UK inaugurates SPRIRET initiative in Abia to accelerate digital transformation
The United Kingdom Government has inaugurated a State-Level Policy, Regulatory and Institutional Reforms Enabling Digital Transformation (SPRIRET) programme in Abia to drive digital governance reforms in the state.
Speaking on Thursday during the event, in Umuahia, British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria Jonny Baxter said the initiative would create an enabling environment for investment in the state’s digital economy.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that SPRIRET is funded by the UK government under its Digital Access Programme and implemented by Initiative for Digital Inclusion (IDI).
‘’The initiative reflects a shared belief that digital technology can improve public services, create economic opportunities and enable governments to serve citizens more effectively, ‘’ he said.
Baxter commended the Abia government for its commitment to digital transformation, saying meaningful progress required leadership, vision and collaboration among government, private sector, civil society, academia and the technology ecosystem.
He said that the state’s baseline report was intended to ensure that future interventions were locally owned, evidence-based and aligned with Abia’s development priorities.
He disclosed that similar engagement had been held in Ekiti, and would take place as well in Niger, Edo and Enugu with the support of their respective governments.
‘’No fewer than 450 civil servants have already been supported to upgrade their digital skills through existing UK-Abia collaboration, ‘’ he said.
He said that the initiative included the establishment of a community connectivity hub project designed to improve digital inclusion through affordable connectivity and digital skills development.
According to him, one of the hubs is already operational at Okporoenyi Community, while another is being established at Arochukwu Community of the state.
He said that Nigeria’s digital economy contributed 18 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, in 2024, stressing that improved infrastructure and supportive policies were necessary to unlock greater opportunities.
Baxter expressed hope that the digital policy discussions would encourage increased investment by British companies and contribute to Abia’s economic development.
In his address, Gov. Alex Otti of Abia said that his administration was leveraging technology to drive economic development, create jobs, reduce administrative costs and improve efficiency in government.
Otti said that technology had become an indispensable accelerator of development and a major driver of productivity in public and private institutions.
He said the administration established the Office of the Chief Information Officer to coordinate its technology programmes and promote effective deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) resources.
‘’More than 2,000 young people have been trained in various in-demand ICT skills through government-supported TechRise Skills Acquisition Programme among others, ‘’ he said.
Otti said the state’s vision of becoming an ICT hub was gaining traction.
He said that progress would be measured by new investors attracted to the digital market, jobs created and the contribution of the digital economy to the state’s GDP.
Also, the Abia Chief Information Officer, Mr Gerald Ilukwe, said that human capacity development and institutional reforms were critical to sustaining the state’s digital transformation.
Ilukwe said the baseline study provided an assessment of Abia’s digital ecosystem, covering industry, telecommunications, ICT, civil society, infrastructure, policy, service delivery and access to technology by persons with disabilities.
He said the administration was working to bring public servants, traders at Ariaria International Market and young technology entrepreneurs in Aba and Umuahia into the digital ecosystem.
He said the government had adopted a whole-of-government approach to ICT to prevent duplication of systems and ensure efficient deployment of resources.
‘’Technology is also being used to monitor government directives, performance and activities through dashboards, while efforts are being made to enable approvals and other official processes to be handled remotely, ‘’ he said.
Also, the Director of Digital Public Good Advisory, IDI, Mr Ebuka Nwokoro, said the baseline assessment identified opportunities for Abia to strengthen digital infrastructure, public services and its digital economy.
Nwokoro said the state had demonstrated strength in citizen engagement, but needed to use technology to make public participation and access to services more inclusive.
He recommended an official digital citizen platform and inclusive standards for women, youths, persons with disabilities and residents of rural and underserved communities.
He also called for stronger data sharing and interoperability among government institutions, warning against vendor lock-in in the development of digital infrastructure.
He said the UK could support Abia through access to technical expertise, skills and investment, while Abia citizens in the diaspora could also contribute to the state’s digital and economic development.
‘’The objective is to help Abia build a more connected, inclusive and globally competitive digital economy, ‘’ the director said.
NAN reports that the event featured the presentation of the state’s baseline report and stakeholders’ engagement session. (NAN)
