Experts task FG on leveraging digital technology for effective eGovernment

By Onome Amuge.

Technology experts have called on the Nigerian government to harness digital technologies such as data analytics, AI, and fintech to improve eGovernment services, highlighting the role of social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram in enabling better communication between citizens and government

The role of technology in improving eGovernment services was a key focus of the DigiServe Network Services’ fifth annual eGovernment Summit in Lagos. Tech industry experts stressed the need for the Nigerian government to effectively use existing facilities and resources to drive eGovernment services across the country

They suggested that existing facilities such as post-office branches could be repurposed into innovation hubs, driving innovation and efficiency in government services.

Lanre Ajayi,the executive chairman, DigiServe Network Services and convener of the eGovernment Summit,in his welcome address, said the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could leverage technology to enhance government service offerings to the citizens to better their lots in a prosperous nation that they hoped for.

During a panel session chaired by which discussed the sub-theme: ‘International Best Practices in eGovernment’, Sade Dada, the lead paper presenter, who is the public policy manager, Anglophone West Africa at Meta, said Nigeria needed basic infrastructure like reliable energy system and ubiquitous internet connectivity to drive eGovernment services across the country.

Sade Dada, the lead paper presenter and public policy manager at Meta, discussed international best practices in eGovernment during a panel session with the sub-theme: ‘International Best Practices in eGovernment’. Dada highlighted the importance of reliable energy and internet connectivity as essential infrastructure for successful eGovernment initiatives in Nigeria.

According to the panel, chaired by Biodun Omoniyi, group managing director at VDT Communications, Nigeria can look to countries like Estonia for inspiration and learn from their best practices. The panel also emphasized that Nigeria does not need to become one of the top global eGovernment countries to effectively implement eGovernment initiatives, but can still learn from global best practices.

Aliyu Isah, a senior solution architect at Huawei Technologies Nigeria, suggested that a centralized data repository system would be essential for effective communication and management of information for eGovernment services in Nigeria.

Olugbolahan Olusanya, country manager at Tek Experts, emphasised the importance of capacity development and training for effective eGovernment delivery. He stated that Tek Experts has been working to address this need by training over 4,000 Nigerians and hiring over 2,000 in the last five years.  Olusanya said that continued efforts are needed to build the capacity of Nigeria’s workforce to drive technology development

Oluwatimilehin Adelowo, head of IT programme and portfolio management at 9mobile, explained that eGovernment involves the use of digital technology to improve government services and make them more efficient and effective.

Adelowo noted that Nigeria’s eGovernance rating is currently low and needs to be improved.

He therefore stressed the importance of evaluating current eGovernment processes to identify areas for improvement and to develop policies that will address the challenges facing eGovernment in Nigeria.

Adeniran Oluwaranti, director of Linkages and Partnership Office at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ife, emphasized the importance of incorporating eGovernment processes into the school system. He noted that the OAU curriculum has evolved over the years to include new programming languages that can help drive digital transformation for eGovernment delivery.