Governor Dauda Lawal Showcases Zamfara’s Digital Reforms at the Digital Government Africa Summit in Lusaka

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, Nigeria, has placed his state at the centre of Africa’s digital transformation conversation with a keynote address delivered at the Digital Government Africa Summit in Lusaka, Zambia. Sharing the stage with His Excellency, President Hakainde Hichilema of the Republic of Zambia, Governor Lawal outlined Zamfara’s bold steps in building a digital governance ecosystem designed to enhance transparency, efficiency, and citizen engagement.

In his remarks, the Governor noted that Zamfara has fully aligned with Nigeria’s national digital vision while designing homegrown solutions to modernise public service delivery. He highlighted initiatives such as the e-GovConnect platform, which streamlines government processes and strengthens financial accountability; the Zamfara Digital Literacy Framework (ZDLF), Nigeria’s first state-led digital skills program; and the Zamfara Institute of Information Technology, which focuses on advanced learning in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Blockchain, and Data Analytics. He also announced that Zamfara will host the Arewa Tech Festival, Northern Nigeria’s largest technology gathering, positioning the state as a regional hub for innovation and investment.

Governor Lawal emphasised that technology must evolve alongside ethics, underscoring Zamfara’s adoption of comprehensive cybersecurity and data protection measures in line with Nigeria’s Data Protection Act. “For us in Zamfara State, digital transformation redefines how government interacts with its people,” he said. “We believe in governance that is present, intelligent, responsive, and data-driven.”

President Hichilema, in his remarks, congratulated Governor Lawal for launching the Zamfara Digital Literacy Framework, describing it as a pioneering effort that equips citizens with future-ready skills and sets a standard for other states in Nigeria.

Calling for stronger regional cooperation, Governor Lawal reaffirmed Zamfara’s commitment to cross-border partnerships that advance Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), e-Governance, and digital trade under frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Smart Africa Alliance.

He closed his speech with a reminder that the true measure of digital transformation lies in impact: “The farmer who uses weather data to plan his crops, the mother who registers for health insurance from her phone, the student who learns online from a remote village, and the entrepreneur who grows across borders through e-commerce—that is the Africa we must design.”