The major policy thrust of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration is the Renewed Hope Agenda – a transformative policy aimed at repositioning Nigeria as a prime global investment destination. It is hinged on the core pillars of democracy, development, demographics, and diaspora engagement. At different fora, President Tinubu has reiterated his government’s commitment to the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda with particular focus on security, tackling corruption, diversification of the economy, massive infrastructural development, and employment generation designed to enhance the well-being of Nigerians. Towards this end, various measures are being implemented to achieve these objectives.

Meanwhile, it is a known fact that Agencies and Parastatals are the vehicles through which government policies and programmes are implemented. Consequently, the success or otherwise of Mr. President’s Renewed Hope mantra depends, to a large extent, on how federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) effectively key into the Agenda’s ambitious roadmap, bold reforms and strategic partnerships geared towards revamping the nation’s economy and put it on a sustainable path of recovery and prosperity.

Indeed, President Bola Tinubu has gone beyond One Year of his administration’s first term in office and there is the need for these drivers of change to present their scorecards for all to see as it has been noted that a lot still need to be achieved to unleash the country’s potential and take her out of the current harsh economic reality.

To this end, and based on record of outstanding performance and transformative strides, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Federal Housing Authority (FHA), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB), and the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS), have been recognized by The Guardian as part the “Ten Leading Proactive Federal Government Agencies Driving Impactful National Economic Growth”, more importantly for their contributions to impact national development and economic growth.

FEDERAL HOUSING AUTHORITY (FHA): Re-positioning, Re-branding for Effective Housing Delivery Under Hon. OladimejiOyetundeOjo

The Federal Housing Authority (FHA), a wholly owned agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, was established vide Decree 40 of 1973 now cited as Act CAP F-14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. The Authority is supervised by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. The Authority began operations in 1976 with the construction of Festac Town (FESTAC) in Lagos, for hosting participants in the 1977 Second World Bank and African Festival of Arts and Culture. Since the commencement of operation, the Authority has developed 76 estates across Nigeria with over 100,000 housing units.

In November 2023, FHA marked the fiftieth (50^th) year of its existence as a Federal Government Housing delivery agency. Though there are diverse opinions as to how well the Authority has fared in the discharge of its core mandate of providing houses to Nigerians, certain factors that have affected the functioning of the agency are worth noting. FHA’s 50 years of existence has often be described as a journey full of turns and twists, occasioned by the various policies of the numerous governments it has witnessed.

Some of such policies from both Federal and state governments have had impacts in its functioning, creating room for overlapping of functions and dovetailing into its operations, of the Authority, often causing high degree of dissonance in our relationships both with states and Local governments, thereby affecting some aspects of our service delivery.

At inception, the Authority operated very smoothly and was able to deliver very affordable houses with mortgage repayment plans to Nigerians. Those years can be regarded as the Golden years of FHA. The Authority was able to maintain her estates and built new ones with the help of funding from government.

However, by 1992, FHA’S fortunes took a down turn, when the then Technical Committee for Privatisation and Commercialisation (TCPC) ear marked it for partial privatisation, with a proposal to provide the agency with a Take – off grant. This move marked the beginning of the Authority’s Identity Crisis. FHA has since then been torn between being a commercial entity or a civil Service organisation.

The situation became worse when in 2003, FHA was completely removed from the national budget, and was never given the proposed take-off grant.

The past 50 years have been very dramatic for IT as an agency, having witnessed various kinds of government decisions that have impacted on our operations. One of such government actions was having 22 Chief Executives in a period of 50 years. Though, well-intentioned, some of the policies were deficient in execution and counter-productive.

Looking at the state of some of our estates today, especially the road network, questions have been asked as to what has gone wrong with FHA. The truth is that the uncoordinated and abrupt redirection of Federal Housing Authority, from a Social Housing oriented agency, to a commercialized and profit making one, without putting the required and necessary modalities in place.

Also, the Authority operates with an obsolete ACT that impedes the Authority’s business drive: limits its borrowing capacity to only N200.000, gave no powers to sanction erring allottees; who default in the repayment of their mortgages or fail in the prompt payment of their ground rents, does not have provision for Service charges for maintaining the estates; as is the case with private developers.

This precarious situation meant that providing affordable houses to Nigerians, which is at the epicentre of its mandate became very difficult. The Authority had to depend on the meagre Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to cater for both Capital and Recurrent expenditure. One therefore wonders how this agency is expected to engage in infrastructure maintenance which is known to be very capital intensive, and at the same time expected to deliver cheap houses to Nigerians.

However, with the appointment of the Hon OyetundeOjo led Executive Management in February 2024, narratives are beginning to change in the Authority. Hon Ojo on resumption of duties outrightly rejected FHA’s analogue operations. He found it repugnant that Federal Housing Authority still operated manually, and made digitalization of the Authority’s operation his top most priority and on the May 1^st 2024, barely 2 months in office, he flagged off the digitalization of FHA.

With a solid background in enterpreneurship and politics, which saw him as a member of the Federal House of Representative between 2011 and 2015, where he served as the Chairman, House Committee on Communication, Hon Ojo is also the Founder/CEO, Holigan Global Service Ltd – a petroleum upstream logistics services company, and Flo-247 Priority Ltd, a high stake security provider. Hon Ojo who holds a Master’s Degree in Peace & Conflicts Studies from the University of Ibadan, Bachelor of Arts (BA) Politics from; University of Greenwich, London United Kingdom, and Diploma in Jouirnalism from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria was well equipped for the challenges in Federal Housing Authority.

