The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called on Nigeria’s public service to undergo a fundamental shift from traditional bureaucratic processes to digital excellence, as he addressed the official launch of the Civil Service Technology Empowerment for Capacity and High Performance (CIVTECH) Programme in Cross River State.
The initiative, hosted by the Cross River State Government and organized by the Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (CRS MEDA), aims to equip 2,000 civil servants with essential digital skills for efficient, technology-driven service delivery.
The Case for Digital Governance
Delivering a keynote address titled “From Bureaucracy to Digital Excellence: Leveraging Technology for a High-Performing Public Service,” Inuwa, represented by the Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnership, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, emphasized that the future of governance hinges on institutional embrace of digital transformation.
“For decades, the public service has been the engine room of national development, but in an era defined by speed, data, and innovation, traditional bureaucratic processes are no longer sufficient to meet the expectations of citizens and businesses,” he stated.
He observed that citizens now expect government services to reflect the efficiency and convenience they experience in digital banking, e-commerce, and mobile platforms.
Economic Imperatives
Highlighting the economic significance of digitalization, Inuwa noted that Nigeria’s ICT sector contributed nearly 20 percent to the nation’s real GDP in 2024, underscoring technology’s growing role as a driver of economic growth and competitiveness.
“Digital transformation is no longer just a technology agenda,” he said. “It is an economic agenda, it is a governance agenda, and it is a national competitiveness agenda.”
According to him, maintaining outdated bureaucratic systems carries significant costs, including delayed decision-making, inefficiencies, limited transparency, and declining public trust. Conversely, digital excellence offers a pathway to faster service delivery, improved accountability, increased productivity, and enhanced citizen satisfaction.
“This is the shift from paperwork to performance, from process-driven governance to outcome-driven governance,” he added.
People at the Centre of Transformation
Inuwa emphasized that while infrastructure and systems are important, people remain central to institutional transformation.
“Technology alone does not transform institutions. People do. Digital excellence requires public servants who are digitally skilled, innovation-driven, solution-oriented, performance-focused, and citizen-centric,” he asserted.
He assured participants that technology is designed not to replace public servants but to empower them. “Technology frees you from repetitive administrative tasks so you can focus on strategic thinking, policy innovation, and national development.”
NITDA’s Strategic Direction
Outlining NITDA’s priorities, Inuwa referenced ongoing efforts to promote digital literacy and skills development, strengthen digital public infrastructure, automate government processes, enhance cybersecurity and data protection, and encourage adoption of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence across public institutions.
He commended Cross River State for embracing reform and positioning itself at the forefront of sub-national digital transformation, noting that initiatives like CIVTECH align with the Federal Government’s broader vision of building an efficient, transparent, and citizen-centric public service.
“The future of governance is digital. Together, we can transform governance. Together, we can transform Nigeria. And together, we can build a public service worthy of the digital age,” he concluded.
State Government Commitment
Declaring the programme open, the state’s Head of Service, Mr. Orok Okon, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening workforce capacity. He emphasized that in an era of rapid technological advancement, public institutions must equip personnel with skills necessary to deliver efficient, technology-enabled services.
According to him, investing in human capital is essential not only for improving internal administrative processes but also for ensuring citizens receive timely, transparent, and high-quality service across all sectors.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director General of CRS MEDA, Mr. Great Ogban, expressed appreciation to the Governor and Head of Service for their commitment to technology-driven workforce development. He encouraged all shortlisted trainees to demonstrate full dedication, emphasizing that their participation aligns with the state’s goal of transitioning toward a fully paperless civil service.
He expressed optimism about the growing partnership with NITDA, noting that such collaboration will play a pivotal role in accelerating Cross River State’s digital transformation and fast-tracking the transition toward a more efficient, technology-driven civil service.
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