She said, “E-governance has been an interest ever since the UN called its members to Integrate AI applications and enhance their governance procedures. Nigeria too has dived into this interest with The Digital Nigeria program holding the torch.”
Jonah is an e-governance consultant who has given Nigeria a ‘sustainable’ model of governance on the back of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive e-governance for the social empowerment of citizens while developing solutions in agriculture, creating next-generation urban infrastructure and strengthening the disaster management systems. Said the Head of ICT at Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) on Monday.
The virtual meeting between the Consultant, Jonah Ubanmhen and the Head of ICT at NTA, Laura Onigbode was “very helpful” for the Digital Economy capital dialogue. She said e-governance has been an interest ever since the UN called its members to integrate AI applications and enhance their governance procedures. Nigeria too has dived into this interest with the Digital Economy program holding the torch.
Digital technology-backed programs like digital currency, e-identity, agri-technologies, e-commerce, the recent CBN Naira notes redesign and the cash withdrawal limits, digital marketing services, etc. have occupied a huge proportion of Nigeria’s e-governance model.
She said, Jonah has given a “new, different kind of model of governance, which is based on a new, different approach, and a different work culture”.
However, according to Jonah, “We have completed one part of the journey, but we have to continue applying technology to governance”. “ In the last few years, our focus has been on transactional efficiency, but the digitalization we are doing means that we will create massive amounts of data in the public space. The time has come to apply AI in a big way to drive insights from this, which will enable Nigeria to progress further”, he added.
Laura said,” what is this governance model that I am trying to be boisterous about? Some authors have described it as flexible systems management…it is not simply for name-dropping, as some cynics might feel. It is a model on the back of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to be the future of e-governance in Nigeria.
Moreover, the launch of the ‘National Digital Economy And Policy Strategy’ is expected to take Nigerian governance to an AI-powered future.
This model has “grown stronger with each challenge” because it was always prepared beforehand to face a challenge. Laura noted that it was due to this governance model that the Covid-19 pandemic could be managed. Recently, according to a news report, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr Kashifu Abdullahi Inuwa was asked how Nigeria was able to pull through during covid-19 and his response was “we were lucky to be prepared before COVID-19 hit. The challenges were handled by providing new ideas and intimating connection with the public which enable us to convert the challenges into opportunities. So, this is the governance model we ought to provide in everyday Nigeria and that is what Jonah is referring to.”
Laura said the “whole of government, the nation and the entire society approach has become the new norm to achieve the desired results in the shortest span of time”.
“ Progress is possible only when we change with time. Therefore, I have the courage and conviction to say this is a sustainable model of governance.”
Meanwhile, some consulting experts also deliberate that e-governance was still in its progressive stages of implementation and a large number of high-rise countries have implemented transaction-oriented e-government applications on a pilot basis. However, to control this potential, it is quintessential for the multiple stakeholders including policymakers, innovators, academicians, and industry experts to collaborate and steer e-governance towards practical purposes.
Also Read: The Missing Piece in Nigeria’s Economic Growth Story
During the dialogue, a senior government official also talked about his fascination and interest in the digital economy. “We are sure Nigeria is capable of implementing an e-governance system. It will help us promote a large scale of skilled professionals who will be there to manage Nigeria’s Digital ecosystem and I am deeply impressed by it,” he added.
Laura pointed out that the basic mantra of Jonah’s model is “maximum governance, minimum government”.
“This sounds very fanciful…like a philosophy, an ornamental phrase….To summarize it in the words of Jonah, “ If we want to make the government inclusive, we should be able to talk to people in their language of choice and we can do that through intelligent data” She said. (The report has been published in Abuja after taking into account recommendations from industry leaders)
