During the Kano Startup Weekend, the CEO of Engausa Global Tech Hub, Engr. Mustapha Habu Ringim, had the honour of participating as one of the judges and panelists at the event, which brought together innovators, founders, policymakers, and stakeholders from across the Kano State tech ecosystem.
While speaking during the panel session, Engr. Ringim highlighted a fundamental issue that must be addressed for the ecosystem to truly thrive: inclusion. According to him, innovation cannot be sustainable if it only serves a privileged few.
“A society is only as strong as its ability to include its less privileged,” he stated.
He went on to explain that this principle guided his involvement during the development of the Kano State Digital Economy Policy, where he ensured that inclusion was embedded as a core consideration. However, he noted that while policies are important, one of the recurring challenges remains the lack of effective implementation.
Engr. Ringim emphasized that many communities are filled with untapped talent and unrealized potential, not because of a lack of intelligence, but because of exclusion. This reality, he explained, was one of the driving forces behind the founding of Engausa Global Tech Hub. The hub was established with a clear focus on human capital development through inclusive, competitive, and world-class technology training, while applying global best practices to solve local problems.
A key pillar of this approach is language inclusion. Engr. Ringim stressed that the mother tongue is the foundation of understanding concepts, much like how computers must first process instructions in machine language before translating them into higher-level languages. When learners are disconnected from the language they understand best, comprehension suffers.
According to him, neglecting mother-tongue instruction effectively sidelines a significant portion of society. He observed that nearly 80 percent of human capital can be lost when people are excluded from learning due to language barriers. Many individuals with strong intellectual potential are unable to contribute simply because they were never given access to inclusive education.
He shared examples of Engausa alumni who were once out-of-school children, almajiris, or school dropouts, but who are now actively building technological solutions, including IoT smart home automation tools. Without access to inclusive learning environments, their talents would have remained undiscovered and wasted.
This, Engr. Ringim concluded, represents one of Engausa Global Tech Hub’s core value propositions: creating pathways for every willing learner to participate in the digital economy, regardless of background, language, or prior educational status.
The future of Kano’s digital economy depends on how well it embraces inclusion today. By investing in people at the grassroots level and removing barriers to access, the ecosystem can unlock hidden talents and transform communities through technology.
For more information:
Website: www.EngausaHub.com.ng
Foundation: foundation.engausahub.com.ng
Phone (WhatsApp & Telegram): 07038224643
Email: [email protected]
