How first female-owned tech hub shapes digital adoption in North
The founder of the first female-owned tech and innovation hub in Northern Nigeria, Blue Sapphire Hub, Maryam Gwadabe has lamented that the region is still lagging behind in adopting digital technologies. She said many people have smartphones but are not maximizing the potentials of the devices in their daily lives. This has been the focus […]
The founder of the first female-owned tech and innovation hub in Northern Nigeria, Blue Sapphire Hub, Maryam Gwadabe has lamented that the region is still lagging behind in adopting digital technologies.
She said many people have smartphones but are not maximizing the potentials of the devices in their daily lives.
This has been the focus of the hub since its establishment over a decade ago to expand the digital footprint in Northern Nigeria especially among women believed to be disadvantaged.
The CEO stated this during the Digital Community Fair organised by the hub as part of its Accelerating Digital Adoption in Northern Nigeria (ADAN) project in Kano.
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She said, “We all have smartphones, but many of us only use them for TikTok or Instagram. Digital adoption means using these tools to transform our lives, businesses, and communities.
“This fair is about showing you what’s possible. It is a call to action for Northern Nigeria to become creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs,” she added.
The tech CEO also urged communities to shift from passive digital consumption to active participation in the digital economy, adding that Northern Nigeria must learn to leverage digital tools for innovation and economic growth.
Daily Trust reports that Blue Sapphire Hub is the first-female owned innovation center in Northern Nigeria which began operations in 2014.
The hub is focused “on developing sustainable solutions and building entrepreneurial communities for scalable impact.” Its community is made up of innovators, entrepreneurs, freelancers and dare dreamers who leverage the power of tech and innovation to identify and solve the most pressing societal challenges.
The hub stated that innovation and Technology are at the heart of the work it does, adding, “We believe in breaking barriers, disrupting and challenging stereotypes in order to create positive change. We provide a launchpad for Innovators and support young entrepreneurs to thrive.
“We provide Incubation programs, Capacity building services, Consultancy and Product Development for startups, government organizations, NGOs and companies respectively.”
So far, over 10,000 have benefited from its tech programme while over 12 tech-driven start-ups have been supported, in addition to creating 3000 jobs through the ecosystem.
Similarly, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, said the state has reopened 26 entrepreneurship institutes that were previously closed to help cater for the demands of the state’s population.
The Governor who was represented by the Director-general of the newly established Kano State Information Technology Development Agency (KASITDA), Bashir Abdu Muzakkar, said the state is committed to ensuring that the youths, whom he said are 65 percent of its population, are prepared for the 21st century opportunities.
Organized by Blue Sapphire Hub and funded by UK International Development, the two-day fair drew hundreds of participants and showcased startups potentials particularly in the ICT and digital economy.
Meanwhile the hub has hosted a job fair aimed at connecting over 200 young talents with prospective employers and key stakeholders.
The event, also held in Kano, brought together job seekers, recruiters, government officials, and development partners in a bid to foster meaningful engagement and promote enterprise development.
Speaking at the event, a representative of Blue Sapphire Hub, Sani Sulaiman Sidi, said the fair was designed to bridge the gap between opportunities and talent, especially among northern youths, whom he said often lack access to basic job-seeking skills.
“This job fair is a platform of hope and possibility. We want young people to see what skills are in demand, learn them, and connect with employers. It is not just about degrees anymore, it is about equipping yourself with relevant tools like IT, AI, digital marketing, and project management,” he said.
Sidi emphasised that hubs like Blue Sapphire are creating safe spaces for learning and innovation, urging youths to take advantage of such platforms to upskill and stand out in a competitive job market.