The Edo State Government has achieved significant milestones in digitizing its public services, setting a model for other states in the South-South region to follow. This development was disclosed by Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, Head of Service, Edo State, during the 3-day BRACED Commission Strategy Retreat for Heads of Service in the BRACED (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Edo, and Delta) States. The retreat was recently held at the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) in Benin City.
Dr. Okungbowa revealed that the digital transformation project in Edo State has been highly successful, integrating over 36,000 staff members into the EdoGov ERP platform and facilitating more than 125,000 transactions since its inception. He highlighted the establishment of a Tier 3 Data Centre with a Disaster Recovery site outside the state, the deployment of over 2000km of fiber optics broadband infrastructure, and the connection of all eighteen Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.
“The digitalization of public services is crucial for unlocking Nigeria’s potential and advancing sustainable development goals,” stated Dr. Okungbowa. He outlined the benefits of digitalization, including increased efficiency and productivity, enhanced transparency in governance, improved customer experiences, reduced costs, and better decision-making through data-driven insights.
Dr. Okungbowa stressed that Edo State’s digital transformation serves as a model for other states, showcasing the transformative power of technology in governance. He also emphasized the retreat’s goal of fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among Heads of Service in the South-South region to drive digitalization and enhance public services.
Dr. Desmond Agbama, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communication and Orientation, underscored the importance of continuous upskilling for civil and public servants. “As Permanent Secretaries, it is our duty to ensure that officers apply the skills they acquire at JOOPSA to their work, and we will hold them accountable through performance evaluations and assigned responsibilities,” he said.
Imuwahen Ajoonu, Director-General of JOOPSA, urged stakeholders to strive for excellence, stating, “The economy does not create itself; it is the people who make the economy.” She emphasized the role of capacity building and service delivery as essential to progress, inspiring participants to work together towards sustainable development.
The event featured several keynote speakers, including Dr. Joe Abah, Vice President and Country Director of DAI; Mr. Steve Oronsaye, Former Head of Service of the Federation; Prof. Tunji Olaopa, Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission; Ambassador Joe Keshi, Director General of the BRACED Commission; and Comrade Issah Aremu, Director General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin.