UN ranks Edo as best state in ICT, digital governance

The United Nations, in recognition of the e-governance reforms by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration, has ranked Edo State as the best state in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and digital governance in Nigeria.

The state got the recognition at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Design Workshop held in Lagos, with representatives from the 36 states of the country, including commissioners and managing directors of state ICT agencies and parastatals, among others in attendance.

The Obaseki-led government, in the past seven years, has undertaken bold and transformative reforms in the state’s civil and public service, transitioning the service delivery from an archaic, analogue and strenuous mode of operations to a digitised, seamless and efficient mode.

“The state is today the most connected digitally in Nigeria and operates the most digitised civil and public service, with all local governments connected to fibre optics. Edo is also the first state in the country to have entirely shifted to a digital mode of administration. Files are now processed through the service-wide e-government platform, ensuring quick turnaround time.”

Responding to the honour at the well-attended event in Lagos, Edo State Commissioner for Digital Economy, Science and Technology, Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor, commended Obaseki for being a trailblazer in the ICT sector.

He said he felt like a superstar at the UNDP workshop and really appreciated how far the state has gone in the area of ICT and digital governance in Nigeria.

“We are about the only state that has gone paperless in our government processes. Some states are centuries behind on this. With our almost 80 percent e-government compliance in the civil and public service, we lead all other states.

“While many states are trying to negotiate with Galaxy Backbone, the nation’s Data Centre for web hosting and others, Edo State has a tier-three state-of-the-art data centre with over 1.5 petabyte data storage space with a 99.9 per cent efficiency level,” he said.