In a rallying cry to chart a more progressive course, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has implored leaders across Northern Nigeria to fully embrace digital innovation. Addressing a gathering of Northern governors at the premiere of a Hausa-language digital technology film, he called attention to the region’s lag in technological adoption and urged a concerted effort to turn that around.
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A Technology Message for the North
Speaking at the Fasahar Zamani movie premiere, El-Rufai made his case with urgency. The 12-episode series—produced in Hausa and subtitled in English by Blue Sapphire Hub with funding from UK Development International—was designed to bridge the digital divide in Northern Nigeria. According to El-Rufai, the region is still “yet to come to terms with the reality of the tech age.”
He stressed that innovation cannot thrive in a vacuum. “We need a soft way of introducing this … making it attractive and exciting for our young people,” he said, urging not just awareness but actionable investment in local digital ecosystems.
From Screen to Seed Money: Empowering Digital Entrepreneurs
El-Rufai’s vision extends beyond mere storytelling. He challenged Northern state governments to back this message with concrete support for budding tech entrepreneurs. According to him, governors should identify digital talent in their states and offer seed capital to help them build scalable ideas—both to generate employment and to “position Nigeria on the technology map.”
He also emphasised that innovation is not a luxury but a necessity. As the world pivots to artificial intelligence, he argued, Northern youth must be given the tools to engage, compete, and lead.
This isn’t a novel call from him: El-Rufai has already partnered with states through events like the Arewa TechFest to spotlight and scale tech-driven solutions.
Democracy in the Digital Age: Tech for Elections
In addition to entrepreneurship, El-Rufai linked his push for digital adoption to the future of Nigeria’s electoral process. He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to leverage digital technology fully for the upcoming 2027 elections, arguing that technological tools could modernise the process and increase its integrity.
He drew on his own experience, noting that he used digital technologies in Kaduna during local government elections. The implication is clear: digital systems could help make elections more efficient, transparent, and inclusive.
Bridging Digital Exclusion and Driving Inclusion
At the film premiere, the UK’s Global Digital Access Programme was represented by the country lead, Idongesit Udoh. He highlighted that the project aims to reach marginalised groups—women, people with disabilities, and underserved communities—in order to bring them into Nigeria’s rapidly growing digital economy.
Maryam Lawan, co-founder of Blue Sapphire Hub, explained that each episode of Fasahar Zamani explores a different application of digital tech: agriculture, healthcare, social issues and more. She said the series is more than entertainment—it’s “a story of innovation, inclusion and transformation.”
Through relatable storytelling, the series seeks to redefine how Northern Nigerians perceive technology—not merely as social media, but as a means to learn, to work, and to solve real problems in their communities.
Why This Matters
El-Rufai’s address is more than a speech—it’s a blueprint. With the North historically underserved in Nigeria’s tech landscape, his appeal combines cultural sensitivity (a Hausa-language series), practical policy proposals (seed funding for entrepreneurs), and long-term vision (digital elections). If taken seriously, it could mark a turning point for the region—one that empowers its youth, strengthens its governance, and ensures that Northern Nigeria is not left behind in the age of digital transformation.
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