Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Northern Nigeria

It all started with a conversation that ignited a movement. On June 5, 2016, at a Google I/O extended event held at Kano University of Science and Technology Wudil, I sat down with my cofounder, Ahmad Muhammad Bature , to discuss the lack of spaces supporting innovation in Northern Nigeria. The problem was clear—there was no dedicated hub for innovators to gather, share ideas, and get the support needed to grow their startups. While there were coding spaces like FlexiSAF Edusoft Limited , as a company, they understood community, as the founder is the first person to bring Google Developer Groups (GDG) community to Nigeria, and? my mentor, Usman Ibrahim , was the first person to guide us to it In Northern Nigeria, even that, they lacked the critical business development training that could help startups scale.

That day’s conversation spilled into the next when Ahmed and I met to design the strategy and logo for what would become @startupkano. We weren’t just starting a business; we were setting out to fill a crucial gap in Kano's entrepreneurial landscape. Flexisaf was doing incredible work, but its focus was on coding and tech talent. We wanted to combine tech with entrepreneurship and provide business support that wasn’t yet available in the region. Usman, who had been instrumental in shaping my perspective on innovation, was focusing on Flexisaf, but his mentorship was invaluable in guiding me forward.

Starting Small, Thinking Big

When Ahmed and I began, it was just the two of us, two individuals trying to help businesses in any way we could. We didn’t have a physical hub of our own, so we made the best of the platforms offered by others. One such platform was provided by Maimunah Anka, founder of Malabisby Maymz, and Bahijja Shehu, founder of Beejay Beauty Bar. They graciously allow us to have access to their students and platforms; their partnership allows us to help startups map their businesses and register them on Google My Business, an initiative that gave visibility to small enterprises that previously had none.

The Turning Point: Women Founders Conference

Our biggest milestone came in the form of the Women Founders Conference, the first women-centric entrepreneurial event in Northern Nigeria. Curating that event was a dream realized for me. The inspiration came from Y Combinator’s Female Founders Conference, which I had admired from afar. It was not an easy feat, replicating such an event in Kano, but it was a cause close to my heart. After a lot of research, planning, and sheer determination, we made it happen. The conference brought together 200 women, all on a midweek day a historic first for the region.

For me, this was more than just an event. It was a tribute to my late mother, who had guided me into the world of business. When I was just seven, she helped me kick-start my first business through a partnership with her. Losing her a few years before the conference, I felt compelled to honor her by empowering other women to enter the entrepreneurial world. Seeing those women gathered, sharing ideas, and celebrating their potential felt like the ultimate tribute to her legacy.

A Journey of Learning and Growth

While my time with Startup Kano was cut short in 2019, the journey has been one of immense learning and personal growth. What started as a simple conversation turned into a platform that empowered countless entrepreneurs and shone a spotlight on women in business across Northern Nigeria. Today, seeing women-centric events thriving in Kano and the broader region fills me with pride. It’s a testament to the importance of creating spaces where innovators can come together, share ideas, and receive the support they need to grow.

The road wasn’t easy, but it was rewarding. Startup Kano not only fostered innovation, but it also helped shape the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Northern Nigeria. I may no longer be part of the initiative, but the lessons and experiences I gained from those years will stay with me forever.