From Rashidat Suleiman, Minna
The Performing Governor of Niger state , Mohammed Umar Bago, has accepted the prestigious award title of “Digital Governor of the Year 2024” by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), The Presidency.
The Governor of Niger State, who was represented by his Deputy Comrade Yakubu Garba, accepted the award during the Nigeria GOVTECH Public Service Awards 2024, held at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja. The event, with theme “Digital Innovations as a Catalyst for the Renewed Hope Agenda,” celebrated advancements in digital governance.
In his acceptance speech, the Deputy Governor Garba reiterated that his administration’s commitment is leveraging on technology to enhance governance and service delivery across all sectors in Niger State.
The Governor highlighted the establishment of the Ministry of Communication Technology and Digital Economy and the Agency for Green Initiatives, both pioneering efforts at the sub-national level.
Bago outlined several key achievements in digital literacy under his leadership in 2024, stating these include training all Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, and Special Advisers in IT for improved service delivery, and collaborating with Tech4Dev to enhance civil servants’ IT skills.
Additionally, the state has provided technology training for market traders and artisans in Hausa and Pidgin English, and educated children aged 10 to 18 in robotics, IoT, and programming, just to keep up with the rest of the world.
He explained the state partnering with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council to train SMEs in eCommerce, boosting exports. Journalists have been trained in Open-Source Intelligence to combat fake news, and the “TechSis” initiative has promoted women’s participation in technology through various training programs.
The Governor expressed gratitude to the award’s sponsors, development partners, and organizers for recognizing Niger State’s efforts in public service reforms, while congratulating other award recipients for their contributions to digital governance in Nigeria.