Determined to turn around FHA, Hon Ojo identified human capacity development instilling discipline among the staff as a key factor to driving the much-desired change in the Authority. He immediately embarked on interface with all segments of staff, where the need for a complete attitudinal change and improved work ethics was canvassed. As a result, a directive was issued that no file should stay unattended to by any staff beyond 48 hours.

As a follow up, a 3 day Staff Retreat was held for the management staff in Kaduna, where improved work ethics, general change towards positive work attitude for improved Housing Solutions in this era of Renewed Hope was canvassed for.

The management has embarked on a visit to state governors in the country. This is in search of synergy and collaboration with the states for housing. Aside fro this, management noticed that the Authority’s land bank is needs to be increased across the country for housing delivery purposes.

READ ALSO: Special Focus on The Evolution of Banking – Prominent Digital Banking Platform in Nigeria

Hon Ojo was quick to frown at the location of some of the Authority’s land bank, with most of them being far from city centres, which made them not viable for development. He also condemed the concentration of the Authority’s housing projects around Lagos and Abuja, while questioning the rationale of FHA being a Federal institution if it cannot carter for all parts of the country.

To date, management has visited 27 states, and has been allocated lands free of charge in all, with compensation paid in some. This has set FHA along the path of massive affordable housing development in the country.

To bring sanity in all FHA’S estates, management has commenced a Verification, Revalidation and Regularisationexcercise of properties in all FHA estates. This is a window to allow all bonafide land owners in the Authority’s estates, who built without approval, built outside granted approval or illegally annexed the Authority’s land to regularise and revalidate such properties. The Authority at the expiration of the window will embark on the recovery of all its land that has been illegally acquired.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive, Hon OyetundeOjoia also leading the enforcement of building regulation enforcement in the Authority’s estates. The exercise which has commenced in the Federal Capital Territory is part of measures to bring sanity to FHA’S estates by ensuring compliance with Development Control directives.

In Lagos State, The Authority has commenced a phased rehabilitation of the roads in FESTAC. Currently, the 1st gate/ part of the 1st Avenue are transforming. While the main gate will be reconstructed to a befitting structure, the road repair work is moving down to 11 Road through the Polaris bank/Zenith bank axis.The street lights are being replaced with a solar system that lights up the whole environment into a soothing ambiance and, of course, adding to the security of the area.

While the Managing Director and Chief Executive, Hon OyetundeOjo is working the talk of restoring FESTAC Town and the other estates belonging to Federal Housing Authority, as  promised during his two weeks working tour of the Authority’s estates in Lagos, Allotees and residents are implored to cooperate with FHA to achieve this by living up to their obligations by paying all statutory levies accrual to the Authority.

Management has also commenced the amendment of the Authority’s enabling ACT which has become obsolete as it constricts the Authority’s operations rather than enhancing it. The Management has since started the necessary moves to see to the amendment of the Act, which is necessary for the profitable operation of the agency.

For the Authority to carry out its functions/mandate effectively, the enabling Act granted it the powers to:

• Acquire, hold and manage movable and immovable property;
• Acquire, construct and maintain dwelling houses, schools, communal and commercial buildings and other structures;
• Enter into contracts for the construction, maintenance, management or repair of any property;
• Purchase or otherwise acquire any assets, business or other property where such purchase or acquisition is necessary for the proper discharge of its functions under this act;
• Sell, let, lease or otherwise dispose of any property vested in the Authority.

These functions have been expanded, and the authority has also been further empowered under the 2012 National Housing Policy to:

• Develop and manage real estate on a commercial basis in all states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT);
• Provide sites and services for all income groups with special emphasis on the No-income and low-income groups. The funds for providing for these two groups shall be provided by the Federal Government and other sources;
• Provide No-income and low-income cooperative, rental and rural housing in all states of the Federation and Federal Capital Territory from funds provided by government and other sources;
• Execute such housing programmes in the public interest as may be approved by the Federal Government;
• Mobilize off-shore funding for housing development.

Commercialization

Under the re-defined roles of FHA, the Federal Government, through the Technical Committee on Privatization and Commercialization (TCPC) now the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) entered into a Performance Agreement with the Federal Housing Authority. The aim of the Performance (Commercialization) Agreement was to reduce the magnitude and scope of financial support of the Federal Government and allow the Authority to adapt to changing business requirements.

THE MANDATE

Under its enabling law, Federal Housing Authority is charged with:

• Preparation and submission to government, from time to time, proposals for National Housing Programmes.
• Execution of such housing programs as may be approved by the Government.
• Development and management of real estate on both commercial and profitable basis in all states of the Federation.
• Provision of Site and Services Scheme for the benefit of all income groups.
• Making of recommendations to government on such aspects of urban and regional planning, electricity, transportation, sewage and water supply as may be relevant to the execution of approved housing programmes.

Outside these provisions, the ACT as it is, remains deficient in other provisions that pertain to the operations of the Authority business. For administrative convenience and ease of project execution, the Authority has six (6) zonal offices in the six (6) Geo-Political zones of the nation.

