KEY POINTS

• Governor Otti promises full internet coverage for every Abia community within nine months.
• IPNX partners with the state to improve digital governance and civil service productivity.
• The Abia State initiative aims to integrate technology for better governance.

Abia State will have internet coverage in every community within the next nine months, as part of a new initiative launched by Governor Alex Otti.

This ambitious project, aimed at supporting digital governance, was unveiled through a partnership with IPNX.

The launch of the Abia State Dedicated Internet Access/Wide Area and Managed Network project is expected to improve service delivery across the state.

According to Governor Otti, the initiative will empower civil servants to enhance their productivity and efficiency in line with global technological advancements.

“We want our civil servants to enter the world of technology or risk being left behind,” Otti said in his speech titled “The Digital Transformation Journey Begins”.

However, the governor emphasized that efficiency, powered by relevant technology, would now be a key requirement for promotion and new opportunities within the civil service.

He stressed that the era of operational inefficiency was over. Moreover, he urged civil servants to embrace technology or risk being uncompetitive and stagnant.

“If you resist technology, technology will resist you,” Otti declared, encouraging all workers to upskill and stay current with the changing digital landscape.

Digital transformation will boost governance

The Governor promised to provide all necessary support for the training and capacity building of state employees.

Funds have already been allocated for programs aimed at enhancing the technological skills of civil servants.

He also mentioned that the state would prioritize seamless deployment across government institutions to ensure full integration.

The State Head of Service, Mr. Benson Ojeikere, praised Governor Otti for his focus on civil servants, promising to reciprocate the gesture with improved service delivery.

“We are going to take the service to the next level,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gerald Ilukwe, the Chief Information Officer to the Abia State Government, stated that the project marked a significant step in Governor Otti’s agenda to modernize the state’s governance system.

The initiative’s first phase will cover multi-tenant buildings housing several government agencies. However, the second phase is set to expand coverage to all service institutions.

Furthermore, the Group Managing Director of IPNX, Mr. Ejovi Aror, expressed gratitude to the governor.

He also emphasized how this initiative would result in an economically empowered Abia State linked together by digital connectivity.

According to Vanguard, he assured that their company would work closely with the government to ensure the success of the project.

State prioritizes digital infrastructure

The initiative delivers solid promise to improve governance and better service delivery to residents.

By the end of this service year, all government offices in Abia will be connected through an interconnected network, providing a more efficient, secure, and reliable system.