Obaseki driving digital economy with fibre optic connectivity, says report

Governor Godwin Obaseki administration’s innovation and technology drive, especially through fibre optic connectivity project has gained global acclaim.

A recent report by The Guardian UK, titled, “Facebook’s fibre optics in Nigerian state put Africa pivot in focus,” reads: “Edo governor, Godwin Obaseki, has, in recent years, driven a digitisation agenda that touches on many areas of ordinary life and tech companies have become fundamental parts of it.”

According to a statement by the media aide to the governor, Crusoe Osagie, the report disclosed that since 2019, at least 400km (250 miles) of cables have been laid in Edo, with the government committing “to building business and technology hubs, expanding Internet access for entrepreneurs, tech workers, government agencies and schools.”

“The state’s previously analogue civil service now uses an online government portal supported by partnerships with Microsoft and using fibre-optic Internet access provided by MainOne and Facebook.

“The level of accountability this system brings is so effective. Right now, if a case file is sent to a civil servant from the governor’s office, the governor can see exactly when it is opened, and whether it has been actualised. So the days when you send one file somewhere and it gets lost in the system are gone.

“Schools in Edo and areas where fibre-optic cables can be accessed have benefited from subsidised Internet connectivity and are also working with Microsoft-based learning programmes, improving the quality of education.”