HowPresident Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda: Repositioning Basic Education Delivery in Nigeria, ThroughUBEC

Nigeria’s Federal Government intervention in basic education under the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act of 2004 is funded by 2% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF). The Federal intervention, which assists Nigerian States and Local Governments in providing uniform and qualitative basic education across the country, began in 2005 with the creation of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

The Commission is charged with the responsibility of formulating policy guidelines as well as coordinating the successful implementation of a universal basic education programme in partnership with State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs). As part of its mandate, UBEC receives block grants from the Federal Government and allocates the same to States and other agencies implementing basic education programmes across the country.

Since he assumed office in May 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the Renewed Hope Agenda has laid the foundation for the speedy transformation of the basic education sub-sector through the development of an education sector road map, increased funding to States and Local Governments for education delivery, etc. These initiatives have ensured gradual improvement in basic education delivery, particularly in the area of physical infrastructure, teacher professional development and the integration of technology in teaching and learning.

As part of the Federal Government intervention in basic education, the current administration has through the 2023 budget, doubled the matching grants available for disbursement to States to N131,521,775,625.15. This is the highest allocation ever since the introduction of the UBE Programme in 1999. This allocation which is being released quarterly is disbursed to States in support of their UBE delivery efforts. As at September 2024, N75,558,117,253.98 has been released to States as matching grants for strategic UBE interventions in their domains. Between May 2023 to 30^th September, 2024 N4,924,500,000.00 was released for the training of teachers and education system managers in 34 states and the FCT.

In the last 16 months a total of 161 projects (2 classrooms blocks, 3 classrooms blocks, 6 classroom blocks, 8 classroom blocks and 9 classroom blocks) were completed and handed over to various States resulting in the provision of additional 421 classrooms and 272 toilets across the 36 States and FCT. In addressing the challenge of dearth of skills among basic education graduands, the Federal Government constructed 42 Junior Secondary/Vocational Schools under the UBEC Direct Intervention projects with 252 classrooms, 84 Laboratories, 84 workshops, 42 boreholes and alternative source of power (solar) in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Jigawa, Taraba, Yobe, Niger, Ebonyi and Oyo.

The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in keeping with his promises completed and delivered 140 projects under the 2023 Zonal Intervention arrangement with additional 320 classrooms, 153 toilets and 27 boreholes across the 36 States and FCT. To tackle the challenge of Girl-Child education, the administration has commenced the construction and commissioning of the Alternate High Schools for Girls across the country.

The Alternative High School initiative is designed to train and equip women especially those who were not opportune to complete basic education with the requisite skills that can enable them to live productively and contribute to the development of society. Skills like catering and tailoring are among the focal skills in this regard. Presently, the Alternate High School in Bauchi State was commissioned by the First Lady, Senator OluremiTinubu and handed over to the Bauchi state government. The First Lady has also laid the foundation for the construction of another Alternative High School in Osun state.

The Government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu since inception has embarked on various interventions towards ensuring a paradigm shift in favour of basic education. Its attempt to address the challenge of out of school children through the Integrated Qur’anic and Tsangaya Education (IQTE) Programme for implementation of Almajiri Education has witnessed the release of grants  to 312Almajiri/Tsangaya/Qur’anic/Ile-kewu Centers for infrastructural development in 24 states and the FCT. Furthermore, this initiative has led to the construction of 419 Classrooms, 66 Recitation Halls, 25 Recitation shades, 140 Offices, 27 Hostels, 225 VIP toilets were constructed while a total of 73 classrooms were renovated,46 boreholes were drilled,55 double bunk beds, 559 lockers, 1,100 mats, 6,585 Pupils and Teachers furniture were supplied.

The improved and sustainable funding initiative of the present administration and other numerous interventions will go a long way in addressing the infrastructural deficit in basic education schools across the country as well as improving the national response to the challenge of out-of-school children. It is envisaged that in the coming years, the Renewed Hope Agenda will lead to effective harnessing of national resources for the improvement of the basic education sub-sector.

NATIONAL IDENTITY MANAGEMENT COMMISSION: Committed To Integrity-Driven Service, FosteringA National Identity Management System That Is Transparent, Accountable

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) established by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, has the mandate to establish, own, operate, maintain and manage the National Identity Database in Nigeria, register persons covered by the Act, assign a Unique National Identification Number (NIN) and issue General Multi-Purpose Cards (GMPC) to those who are citizens of Nigeria, as well as others legally residing within the country.

The NIMC Act 2007 provides for the establishment of the NIMC, its functions, powers, establishment of the National Identity Database, assignment of the National Identification Number (NIN), as well as issuance of token General Multi-purpose cards. The Act also provides the Commission with powers to make regulations connected with its functions. The NIMC Act 2007 provides the repeal of the law that created the former Department of National Civic Registration (DNCR) and the transfer of its assets and liabilities to the NIMC.

The Commission has the primary legal, regulatory and institutional mechanism for implementing Government’s reform initiative (in the identity sector) as contained in the National Policy and NIMC Act. The mandate is to establish, operate and manage the National Identity Management System (NIMS); Carry out the enrolment of citizens and legal residents as provided for in the Act; Create and operate a National Identity Database, Issue Unique National Identification Numbers to qualified citizens and legal residents.

Other functions include: Foster the orderly development of an identity sector in Nigeria; Issue a National Identity Smart Card to every registered person 16 years and above; Provide a secure means to access the National Identity Database so that an individual can irrefutably assert his/her identity (Person Identification Verification Services (PIVS) Infrastructure.

NIMC is committed to promoting the highest standard of ethical behaviour among its management and employees. This makes the focus of the Commission’s core values laying emphasis on Transparency, Promptness, Integrity, Excellence and Professionalism.

