Eid Mubarak to our community, may this special season bring peace, joy, and renewed hope to you and your loved ones as we reflect on a meaningful and eventful March. The month marked an exciting moment for Kano’s growing innovation ecosystem. Over the month, founders, innovators, policymakers, and advocates gathered for a series of events reflecting a shared commitment to building a more inclusive and opportunity-driven economy.
These conversations unfolded across community gatherings, technology discussions, and policy dialogue, each naturally flowing into the next. Together, they highlighted how collaboration, innovation, and public policy can shape the future of economic participation in Kano. The activities also took place alongside the Climate Innovation Ecosystem Development (CIED) Program at Startup Kano, which is equipping innovators with the tools and knowledge needed to build solutions that address climate and economic challenges.
March is a month to celebrate our amazing and wonderful women, a time when community members and advocates come together to recognize their achievements and reflect on the importance of expanding opportunities for women and girls. The atmosphere is both celebratory and thoughtful, with conversations centered on empowerment, mentorship, and the need to create spaces where women can thrive in entrepreneurship, technology, and other emerging sectors. It serves as a powerful reminder that strengthening women’s participation in the economy is essential for broader social and economic development.
Building on this energy, participants delved into the role of women driving innovation and leadership within the tech sector during the “Break the Pattern” event organized by Women Techmakers in collaboration with Technovation. Women Techmakers is a global initiative focused on creating inclusive spaces where women can learn, connect, and build careers in technology. In Kano, it plays a growing role within the local tech ecosystem through events like International Women’s Day, hands-on workshops, and mentorship sessions, supporting women at different stages, from beginners to professionals. Beyond events, its impact in Kano is seen in how it encourages more women in Northern Nigeria to step into tech, builds confidence through visibility and shared experiences, and contributes to a more diverse and supportive innovation ecosystem in the region. The event focused on redefining how women build, collaborate, and leadwithin the tech ecosystem. Through keynote presentations and panel discussions, speakers explored the barriers women often face in the industry while highlighting the opportunities that exist for women to thrive as innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders.
Participants shared experiences about navigating the tech industry and emphasized the importance of building supportive communities that encourage more women to pursue careers in STEM fields. In regions where women remain underrepresented in technology, conversations like these play an important role in inspiring the next generation of innovators.
As discussions around innovation and entrepreneurship continued throughout the month, the ecosystem shifted into a more informal but equally important space for connection. Entrepreneurs and startup enthusiasts later gathered for the “Biggest Kano’s Founders Iftar - March Edition,” organized by Founders Friday at Blue Sapphire Hub. Held during Ramadan, the gathering provided founders with the opportunity to break their fast together while exchanging ideas and building relationships within Kano’s growing startup community.
In many ways, the event reflected the collaborative spirit of the ecosystem itself. Conversations ranged from startup challenges to opportunities for partnerships and investment. Informal networking spaces like this often play a crucial role in building strong innovation ecosystems, allowing entrepreneurs to connect beyond structured programs and explore collaborations that may lead to future ventures.
For participants in the Climate Innovation Ecosystem Development (CIED) Program, these engagements complemented the learning taking place within the bootcamp. The program focuses on supporting innovators working on climate-related solutions while helping them develop skills in startup development, ecosystem building, and climate finance. By equipping innovators with practical knowledge and entrepreneurial tools, the program is helping cultivate a new generation of founders who are building solutions that respond to both environmental and economic challenges.
Cavemen Africa also released their Ramadan series, Ashabul Kahfi, a reflective conversation series where they sit with entrepreneurs and business owners to explore how faith shapes their journeys. Through these conversations, the series highlights how personal beliefs influence decision-making, guide the way leaders approach their work, and shape how they build and lead their businesses. One of the featured conversations is with Aisha Tofa, Board Chair of Startup Kano, who reflects on how faith informs leadership, purpose, and the responsibility of supporting communities that nurture innovation and entrepreneurship.
Amid these activities, an important milestone for women’s economic participation in the state was the launch of the Kano Women’s Economic Empowerment (KANOWEE) Policy, a five-year roadmap designed to unlock the economic potential of women and girls across Kano. Alongsidethe policy launch, KANOWEE also published a book titled “Imani da Kwazo a Kasuwanci”, which celebrates businesswomen who have made their mark and continue to do so, highlighting both historical figures and contemporary trailblazers.
The policy, which covers the period from 2025 to 2029, aims to create an enabling environment where women can actively participate in both the formal and informal economy while improving their livelihoods and economic resilience. By coordinating various women-focused economic initiatives under one framework, the policy seeks to ensure that no woman in Kano is left behind.
The need for such a policy is particularly significant in a state like Kano, which, according to 2024 projections, has a population of over 16 million, nearly half of whom are female. Women already contribute significantly to agriculture, trade, and household income, yet they often face systemic barriers, including limited access to capital, low land ownership, lack of collateral for loans, and limited digital literacy. Social expectations and unpaid domestic labor also continue to restrict economic opportunities for many women.
The KANOWEE policy addresses these realities by focusing on priority groups that are often most vulnerable, including poor and vulnerable women, out-of-school girls, women entrepreneurs in the informal sector, women and girls with disabilities, survivors of gender-based violence, and women affected by disasters or humanitarian crises.
To support these groups, the policy is built around five core pillars that strengthen women’s participation across key sectors. These include expanding opportunities in agriculture and agribusiness, supporting women-led entrepreneurship and MSMEs, increasing participation in emerging industries such as technology and the digital economy, promoting workplace equity, and improving access to education and market-relevant skills through vocational training and lifelong learning pathways.
The policy was officially launched at Amani Event Centre in Nassarawa GRA, Kano, bringing together government officials, development partners, financial institutions, and private sector stakeholders. Key partners present included Fable Advisory, Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative, Wee Lift Kano, and the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund(AECF). The gathering underscored a growing recognition that empowering women economically is not only a matter of social equity but also a critical driver of economic growth.
Taken together, the events of the month painted a picture of a city where innovation, community engagement, and forward-looking policy are increasingly intersecting. From conversations about women’s leadership in technology to founders building new ventures and policymakers creating frameworks for economic inclusion, Kano’s ecosystem continues to evolve in ways that expand opportunity for more people.With initiatives like the CIED program nurturing innovators and policies such as KANOWEE opening doors for women’s economic engagement, these combined efforts point toward a future where entrepreneurs, innovators, and women are central to shaping Kano’s economic growth. As these efforts continue to unfold, we invite you to stay connected and follow the journey.
Startup Kano also created space for community and reflection during the holy month through an Iftar. The gathering brought together members of the Startup Kano community, founders, innovators, and ecosystem builders, in an intimate setting that fostered meaningful conversations and stronger connections. It was a moment that highlighted the importance of community within the ecosystem, where relationships are built alongside ideas and innovation.
Following the close of Ramadan, Startup Kano observed the Eid break, allowing its community to pause, celebrate, and reconnect with family and loved ones. This period of rest and reflection provided a meaningful balance to the month’s intense activities. As the celebrations concluded, members returned re-energized, carrying forward renewed motivation to continue building, collaborating, and contributing to Kano’s growing innovation landscape.
To keep up with updates, milestones, and the ongoing impact of the Climate Innovation Ecosystem Development (CIED) program, follow our social media channels and join us in tracking the progress of innovations and partnerships shaping Kano’s economic future.