Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule Forges Strategic Partnership with MTN Nigeria for Digital Transformation
In a significant move toward modernizing governance and resource management, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has initiated a groundbreaking partnership with MTN Nigeria. This collaboration aims to digitize the state's multi-billion naira secretariat and enhance operations at solid minerals mining sites through advanced technology solutions.
High-Level Meeting at Government House in Lafia
The partnership discussions took place during a high-level meeting at the Government House in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State. Governor Sule hosted a delegation from MTN Nigeria, led by Mr. ThankGod Otorkpa, General Manager of Regional Operations for the North-West. The team included senior officials from MTN's enterprise and public sector divisions, along with Ahmed Isah, popularly known as Ordinary President and founder of the Brekete Family, who facilitated the engagement.
Three Key Areas of Focus for Digital Enhancement
The talks centered on three primary objectives to drive digital transformation across Nasarawa State:
- Digitization of the State Secretariat and Government Workforce: Implementing technology to streamline administrative processes and improve service delivery.
- Technology Deployment at Mining Sites: Enhancing revenue transparency and production efficiency in the solid minerals sector, which includes critical resources like lithium.
- Alignment of Corporate Social Responsibility: Directing MTN's annual CSR initiatives to support the state government's development priorities effectively.
Governor Sule's Vision for Legitimate and Transparent Revenue
Governor Sule expressed strong enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasizing that technology is essential for ensuring legitimate, transparent, and accountable revenue generation from Nasarawa's vast mineral resources. He highlighted the state's active mining sites, including the largest lithium processing plant in Nigeria, which is set for commissioning. Sule proposed starting with a pilot project at one of these sites to test and refine the digital solutions.
"We want to be able to generate more revenue, but I want to give them proper service so that the revenue will be legitimate and transparent. Nobody is cheating anyone. It is only technology that can give people the comfort that what we are doing is right," Sule stated during the meeting.
Phased Implementation and Training for Sustainable Adoption
Drawing on his private sector experience, Governor Sule advocated for a phased and practical approach to technology deployment, rather than large-scale rollouts that may fail to take root. He referenced successful implementations he witnessed in countries like China, South Africa, and Angola. Sule stressed the importance of beginning with sections of the secretariat where staff are already inclined toward digital adoption, with comprehensive training as a core component to ensure civil servants take genuine ownership of the new systems.
Supporting NASITDEA and Broader Digital Economy Goals
Governor Sule acknowledged the efforts of the Nasarawa State Information Technology and Digital Economy Agency (NASITDEA), which was recently upgraded from a bureau to a full-fledged agency with an expanded mandate. He expressed confidence that the MTN partnership would complement NASITDEA's ongoing work and align with his administration's goal of using technology to boost productivity, efficiency, and transparency across government operations.
MTN's Commitment and Preliminary Assessments
Mr. Otorkpa described the proposed partnership as potentially the first of its kind in Nigeria, involving state government intervention in internet provision and ICT deployment. Michael Olani, a senior manager in MTN's enterprise business division, informed Governor Sule that the company has already conducted preliminary engineering assessments at the Nasarawa State Secretariat. MTN is prepared to provide internet and related ICT infrastructure to enable digitization of government services, such as land administration and internal document processing, paving the way for a more connected and efficient public sector.