The requirement for promptness and efficiency, as well as the culture of timeliness and accuracy in service delivery, is a cardinal feature of NIMC. That is, in the pursuit of creating a national identity management system that is transparent and accountable, NIMC employees are required to maintain the highest ethical standards and create an atmosphere of confidence through openness and clarity in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Commitment to honesty and dedication to duty are the remarkable virtues that form the hallmark of all NIMC staff. Members of the Staff of NIMC exhibit a high degree of professionalism in the discharge of their responsibilities. As such, they are competent, accountable, respectful, creative and above all, team players.

Currently serving as the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NIMC is Engr. Coker-Odusote who has outlined a comprehensive 5-point agenda upon assuming office. This agenda prioritizes staff training, securing funding for enhanced staff support and welfare, ensuring access to essential work tools to optimize service delivery, upgrading and expanding facilities, and enforcing a zero-tolerance policy towards extortion.

Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote brings over eighteen (18) years of multifaceted expertise spanning Information Technology, Telecommunications, Finance, Oil & Gas, Healthcare, Government, and Public Utilities sectors.

Her achievements within this period include but are not limited to the general Sanitization of the NIMC Database and clearing of Backlogs, introduction of the new self-service modification platform which helped reduce the turnaround time for modification, Revalidation of FEP Licenses to improve enrolment efficiency, and the Launch of the new GMPC with diverse applets that give citizens access to government interventions in line with the 8-Point Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, amongst others.

She is the ID4AFRICA Ambassador and also the Chairperson OSIA Advisory Committee. She also currently serves as a Board member of NELFUND, whose primary objective is to provide financial support to qualified Nigerians for tuition and other fees including upkeep during their studies in approved tertiary academic institutions along with vocational and skills acquisition institutions within Nigeria. She also serves as a Board Member of the Consumer Credit Facility set up by the President to accelerate access to consumer credit to 50% of working Nigerians by 2030. At the same time, she serves as the Secretary, Ecosteering Committee-ID4D World Bank Project charged with ensuring that every Nigerian is enrolled on the Digital Identification system which will facilitate access to services, improve service delivery and bolster Nigeria’s digital economy.

With her profound knowledge and extensive experience in information technology and data management, she has provided consultancy services to diverse entities, offering strategic guidance on the development and implementation of robust electronic identity database management systems.

During her tenure as General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (“LASIMRA”), she managed critical utility infrastructure providers, fostering standards and procedures to enhance infrastructural development and maintenance. Her efforts significantly reduced damage to public utilities while promoting collaboration among stakeholders to improve public safety and advance Lagos State’s transformation into a smart city.

Her innovative leadership at LASIMRA earned widespread recognition for its impact within the utility infrastructure sector, positioning her as one of “The Value-Driven CEOs That Contributed To Nigeria’s Economic Growth In 2022”, notably through LASIMRA’s contributions to digital infrastructure.

Her journey includes pivotal roles such as Head of Technology &Communications at Bate Litwin, where she worked on notable projects like Chevron ESA (JV with Atlas, etc.).Before this, she held key positions across various industries in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, driving information technology policies, system implementations, project management, and software development initiatives.

Within the last twelve months under her watch as the helmsman at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Commission has made transformative strides and recorded a lot of success. These include the key areas of operations such as validation of FEPs Licenses to regulate and streamline all the enrolment processes and creation of territorial offices to further strengthen overseeing staff management and enhance administrative operations within the commission.

Deployment of Enrolment Devices across all enrolment centers in Nigeria to ease and enhance enrolment processes. It has also initiated monitoring and evaluation movement across enrolment centers to understand the challenges of both staff and enrollees in order to profer first hand solution to some of them and also make provisions for a lasting one.

Self-Service Applications: Successfully tested and launched the NIMC Self-Service Mobile App and Web Modification App, which streamline enrolment and record modification processes for Nigerians, making them more accessible and user-friendly.

Enhanced Enrollment Systems: Improved the NIMC Contactless Enrollment Software with integration to the National Population Commission and enhanced the NIMC Android Enrollment System (AES) for better data security and reliability.

NIMC Middleware Upgrades: Implemented key changes to the NADRA Middleware, including automating date of birth modifications and introducing an amputee workflow to enhance service efficiency and security.

As part of its strategic move to ensure optimum productivity, NIMC has embarked on organizing management retreat to create bond among staff and boost morale. This move also involves training and capacity building for staff efficiency. Others include Personnel Training and Development: Cybersecurity awareness, workshops, and technical skill upgrades conducted and planned. Knowledge management improvements included upgrading the NIMC library, launching an e-library portal, and conducting targeted capacity-building training programs

To foster an effective stakeholders’ relationship, the Commission has made payment of outstanding monies to NIMCs front-end partners (FEP). This is in addition to facilitating effective relationships between the NIMC, Stakeholders, Partners, and Sister agencies involves key strategies and actions. (FAAN, TLS, VFS, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassies and High Commissions, as well as harmonization and integration with Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in November, 2023

Furthermore, within the period under review, NIMC has achieved High Availability NIMC Verification Service (HA-NVS): Rolled out; Key Life Cycle Management System (KLMS): Deployed for enhanced security; Upgrade of VERI DB and Apps DB: From 11g to 19c by August 2024; as well as Expansion of NIMC’s Global Presence: Deployment of 200+ new diaspora enrolment centres worldwide.

