Youths showcase innovation at AI & music economy hackathon

Blue Sapphire Hub, one of the leading digital technology initiatives in Northern Nigeria, held two major events in Abuja on Thursday and Saturday, reinforcing its commitment to advancing technological adoption across the region. The first event, held on Thursday, featured the launch of the premiere of Fasahar Zamani, a new Hausa film series designed to […]

Blue Sapphire Hub, one of the leading digital technology initiatives in Northern Nigeria, held two major events in Abuja on Thursday and Saturday, reinforcing its commitment to advancing technological adoption across the region.

The first event, held on Thursday, featured the launch of the premiere of Fasahar Zamani, a new Hausa film series designed to promote technology awareness and inspire communities across the North to embrace digital innovations in education, healthcare, and agriculture. The premiere attracted stakeholders from the tech, creative, and public sectors.

Founder of Blue Sapphire Hub, Hajiya Maryam Lawal Gwadabe, said the series was created to bridge the digital literacy gap by using storytelling to spark interest in technology among the people.

She noted that entertainment remains one of the most powerful tools for driving social change.

“Fasahar Zamani is more than just a series; it is an intervention. Our goal is to encourage families, youth, and rural communities to understand that technology is no longer optional; it is necessary for growth and development,” Gwadabe said.

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufa’i, delivered a goodwill message, commending the initiative for leveraging film as a medium to advance digital awareness. He described the project as timely and essential for strengthening technological inclusion across the Northern region.

On Saturday, Blue Sapphire Hub followed the premiere with a second programme, the AI and Music Economy Hackathon, which drew teams of young digital innovators.

Participants collaborated to develop ideas focused primarily on building a centralized data system to help government agencies minimize revenue leakages and improve efficiency in the creative industry.

The hackathon featured keynote speeches from leading figures in Nigeria’s growing tech ecosystem.

Hajiya Maryam Lawal Gwadabe highlighted the importance of empowering young people to design solutions tailored to Nigeria’s socio-economic needs.

Dr Olubunmi Ajala, National Director of the Nigerian Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, spoke on the critical role of AI in shaping the country’s creative and governance sectors.

Representatives of the participating teams, Quadri Isma’il Olabisi and Hauwa’u Aliyu Abubakar, shared insights on their innovative concepts, highlighting the enthusiasm and skill sets emerging from young tech talents.

They expressed optimism that the ideas developed at the hackathon could be scaled into national solutions that support transparency and revenue optimisation.