Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, has inaugurated DevsInGovernment.
This innovative project intends to advance Nigeria’s position as a global leader in digital governance by utilising the combined knowledge of technologists and tech enthusiasts working inside Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
During the inaugural event, attended by over 400 participants including heads of agencies and technologists from various MDAs, Dr. Tijani emphasized the crucial role of technology in enhancing government services and fostering efficient, citizen-centric institutions. He underscored the importance of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a catalyst for this transformation, highlighting its potential to empower civil servants and optimize service delivery.
“DPI is not about centralizing solutions but promoting the effective use of technology for optimal government service delivery,” Dr. Tijani explained. “Digitalization goes beyond e-Government; it’s about transforming services with tangible outcomes.”
The Minister expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Galaxy Backbone (GBB), for their support as co-sponsors of DevsInGovernment. He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to fostering collaboration among technologists, facilitating knowledge sharing, and driving innovation to build a more efficient and responsive government.
Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, stressed the importance of creating an enabling environment and fostering idea-sharing to operationalize DPI effectively. He emphasized the need for a regulatory framework, infrastructure, skilled manpower, and computing devices to drive development in the digital era.
Abdul-Malik Suleiman, Acting Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, highlighted the centrality of digital transformation to the government’s agenda and praised the appointment of a dynamic Minister to lead the digital sector.He lauded DevsInGovernment as a venue for civil servants to spearhead technology advancement and support a flourishing Nigeria.
DevsInGovernment is poised to facilitate monthly conversations and provide training opportunities to enhance productivity and innovation within the civil service.