Other visible progresses made are the creation of the Advanced Biometric Identity Verification System which was developed to reduce identity fraud.

Similarly, technical operations have been further boosted byABIS Upgrade Project: Ongoing with new HPE servers and software; Security Infrastructure Enhancements: Including deployment of servers for KLMS, Billing, Metadata, and MIS; Improved Credibility: In the National Identity Database (NIDB), as well as 24-Hour Service Delivery for customers.

Why GBB’s committed to delivering technology that enables institutions solve immediate, future challenges, byAdeyanju

With a Vision “To be the leading enabler of Digital Inclusion in Africa” and the Mission “To provide state of the art digital Infrastructure for a digital Nigeria”, Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) remains a forerunner in Nigeria’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Industry. It is a company under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), which was set up in recognition of the need to harmonizetheapproach to ICT in the public sector and to help derive more value fromits investmentsin ICT by eliminating duplication, establishing economiesofscale, enhancing interoperability of systems and improving government’s capacity todeliverelectronic services to its citizens.

Established in 2006, GBB has grown into becoming a world class Digital Infrastructure, Solutionsand Services organisation with capacity to serve public and private sector of the Nigerian economy. Thecompany has invested in Infrastructures ranging from transversal and Metro Fibre opticcablesacross over 22 states of the federation and two state-of-the-art DataCentres for hosting, colocation, back-up and business continuity purposes. Through the strength of this Infrastructure, GBB is growing its coverage of public institutionsnationwide and currently connects about 4,000 locations spread across various parts of Nigeria, representing over 350 Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.

GBB is a focused institution with the commitment to provide and deliver on the technologythatenables institutions work faster, smarter and solve their immediate and future challenges. Digital Infrastructures power digital economies. The GBB infrastructure is geared towards improving government services and creating a platform that can accommodate public and private institutions across the country.

The organisation is responsible for managing the Federal Government’s ICT infrastructure, which includes over 5000km of fiber backbone across 27 States and 300 Local Government Areas, two state-of-the-art Data Centres (Uptime Certified Tier III and Tier IV Data Centre), a National Shared Services Centre, and a 24-hour Cybersecurity Operations Centre, among other critical facilities (designated as Critical National Assets).

Prof. Engr. Ibrahim A. Adeyanju, a distinguished Nigerian, currently serves as the Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB). With an impressive academic and professional background, Prof. Adeyanju has significantly contributed to Nigeria’s digital transformation, making him a key figure in the nation’s ICT sector.

Prof. Adeyanju’s journey in the field of technology began with a B.Tech. in Computer Engineering (First Class Honors) from LadokeAkintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Nigeria. Subsequently, he  obtained a Master’s degree in Computing Information Engineering and a Doctorate (PhD) in Computing from the Robert Gordon University (RGU), Aberdeen, United Kingdom. His PhD research focused on Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Natural Language Processing. Following the completion of his PhD, Prof. Adeyanju undertook a postdoctoral fellowship at RGU, focusing on information retrieval, a project sponsored by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in the UK.

Upon his return to Nigeria in 2012, Prof. Adeyanju embarked on an academic career, becoming a Professor of Intelligent Systems in the Department of Computer Engineering at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Nigeria. He also served as the pioneer Director of Quality Assurance at FUOYE, where he played a crucial role in establishing and maintaining academic standards.

In April 2023, Prof. Adeyanju was appointed as the Executive Director, Digital Exploration and Technical Services at GBB. His outstanding performance in this role and his passion for innovation, inspiring leadership and deepening digital transformation led to his appointment as the Managing Director/CEO of in March, 2024 by His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Prof. Adeyanju’s tenure as the helmsman at Galaxy Backbone, though at an early stage, is setting a transformative path for the company which would support the company’s growth and chart a new course for the nation’s public sector. His leadership is not only strengthening the company’s infrastructure and service delivery but also fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, high performance and continuous improvement. Through his efforts in digital transformation, capacity building, cybersecurity, and strategic partnerships, he continues to make a lasting and positive impact on Nigeria’s ICT sector.

At the heart of his achievements at Galaxy Backbone in line with Digital Transformation of Government is Capacity Building and Training. Understanding the importance of continuous learning in the fast-paced digital world, Prof. Adeyanju has revamped the Research, Digital Innovation & Skills Department to engage more on Research and intensifying its efforts around Capacity Building for the MDAs as this has been identified and a fundamental aspect of the Renewed Hope Agenda when it comes to Digitalisation. GBB is now building a ‘Learning Organisation’ that enhances staff capabilities, productivity, and overall organizational profitability.

Similarly,under his leadership, the Integrated Management System (IMS) project was launched, paving the way for Galaxy Backbone to achieve the Business Continuity Management Systems(BCMS) ISO 22301:2019 and the Quality Management System ISO 9001:2015 certifications. This project aims to enhance operational efficiency, mitigate risks, and improve the company’s competitiveness and credibility in service delivery. The attainment of this certification sets GBB apart as one of the few reputable organisations driving efficiency and effectiveness in their operations.

Not resting on his laurels, recently, Prof. Adeyanju secured the prestigious Tier IV Uptime Certification, for Galaxy Backbone’s DataCentre in Kano from the Uptime Institute Professional Services. This certification, the highest level of DataCentre Certification, signifies GBB’s commitment to reliability, security, and operational excellence, ensuring 99.95% availability for its clients.

