Sunday Ehigiator
 
The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment have formally endorsed a major film project chronicling the life and legacy of Princess Nana Asma’u, the 19th-century Muslim scholar, poet,, and educator famed for her pioneering role in women’s education in Northern Nigeria.

The project, to be produced by Script Plus Limited, aims to spotlight Nana Asma’u’s intellectual contributions and her influence on women empowerment and Islamic scholarship—an effort the producers say will also serve as a tool for promoting cultural understanding, peace,, and unity across the country.
In a letter, the Sultanate Council, through its Secretary, Sa’idu Muhammadu Maccido (Danburam Sokoto), conveyed the Sultan’s command and authorisation for the film led by the Executive Producer, Hajiya Rahma Abdulmajid, who also serves as the Personal Assistant to the President on Radio and Broadcast (Office of the Vice President).

“We are glad that you have undertaken to produce a film on Nana Asma’u bnt. Usman bn. Fodio, for many, is the epitome of Muslim women in Africa… The Sultanate Council hereby conveys its endorsement for this project and authorises you to commence as you requested,” the letter stated.

The Council further requested periodic updates on the project, including participation in the final review before the film’s premiere.

Similarly, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, through its Commercial Law Department, has issued a certified letter of acceptance for the project’s trademark application, confirming the ministry’s official backing.

Speaking on the significance of the production, the Executive Producer,, Hajiya Rahma Abdulmajid, said the film carries a unifying national vision that extends beyond Northern Nigeria.

“This is an important story of leadership, faith, and knowledge that belongs to all Nigerians.

“By showcasing the intellectual and moral foundation laid by figures like Nana Asma’u, we aim to leverage this rich cultural heritage to foster unity and promote peace between the Hausa-Fulani and other ethnic groups across the North and the entire nation,” she said.

She added that Nana Asma’u’s legacy offers a powerful reminder that education and character formation are shared values capable of strengthening national cohesion.

On the film’s relevance to women’s education, particularly in the North, the presidential aide stressed that Princess Nana Asma’u’s life counters longstanding misconceptions about female learning in the region.

“Nana Asma’u’s life provides irrefutable historical evidence that education for women is deeply rooted in the culture and religious values of Northern Nigeria, not a foreign imposition,” she said.

Abdulmajid explained that the film would challenge the belief that formal learning for women is a Western construct, noting that Princess Nana Asma’u’s educational efforts were anchored on building moral character and deepening religious practice.

According to him, “By showing how Nana Asma’u’s educational efforts empowered women, we implicitly highlight the debilitating consequences of a lack of learning, such as social vulnerability, religious malpractice, extremism,, and political exploitation.

“Nana Asma’u is the perfect historical mirror to reflect the truth that educating Northern Nigerian women is a revival of their own cultural and religious tradition, not a deviation from it.”

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