Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has called on Northern Nigeria to urgently adopt digital technology and integrate innovation across all sectors, warning that the region is lagging behind in the global digital revolution.

El-Rufai made the appeal at Ceedi Plaza Cinema, Abuja, during the premiere of Fasahar Zamani, a 12-episode digital-technology film series produced by Blue Sapphire Hub and funded by the United Kingdom Development International. The series, produced in Hausa and subtitled in English, aims to help close the digital literacy gap in the region.

The event drew a wide range of northern dignitaries and stakeholders.

Expressing concern over the slow pace of technological adoption in the North, El-Rufai said the region must treat digital inclusion as a priority.
He noted that the North “remains far behind” in the deployment and use of digital tools.

He urged Northern governors to invest in digital infrastructure, support emerging tech innovators, and provide seed funding to ensure sustainable digital entrepreneurship.

“Northern Nigeria is yet to fully come to terms with the tech age,” he said. “We need creative, appealing ways to introduce digital technology to our young people. This 12-episode production will help attract the attention of youths — and their parents — to the importance of adopting technology as we move deeper into the age of AI.”

El-Rufai added that state governments in the region must build on the project by identifying tech talents and supporting them.

“Northern governors should take this message further by identifying digital and tech entrepreneurs in their states and supporting them with seed funding so they can develop ideas, create jobs and put Nigeria on the global technology map,” he said.

He also highlighted the role of digital tools in governance, noting that Kaduna deployed technology in local government elections, and urged INEC to leverage similar systems in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at the premiere, Idongesit Udoh, Country Lead and Programme Advisor for the U.K. Government’s Global Digital Access Programme, said the initiative is part of broader efforts to reduce digital exclusion in Nigeria.

According to him, Nigeria’s digital economy is one of the fastest-growing sectors, but many groups remain left behind.

“This project was designed to integrate women, people with disabilities, and underserved communities into the expanding digital economy,” Udoh said. “Nigeria’s digital sector is booming and contributes significantly to GDP, but inclusion is still a challenge.”