In furtherance to his transformative strides, the GBB point-man has been instrumental in stimulating strategic partnerships with various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and global technology companies, all aimed at creating a more transformative ecosystem that can consistently meet customer needs in real time and all the time. These collaborations aim to bring advanced technologies and best practices to Nigeria, fostering innovation and growth in the ICT sector.

On theDeeper Broadband Penetration In Underserved Areas; One of GBB’s mandates is to ensure broadband penetration across underserved areas of the country. So in collaboration with NIGCOMSAT, GBB is, through the leadership of Professor Adeyanju, driving the delivery of Internet services across the 774 Local Governments of the country. This is in addition to the over 5000km already laid for fibre connectivity.

According to Prof.Adeyanju, “Asa model technology institution, government’s vision behind  setting up Galaxy Backbone was to build an organization that wouldbridgethegap between how businesses were perceived to be done in the public sector andhowitisperceived to be done in the private sector. The goal for the creation of GBB wastoensure government processes were improved upon and worked effectively most especiallyinan obvious technology-driven world that was oblivious of whether one belonged to thepublicorprivate sector. Technology indeed, is for everyone.

Therefore, for Galaxy Backbone, one of our greatest pride is in our people. We have assembledanexceptionally diverse set of professionals with both Private and public sector experience; menandwomen from different parts of the country and beyond. We also have a rich diversity of peoplecutacross the different cultures in Nigeria who are not just technology professionals but understandwhat it means to deliver value to government institutions and ensure its operations areruneffectively based on international standards. Our work culture and values thrives onteamwork, commitment to excellence and results.”

In terms of raising the bar in e-governance and GBB shared services, he noted that“Nigeria’s role in the economic development and advancement of Africa is second to none. Weseeourselves as playing an integral part in nation building and putting Nigeria on that map of continuous growth and technological advancement. Our role in helping government strengthen the system of delivering information and providing services to its people through the useof custombuilt and modern ICT is captured as one of thekeyobjectives of our existence as an organization. Galaxy Backbone is currently leading discussionsaround e-government and the digitalization of government processes across the country. Wearepartnering both at the local and global stage to ensure that our commitments towards ensuringthat government processes are well connected, documented and digitalized meet international expectations.”

He added that “As one of our key responsibilities in driving e-government in Nigeria, Galaxy Backbone has takenastrategic approach to providing shared infrastructure services by studying models similarorganizations in other countries have adopted to provide shared services and Infrastructure. Weare playing a strategic role in the recently proposed e-government Master Plan for Nigeria, incollaboration with Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).”

In the area of connectivity, hosting and security of data, the Intelligent Systems expert stated that at the core of GBB’s business is ensuring that private organisations and public institutionscaneffectively connect and communicate amongst one another through a single, robust andsecurenetwork. In his words, “A lot of investment has gone into the provision of a network infrastructure that canenhance operations of the institutions we serve. We provide a dedicated carrier class broadband connectivity to clients from our Data Centre, using Wireless, Fiber, Satellite(VSAT) or a combination of these technologies, ensuring excellent service to the customers Local Area Networks(LAN), which we also manage for them. 24/7.

Within the Abuja Central Business District in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, is situatedaworld class and indeed as attested by some of our customers, a state-of-the-art UptimeCertifiedTier III DataCentre. This technology infrastructure has been built with the highest detail in quality and cutting edge technology and with the help of our global partners and service providers, it has been designed with the capability of hosting over 300 Terabytes (TB) of Data. Through our data centres, an unmatched range of services is delivered to our target clients.

Also, we have invested in a world class Tier IV DataCentre which would serve as additional DataHosting services and more importantly for Business Continuity services. Security of Government information and that of our other target clients is always at the Centre of all we do. That is why we have within our DataCentres, top rated Security Access doors Electronic Access Control System, Premise wide and internal surveillance Cameras fittedwithmotion detectors and night vision.

As a 24/7 DataCentre, we have at all times, experiencedand well-motivated DateCentre & Network Professionals who are empowered with a state-of-the-artNetwork Management System that monitors all the operations within the DataCentre. TheseDataCentres provide Hosting, Business Continuity, and Disaster Recovery Services to all organisations.

The Galaxy Backbone Cloud Infrastructure is a platform designed to deliver hybrid cloudservicestoprivate and public institutions. This service offers customers opportunity to have us host andmanage their applications under a secure network infrastructure. The security of data intheCloudis of great importance to us hence our concerted efforts at ensure that all we managefororganisations from the network, servers, operating system and storage are well securedandavailable when required.

In the last one year, our achievements are a reflection of the level of our unwavering commitment to national economic development plan and impact accelerated growth within both public and private sectors. To this end, we have connected over 400 MDAs and across over 3000 sites Provisioned about 11,000 LAN Points in Federal Secretariat buildings Data Centre – Tier III Certification Of Design Documents Over 450km fiber deployed with the Abuja Metro Over 1,722Mbps of internet provisioned Over 95,000 email boxes provisioned for the government(Military & Civilian About 3000 MDA Staff trained(Directors & IT Support Staff) Government completion of preliminary design Successful EDMS implementation for the Federal Executive Council(FEC) Recently, we were also awarded the ISO/IEC 27001:2005 certification on InformationSecurityManagement System (ISMS).

Some organisations where we have deployed our services include the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Pension Commission (PenCom); Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA); Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF); National Judicial Council (NJC); Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC); Nigeria Television Authority (NTA); Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB); Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); Federal Executive Council (FEC); Taj Bank; Ministry of Transport; Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN); Ministry Of Defense; Nigerian Army; Nigeria Prison Service; Nigeria Police Force.”

