Abia State Government has signed a six point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MTN Nigeria Limited, designed to position the State as a digital hub in Africa.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, announced the development while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Exco Meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Prince Kanu while noting that the strategic partnership between both entities was the outcome of several months of meetings and negotiations between Abia State Government officials and management of MTN, said the collaboration will ensure 100% broadband coverage across the State by year-end.
“The Digital Transformation Agenda of this administration received a major boost today with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Abia State Government and MTN Nigeria Limited on the sidelines of today’s Exco meeting.
“The strategic partnership between both entities was the outcome of several months of meetings and negotiations between Abia State Government officials and management of MTN.
“This MOU covers six very important areas. Coverage of 100% of the population and space of the whole Abia with broadband access before year-end”, he said.
The Commissioner also named key provisions in the MoU to include; a device ownership scheme for Civil Servants, Digital Governance Infrastructure, a Digital Mall for SMEs, rollout of 4G/5G services in key cities, and the creation of a State-owned Digital Marketplace.
“It is a device ownership scheme for Abia Civil Servants. And this is a situation whereby MTN Nigeria Limited will finance the acquisition of laptops, smartphones, and Wi-Fi devices for Abia State Civil Servants.
“All these are geared towards enhancing their effectiveness on the job and, of course, extending the Digital Transformation Agenda of His Excellency Dr. Allex Otti
“Number three is digital governance. This will entail the provision of cloud services, dedicated cloud computing services.
“Number four, this will entail the digitalizing of Abia’s informal economy or sector and the establishment of an Abia Digital Mall. It will involve the usage of multiple digital tools to drive SME growth in Abia State.
“Number five is the provision of 4G/5G services in Umuahia, Aba, and Ohafia before the end of the year and number six will be the provision of digital marketplace to drive both e-governance and e-commerce in the State”, Prince Kanu stated.
He said the partnership will allow people in the hinterlands including farmers to conduct their business remotely, leveraging technology.
“This whole attempt is meant to bring into bold manifestation,the Governor’s vision of digital transformation of Abia State.
“Of course, you know our Governor is technology savvy and he expects no less for the Abia citizenry.
“This very important partnership will help the State to leverage technology to drive socio-economic growth.
“And what this means, for instance, is that the rice farmer in Abam, or the cocoa dealer in Bende, or the palm produce dealer in the Ukwa East Local Government will conduct their businesses from the comforts of their homes from those remote Areas”, the Commissioner noted.
He said; “the project, when fully realized will definitely turn the fortunes of the State around and will place Abia State not just among the first in the country, but among the first in Africa and the world”.
