Inaugural Arewa Tech Fest, Kano

It gives me great pleasure to welcome all of you to this great occasion of the Inaugural Technology Festival which I have no doubt was designed to promote innovation, inspire technology enthusiasts and build a robust ecosystem for technology-driven solutions across the Northern Nigeria.

The event is timely considering the fact that the region is still lagging behind in terms of Information and Community Technology. We are glad that things beginning to change now as more people especially youths are fully harnessing the idea of modern technologies.

In today’s rapidly evolving world, technology plays a pivotal role in shaping our daily lives, transforming industries, and driving societal progress. The positive effects technology on society are undeniable, impacting diverse areas such as healthcare, education, communication and economic development.

It is imperative, therefore, that we re-frame our challenges and re-think through our responses, and re-assess our delivery-mechanisms to effectively map out and live up to the demands and aspirations of our times.

Our generation of leadership faces radically different challenges from those which confronted the early custodians of the Northern Region: accelerating change curve; and fast-paced technological revolution, the birth of the digital age, the power and danger of the Social Media in the hands of the citizenry; the miniaturization and pervasiveness of destructive technologies; a very savvy and restless youthful population that demands a space and participation in shaping its today and tomorrow; a world that has shrunk into a global, instant and intimate space.

As soon as we took the mantle of power, the present Administration under my leadership established Katsina State Directorate of Information and Communication Technology which shows clearly our vision and commitment to harnessing the power of technology for the betterment of our citizens as well as towards the digital transformation of Katsina State. The Government accorded the necessary support and co-operation to fulfill the mandate of the Directorate which include:

• Coordinate all ICT related activities in the State with relevant MDAs;
• Receive, review and approve all ICT needs assessment and make recommendations for necessary solutions;
• Be the primary provider of ICT staff to all MDAs in the State;
• Develop and implement the State ICT Policy Framework;
• Facilitate and support the development of ICT hubs in the State;
• Work with all technology platform providers to ensure institutional learning;
• Oversee the activities of all platform and technology providers in the State;
• Work with Katsina State Development Management Board to improve the role of ICT in the State;
• Organize an Annual Technology Fair in the State;
• Become the primary custodians, operations and maintenance of all State-owned technology platform;
• Advise the government on all ICT related matters;
• Provide an annual ICT performance report in the State;
• Engage State MDAs annually to conduct ICT needs assessment and make recommendations for necessary solutions.

In our quest to develop technological innovation in the State, we have revive and remodeled Katsina State Youth Craft Village Centre, a Centre established to train youths in different fields such as Computer and GSM repairs, networking, auto-mechanic and electronics, leather works shoe making, among others.

At this juncture, I wish to call on our youths to venture into the field of technological innovations for the overall development of the States and the country in general.

In conclusion, the benefits of technology on society are undeniable, and as we move forward, let us be mindful of the responsibility that comes with this transformative power. As technology continues to evolve, we must ensure that its positive impacts continue to outweigh any potential drawbacks, thereby fostering a society that thrives in the digital age.

I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the Organizers of this important event and to also express my appreciation to all invited guests who are able to attend the event despite your various commitments and tight schedules.

I pray for a successful event and safe trip back to your respective destinations.