During the launch ceremony in Umuahia on Friday, Governor Alex Otti highlighted that the project involves deploying high-performance digital tools, laying fiber optic cables across public institutions, and establishing infrastructure for high-speed data transmission. He emphasized that the initiative aims to enhance leadership efficiency, equip civil servants with digital tools, and improve service delivery. By transitioning to digital platforms, government processes will be streamlined, fostering faster communication among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) while strengthening engagement with development partners and the global community.
As part of the digital transformation, the governor announced that digital literacy will now be a mandatory requirement for civil servants, making technological proficiency essential for career advancement. While the government will provide training, he cautioned that those unwilling to embrace digital tools may struggle to remain competitive in the evolving civil service landscape.
Plans are already in motion to expand digital access across Abia, with agreements secured to install fiber optic cables in Aba, Umuahia, and Ohafia. Governor Otti directed the Chief Information Officer to ensure that within nine months, every community in Abia has access to reliable network services, enabling businesses to thrive in the digital space.
He urged residents to view technology as an enabler of progress rather than a threat to human roles, emphasizing that its purpose is to enhance service delivery, drive economic development, and maintain human decision-making at the core of governance. The launch of this initiative represents a significant milestone in Abia’s journey toward a fully digital economy.
State Chief Information Officer, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe, described the project as a crucial foundation for a digital government, underscoring its role in modernizing service delivery. He noted that Phase I of the initiative will prioritize multi-tenant buildings and complexes housing multiple MDAs, assuring that other MDAs will be integrated in subsequent phases.
“Even as we are rounding off this phase, we are already preparing for the next, by the end of this service year, the entire government offices in Umuahia will be interconnected on a single network,” Ilukwe said.
The Group Managing Director of ipNX, Mr Ejovi Aror, expressed gratitude to Gov. Alex Otti for the opportunity to be part of the state’s digital transformation journey. “This partnership signals the beginning of a new chapter in the journey towards building a digitally connected, technologically advanced, and economically empowered Abia State,” Aror said.
Source : https://von.gov.ng/
