Nigerian CommunicationWeek

Microsoft Links Digital Transformation to Good Governance

(L-r): Ifeanyi Amah, public sector director, Microsoft Nigeria; Lanre Osibona, senior special adviser on ICT to the President of the Federal Republic Nigeria, Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communication; Akin Banuso, Microsoft Nigeria- general manager; Tony Ojobo, ‎director, Public Affairs - ‎Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Frank Ugbodaga, ‎group head, Customer Operations and services- Galaxy Backbone limited during the Digital Government Conference in Abuja on Thursday.

By peter oluka

Microsoft Nigeria in collaboration with Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) have reiterated its commitment towards digital transformation of the public sector to make governance more accessible and more efficient for the benefit of the people.

This was the highlight of a one-day government conference focused on digital transformation in the public sector.

“The Government of Nigeria recognizes the urgent need to increase efficiency and transparency, improve and align processes, smart government and smart cities, attract new investors, bridge the digital divide and transform government services.“ said Adebayo Shittu, the minister of Communication, who gave the keynote address.

According to the Minister, the federal government realising the importance of digitization to national development has put in place a plan focused on achieving vision 20:2020 with the development of the ICT industry as pivotal to achieving these objectives.

“In order to rationalize the work towards achieving Vision 20:2020, the Government of Nigeria has developed the new ICT strategic roadmap, it details how Nigeria will leverage ICT to become a knowledge-based, globally competitive society by 2020.”

Welcoming participants to the conference, Akin Banuso, general manager, Microsoft Nigeria, said “Digital transformation has become the bedrock of most economies in the 21st century and Microsoft is uniquely driving the adoption across key strata of national development.”

Banuso stressed that, “Digital Transformation for the government is about making the government more accessible, efficient and transparent to people. It is also about unlocking insights from data. By understanding the data, government organisations can realize and increase the value of their information through digital transformation.”

Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, director general, NITDA, in his speech said accelerating digital transformation is premised on effective regulation. According to him, “Transformation will only take place if matched by regulation.”

He spoke extensively on the role of NITDA in helping the government achieve its socio-economic agenda. He stressed that NITDA is creating awareness in the public sector, facilitating digital literacy, developing standard guidelines and framework for government agencies.

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