The Benue Government on Monday in Makurdi launched four e-governance platforms to enable the state to migrate from analogue to digital operations.The state government also commenced the training of 40,000 state and local government civil servants on e-governance tools and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills.

Gov. Hyacinth Alia officially launched the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS), the Benue State Geographic Information Systems (BENGIS) Portal, the Benue Youth Startup and Innovation Support Portal and the Office of Benue Head of Service Website. Alia said the event marked a defining moment for the state’s collective pursuit of digital transformation.The governor said that through the training, the state was fostering a future-ready civil service that can adapt to the demands of a rapidly evolving world.He added that the initiative was a commitment to strengthen the public sector and make governance more accessible and effective for the people.“We are not merely unveiling technological platforms. We are empowering our people, enhancing transparency, and embracing the limitless possibilities of a digitally driven economy.“These platforms will enhance service delivery, streamline administrative processes, and create opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship.“A significant aspect of this transformation is the training of 40,000 civil servants across state and local government areas.“This comprehensive capacity-building exercise will ensure that our workforce is equipped with the digital skills required to efficiently operate within the new electronic management system,” he said.Alia stated that the EDMS would revolutionise the way government institutions manage records and official correspondences.According to him, the platform will ensure faster decision-making, improved transparency, and enhanced productivity.The governor said that the BENGIS portal would facilitate seamless access to land management services, providing a robust digital interface for property registration, title verification, and other land-related matters.“This portal is designed to reduce bureaucratic delays and enhance public access to essential services; the Benue Youth Startup and Innovation Support Portal is a deliberate step to nurture our youths’ entrepreneurial spirit.“It will offer resources, mentorship opportunities, and financial support to our young innovators and startups, contributing to job creation and economic growth,” he said.Alia commended all the organisations that partnered with Digital Infrastructure Company (BIDC) in providing world-class digital capacity-building programmes.Earlier, Mr Terwase Gbande, Managing Director/CEO of Benue Digital Infrastructure Company, described the event as historic.“In one minute, what we are doing today is allowing the governor of Benue, whether in the UK, the US, Lagos, or Kano, to create an account, get files and documents submitted, and have the ministry track them immediately.“This is part of the reason why the 40,000-person training is ongoing. Before utilising the system, users need to have the necessary skills.“We have three cardinal infrastructures. First, the hard infrastructure, which includes the computing platform, hardware solutions, internet connectivity, and other solutions we deploy.“Second, the soft infrastructure, which consists of the applications we have built. Lastly, the knowledge infrastructure, which we are developing with single servers,” he said.The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Esther Wason-Jack, described the event as a milestone in Benue’s journey towards institutionalising a modern, digitally enabled public service.Wason-Jack who was represented by Mr Alfred Aba, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Civil Service Matters, said that the initiative aligns with the federal civil service strategy and implementation plan 2021 to 2025.The head of service said that by embracing digital transformation, the state aims to build an agile, efficient and fully committed workforce to serve the citizens with excellence.“In today’s rapidly evolving world, technology is the catalyst for progress, and our digital system is streamlined for efficiency,” she said.Benue State Head of Service, Dr Moses Ode, said in his opening remarks that the launch would create greater transparency, accountability and efficiency in service delivery.Ode said that the training would equip the workforce with digital skills necessary to operate effectively with the platforms.Report says that an overview of the 40000 civil servants training programme was presented by the Director-General, Benue Public Service Institute, Prof. Terkura Tarnande. Report salso says that there were goodwill messages from D-G, National Information Technology Development Agency, Mr Kashifu Abdullahi; the National Commissioner, Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Dr Vincent Olatunji; and the President, Digital Bridge Institute, Mr David Daser.There was also a goodwill message from Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, MD/CEO, Galaxy Backbone, the organisation that hosted the Benue digital platforms domain. (NAN