ABUJA GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS: Championing the Renewed Hope Agenda, Fostering Sustainable Economic Growth, Enhanced Quality Of Life, Through Effective Geospatial Information

The creation of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) marks a significant advancement in the efficient capturing of data and the generation of geospatial information for effective land administration and urban planning in a modern city. Established in 2004, AGIS emerged as part of the Federal Government’s initiative to fully computerize the cadastral land registry of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The establishment of AGIS was a key component of the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory (MFCT) Dissolution Order 1, 2004, which laid the foundation for the current administrative structure in the FCT. AGIS is recognized as the official source of geospatial data for the entire FCT, boasting a comprehensive, state-of-the-art, and secure computerized Geospatial Data Infrastructure.

AGIS not only provides accurate information but also enhances the operational efficiency of land-related agencies within the FCTA. Additionally, it plays a vital role in maximizing land revenue generation, which is essential for sustaining governance in the territory.

Since its inception, the management of AGIS had diligently worked to address and eliminate the vulnerabilities identified prior to its establishment in 2004. Numerous reforms had been implemented to safeguard the integrity of the data, ensuring that its effectiveness is not compromised by any unauthorized access or infiltration.

With the AGIS Technology, processes that will previously take weeks or months to complete are done within 24 hours or less. The automated processes in AGIS have also enhanced security, transparency and accountability by minimizing errors, and mitigating fraud from human factors. Centralized data management and storage also ensures standards are complied with and information is not duplicated.

To sustain the success achieved, the management of AGIS over the years introduced regular interventions including: the upgrade of hardware infrastructure and the deployment of latest software and technology for the improvement of service delivery and to mitigate against sharp practices, and compromise that have for long being pain points for the administration.

In the past 18 months, following the appointment of Barrister NyesomWike as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, the management of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) has significantly enhanced its use of technology to improve operations, strengthen collaboration with partners and stakeholders, and ensure that customers benefit from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.

A major focus has been on revenue generation strategies implemented by the FCT administration, which had played a crucial role in advancing the President’s vision. In the third quarter of 2023, the projected revenue for the quarter was set at Four Billion Four Hundred and Sixty-Three Million Eight Hundred and Twenty-Two Thousand Nine Hundred and Seventy Naira Twenty-Five Kobo (₦4,463,822,970.25). However, the actual revenue generated far exceeded expectations, totalling Seven Billion Five Hundred and Thirty-Three Million Three Hundred and Thirty Thousand Four Hundred and Twenty-Nine Naira Fifty-Nine Kobo (₦7,533,330,429.59).

Similarly, in the last quarter of 2023, the projected revenue was again set at Four Billion Four Hundred and Sixty-Three Million Eight Hundred and Twenty-Two Thousand Nine Hundred and Seventy Naira Twenty-Five Kobo (₦4,463,822,970.25). Yet, the revenue reached an impressive Fourteen Billion Five Hundred and Five Million Four Hundred and Six Thousand Fifty-Eight Naira Fifty-Three Kobo (₦14,505,406,058.53).

In the first quarter of 2024, revenue generated amounted to Five Billion One Hundred and Two Million Two Hundred and Ten Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty-Nine Naira Two Kobo (₦5,102,210,689.02), followed by Five Billion Three Hundred and Eighty-Six Million Nine Hundred and Ninety-One Thousand Two Hundred and Thirty-One Naira Eighty-Nine Kobo (₦5,386,991,231.89) in the second quarter.

The introduction of enhanced security features, such as the incorporation of National Identification Number (NIN) for individuals and Registration Number (RC) for organizations on the Certificate of Occupancy (taken into consideration the Nigerian Data Protection Act) represents a significant land reform initiative by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister NyesomWike. This measure aims to combat land grabbing and prevent the cloning of title documents.

Similarly, the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) has made the improvement of public safety a priority by undertaking a comprehensive upgrade of its fire defence infrastructure.

Acknowledging the urgent need for proactive measures to reduce fire incidents, AGIS has made significant investments to ensure the safety of its staff, protect land records, and enhance IT infrastructure. This upgrade reflects a strong commitment to safeguarding the well-being of all individuals associated with the agency.

The upgrade features advanced fire detection systems, incorporating state-of-the-art smoke detectors, heat sensors, and flame detectors strategically placed throughout key areas of the facility. Non-functional fire alarm systems had been replaced, and malfunctioning smoke detectors had been serviced or replaced to ensure reliability. Additionally, extra smoke detectors had been installed outside the customer care hall to alert security personnel during non-working hours.

Furthermore, an FM-200 fire suppression system had been installed in the filing room to automatically extinguish any potential fires. FM-200 is a clean agent fire suppressant suitable for Class A, B, and C fires. It is a colourless, non-toxic gas that leaves no residue, making it ideal for protecting valuable assets in occupied spaces where clean-up of traditional agents is challenging.

To ensure a reliable water supply for the hydrant systems, a dedicated 30,000-litre capacity steel water storage tank had been constructed. This new system ensures that water is available around the clock and allows fire service trucks to refill from the tank during emergencies, addressing the limitations of the previous system, which shared water supply with the office building and often lacked sufficient resources during critical moments.

These upgraded systems are designed to quickly detect signs of fire and initiate immediate alerts, facilitating rapid response and minimizing potential damage.

