Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has highlighted his state’s growing leadership in Africa’s digital transformation during a keynote address at the Digital Government Africa Summit held in Lusaka, Zambia. Sharing the stage with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, Lawal outlined Zamfara’s strides in building a data-driven governance system that promotes transparency, efficiency, and citizen inclusion.
The governor showcased several of Zamfara’s flagship digital initiatives, including the e-GovConnect platform, which enhances public service delivery and financial accountability; the Zamfara Digital Literacy Framework (ZDLF)—Nigeria’s first state-led digital skills programme; and the Zamfara Institute of Information Technology, a centre dedicated to advanced studies in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Blockchain, and Data Analytics.
Lawal further announced that Zamfara State would host the Arewa Tech Festival, projected to become Northern Nigeria’s largest technology gathering, aimed at positioning the state as a regional hub for innovation, investment, and digital entrepreneurship.
Emphasizing the ethical side of technological advancement, Governor Lawal said digital governance must evolve with responsibility, noting Zamfara’s adoption of cybersecurity and data protection standards in line with Nigeria’s Data Protection Act.
“For us in Zamfara State, digital transformation redefines how government interacts with its people,” Lawal said. “We believe in governance that is present, intelligent, responsive, and data-driven.”
In his remarks, President Hichilema commended Lawal’s leadership, describing the Zamfara Digital Literacy Framework as a pioneering model that equips citizens with the skills needed for the future, serving as a blueprint for other Nigerian states.
Governor Lawal also urged stronger regional cooperation to advance Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), e-Governance, and digital trade under the frameworks of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Smart Africa Alliance.
Concluding his address, Lawal underscored the human-centred benefits of digital progress, saying:
“The farmer who uses weather data to plan his crops, the mother who registers for health insurance from her phone, the student learning online from a remote village, and the entrepreneur expanding across borders through e-commerce—that is the Africa we must design.”
