Governor Abba Kabir Appoints Dr. Bashir Abdu Muzakkari as Pioneer Director-General of KASITDA
In a landmark move to advance its digital agenda, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has appointed Dr. Bashir Abdu Muzakkari as the pioneer Director-General of the newly established Kano State Information Technology Development Agency (KASITDA).
Prior to this appointment, Dr. Muzakkari served as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Digital and Creative Economy. In that role, he played a pivotal part in the design and implementation of strategic initiatives such as the Kano State Digital Economy Policy, Kano State e-Government Policy, the draft Digitalization and E-Governance Enhancement Bill, and the ongoing domestication of the Nigeria Startup Act. His leadership has been central to driving the government’s vision of a digitally inclusive and innovation-driven Kano.
Dr. Muzakkari brings a rich portfolio of experience spanning over two decades in ICT, academia, public administration, and policy development. He is a distinguished computer scientist with a Ph.D. in Computer Science, focusing on Wireless Sensor Networks and IoT, from Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Malaysia. He also holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Mobile Computing with Distinction from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Malaysia, and a Diploma in Public Administration from Bayero University, Kano.
Dr. Muzakkari is a faculty member at Northwest University Kano, where he has served in several key academic and administrative capacities. These include Director of Academic Planning, pioneer Director of Consultancy & Investment, and the institution’s first Director of Management Information Systems (MIS). In these roles, he played a transformative role in institutional planning, digital infrastructure development, and university-wide strategic initiatives.
Earlier in his career, he served as Senior Special Assistant on ICTs to Governor Kwankwaso in 2012, contributing to the development of the state’s ICT framework and managing official digital platforms. His professional journey also includes stints as a web administrator at Media Trust Ltd, and as an Associate Partner at Web\@rts IT Services & Consultancy in Kano.
Dr. Muzakkari has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences, with a strong research focus on energy-efficient wireless sensor networks, mobile computing, and intelligent systems. His publications are indexed by Scopus and IEEE, underscoring his global contributions to computer science and technology innovation.
He is affiliated with several professional bodies, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Internet Society (ISOC), and the International Webmasters Association (IWA). He has also served on various policy, academic, and strategic committees both in Nigeria and internationally.
As Director-General of KASITDA, Dr. Muzakkari is expected to lead the agency in shaping Kano’s digital future — by fostering innovation, promoting ICT-driven development, strengthening digital infrastructure, and championing local talent.
His appointment is widely seen as a step in the right direction, aligning with the state government’s ambition to build a knowledge-based economy and position Kano as a leader in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.