The successful completion of the fire defence infrastructure upgrade represents a significant milestone for AGIS. The agency is now equipped with modern systems and advanced technologies that effectively mitigate fire risks and protect its staff, infrastructure, stakeholders, and, most importantly, its land records.

Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) plays a crucial role in supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda by leveraging advanced technologies and data-driven strategies. Here’s how:

ENHANCED URBAN PLANNING

AGIS has collaborated with the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) to implement the ESRI GIS Software Platform for developing a standardized street addressing scheme in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), aligning with Nigeria’s standards for Abuja’s Smart City development. This initiative will begin with a pilot street project executed in partnership with a local ESRI-authorized partner.

The establishment and deployment of an efficient addressing system will facilitate the transformation of Abuja into a Smart City. It will provide precise and accessible platforms to enhance various services, including contact tracing, vaccination campaigns, courier and postal services, utility management (water, sewage, electricity), internet access, billing, emergency response, disaster management, household surveys, property registration, valuation and taxation, urban planning, real estate development, banking, driver’s registration, national identification, and other Smart City initiatives.

Moreover, the creation of an e-commerce platform leveraging ESRI’s Geospatial Infrastructure is expected to significantly boost revenue for AGIS. The effectiveness of these services for private entities and government agencies hinges on the establishment of a reliable, authoritative, and easily accessible standard addressing system.

Additional advantages of implementing a GIS-based addressing system include promoting financial development and economic diversification by enabling the accurate location and verification of assets. Furthermore, this system will assist government entities in achieving their revenue generation goals through effective valuation assessments and taxation processes.

AGIS helps in efficient urban planning by providing accurate and up-to-date geospatial data. This aids in the development of sustainable infrastructure and proper land use, aligning with the President’s vision for modern cities.

IMPROVED LAND ADMINISTRATION

By maintaining a comprehensive land registry, AGIS ensures transparency and security in land transactions. This boosts investor confidence and aligns with the agenda of fostering economic growth.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) offer a robust solution for storing data in a database, which can then be visually represented in a mapped format with precise location accuracy. A centralized geospatial data infrastructure will empower the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to effectively manage spatially related workflows.

Key benefits of this system include:Accurate Data Analysis: Enhanced precision in data interpretation and insights; Increased Revenue Generation: Identification and elimination of loopholes, reducing fraud; Cost Savings: Improved efficiency leading to reduced operational costs; Enhanced Decision-Making: Data-driven decisions supported by reliable geographic information; Improved Communication: Streamlined information sharing among stakeholders; Better Recordkeeping: Systematic management of geographic information; and Effective Geographic Management: Optimized handling of land and spatial resources.

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

AGIS supports the planning and monitoring of infrastructure projects by offering precise geographic data. This ensures timely and efficient project execution, contributing to improved public services and amenities.

Environmental Conservation: With detailed environmental mapping and monitoring capabilities, AGIS aids in the preservation of natural resources and environmental planning, aligning with sustainable development goals.

Disaster Management: AGIS provides critical data for disaster response and management, enhancing the government’s ability to respond promptly to natural disasters and other emergencies, thereby protecting lives and properties.

Public Service Delivery: By integrating geographic data with public services, AGIS enhances service delivery in sectors like healthcare, education, and transportation, thereby improving the quality of life for residents.

Digital Transformation:AGIS is a cornerstone in the digitalization of government services, making them more accessible and efficient. This supports the President’s goal of modernization and improved governance.

INNOVATIONS

Deploying Web GIS Applications as a Comprehensive FCT Geospatial Solution;The implementation of Web GIS applications will serve as a geospatial solution accessible to all stakeholders across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in real time. This system will feature workflows that integrate primary data sources, creating a unified operational platform and an approval process that minimizes litigation issues stemming from a lack of synergy or duplication of records among various Secretariat, Department and Agencies (SDAs).

Key elements of this initiative include: Direct Connectivity: Establishing direct connections for stakeholders to the AGIS infrastructure for GIS and accounting services; Centralized Repository Access: Providing access to a centralized repository and shared applications to enhance collaboration and improve cost-effectiveness.

Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) has been recognized for its commitment to customer service excellence, particularly in the area of providing its stakeholders and customers services under one roof making AGIS a one stop shop. While specific awards may vary over time, AGIS has received accolades for its innovative approaches to enhancing customer satisfaction and implementing effective feedback mechanisms.

RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS

Customer Service Excellence Award: AGIS has received recognition from various local and national organizations for its outstanding customer service practices, particularly in delivering timely and accurate services. Notably, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) presented AGIS with the 2024 Staff Recognition Award for being the best Service Delivery Agency with the most improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), highlighting its significant contribution to revenue generation.

Best Practices in Public Service Delivery: AGIS has been acknowledged in reports and by governmental bodies for its initiatives aimed at enhancing publicservice delivery through the application of technology and customer-centric approaches.

Feedback Mechanisms: AGIS has established various feedback mechanisms, including customer satisfaction surveys and user engagement platforms, which have been recognized as effective practices in improving service delivery and responsiveness to customer needs. Additionally, a suggestion box is available for customers and the general public to provide feedback and suggestions. For the most accurate and up-to-date information on specific awards or recognitions, it is advisable to check AGIS’s official communications or relevant publications from local government agencies.

In essence, AGIS actively contributes to the renewed hope agenda by fostering sustainable development, economic growth, and enhanced quality of life through the effective use of geospatial information.