Former Kaduna State Governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has called on Northern governors to prioritise technology adoption and accelerate digitalisation across the region. He also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fully deploy technology in the conduct of the 2027 general elections.

El-Rufai made the remarks at the premiere of Fasahar Zamani, a 12-episode Hausa-language digital technology series subtitled in English. The series, produced by Blue Sapphire Hub and funded by UK Development International, aims to promote awareness and adoption of digital solutions in northern Nigeria.

According to him, the region remains significantly behind in leveraging technology for development and must take deliberate steps to close the gap. He encouraged governors to support young digital entrepreneurs with training, seed funding, and opportunities to scale their innovations.

“Northern Nigeria is yet to come to terms with the reality of the tech age. State governments should identify digital and tech entrepreneurs in their states and support them to develop ideas, create jobs, and position Nigeria on the technology map,” El-Rufai said.

The UK Global Digital Access Programme Country Lead, Idongesit Udoh, said the initiative was designed to integrate underserved groups including women and persons with disabilities into Nigeria’s growing digital economy.

Founder of Blue Sapphire Hub, Maryam Lawan, explained that Fasahar Zamani highlights real-life technological applications from agriculture to healthcare and encourages northern communities to acquire digital skills for learning, productivity, and economic growth.