise content that inspires the next generation of technology builders over mere profit.

He pledged that NITDA would provide advanced infrastructure, including a state-of-the-art studio, incubation centres for emerging technologies, and training programs to improve content quality and competitiveness.

Professional Film Directors Association President Nasiru B. Muhammad highlighted operational challenges within the industry and requested NITDA’s assistance in developing AI-driven translation and subtitling software to enable Kannywood films to access international markets.

Two innovations presented at the roundtable drew particular attention: PRev, a media intelligence software by Shuaib S. Agaka for news monitoring, and SchoolTra, an educational technology platform by Abdullahi Sani Mahuta for managing student records.

Mr Inuwa encouraged the developers to collaborate with other experts to increase visibility and national adoption.

The event reaffirmed the long-standing NITDA‑PRNigeria partnership, which has trained over 2,500 journalists and students from universities, polytechnics, and secondary schools in digital skills since 2021.

Yushau A. Shuaib, CEO of Image Merchants Promotion Limited, said the 2026 roadmap includes expanding training programs to focus on Artificial Intelligence applications for the creative and media industries.

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Stakeholders agreed on practical measures to strengthen innovation ecosystems, support startups, expand digital skills, and foster collaboration between government, academia, and industry, positioning Northern Nigeria as a hub for technology and future-ready talent.