Anambra State is intensifying its digital transformation drive with plans to digitise government operations and bring more small and medium-sized businesses into the formal economy by 2030.
The initiative, being driven by the Anambra State ICT Agency, marks the second phase of the state’s digital strategy, with a shift from developing basic technology infrastructure to expanding online public services, automating government processes and using digital platforms to support business formalisation.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Agbata, said the agency’s goal is to digitise every government entity in the state and make public services increasingly accessible remotely.
Agbata disclosed this during a recent virtual media conference, where he explained that the strategy would expand the use of the state’s OneGov platform, enabling residents and businesses to access government services without repeatedly visiting government offices.
According to him, the agency is also working to develop and automate websites of Ministries, Departments and Agencies so they can move beyond providing information to delivering actual government services online.
The initiative is part of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s broader economic modernisation agenda, with technology, innovation and human capital identified as key drivers of development.
The state is also using digital transformation to encourage the formalisation of small businesses, particularly those operating in major commercial centres such as Onitsha and Nnewi.
Agbata said the ICT agency was collaborating with the Ministry of Commerce to encourage businesses to register and participate in the formal economy.
He explained that formalisation could improve businesses’ access to financial services, credit facilities, insurance, government programmes and procurement opportunities, while giving government better data to develop targeted economic policies.
The agency is also looking to simplify the registration and management of businesses through digital platforms in order to reduce administrative costs and make formalisation easier for small enterprises.
Agbata said early indications showed growing interest in digital government services, noting that the Smart Anambra platform recorded about 14,000 visits between July 9 and 29, despite limited publicity.
He said the traffic demonstrated that residents were willing to engage with government digitally when services were easily accessible.
The next phase of the programme will involve expanding the number of services available online and using data generated through digital interactions to identify challenges and improve service delivery.
The state is also working towards wider adoption of paperless administration. While the State Executive Council already operates a paperless system, the ICT agency plans to introduce the model gradually across the wider civil service, beginning with selected Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
However, the agency identified internet connectivity, particularly in rural communities, as one of the challenges that could affect the implementation of digital government services.
Agbata said the state was exploring federal infrastructure and the Universal Service Provision Fund as possible avenues for extending connectivity to underserved communities.
Artificial intelligence is also expected to play a growing role in Anambra’s digital transformation, with the ICT agency previously outlining an ambition to develop an AI-driven government technology system.
Potential applications include automated customer service, document processing, data analysis and fraud detection.
With more government services and business activities moving online, the agency is also expected to place greater emphasis on cybersecurity and data protection to safeguard residents’ information and government transactions.
The state government says the overall objective is to build a more accessible, efficient and digitally driven public service while using technology to strengthen economic activity and create greater opportunities for businesses and residents.
