Eghosa Emily & Aiworo S. Osahon
Edo State Government has held a one-day workshop on digital economy in the State. The event was organized in collaboration with Technology for Development group, an implementing partner for the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy.
Speaking during the event, the Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa Esq., represented by the Permanent Secretary, Human Resources, Mr. George Igberaese, urged participants to take full advantage of the workshop in enhancing their work place skills.
According to Okungbowa, “Training is very key, in improving efficiency among staff, and it is a continuous process. The world at large is far advanced and keeps evolving due to technology. Your expertise in technology will not only make you more efficient in your duties, but will also create more opportunities for you”.
In his address, the Managing Director, Edo State Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), Mr. Goodluck Igbinedion, noted that the e-governance platform has eliminated physical movement of files and memos across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Mr. Igbinedion expressed delight at the unlimited internet broad band available at all State Government buildings and the 3CX telephone online App, which have enabled seamless communication among staff of various MDAs. He added that the state government, under the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki, has embarked on extending these measures to the local government and that these developments are currently at a 70 percent completion.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, ICTA, Mrs. Birgitta Okodugha, noted that Edo State Government runs an all-inclusive governance. According to Okodugha, “The state government is all-inclusive in its approach and there is nothing it does without public collaboration. The Edo State policy is going to be people-owned especially with the addition of the digital economy and the Governor’s dream of making Edo State a technology hub is already taking shape”.
In his remark, Mr. Olu Adekunle, the Monitoring and Evaluation specialist from The Nigerian Economic Group, affirmed that Nigeria is ambitious to become one of the top 20 in digital Economy and Edo State is already doing well in that aspect. He stressed the need for harmonization of ideas among stakeholders to further drive this vision.
