Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has revealed plans to expand the Digital Literacy Training for Civil servants to the over 60,000 State Government Employees across various Establishments, Institutions, and Local Governments.
Governor Otti disclosed this at Nvosi Isialangwa South LGA, during the Close-out Ceremony for the Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) Sponsored 5-Day Digital Training Workshop for 280 Abia Civil Servants who successfully completed the state level inclusive digital transformation project.
The Governor in his address titled “A Future Ready Society”, underscored the importance of digital training in empowering Civil Servants in the state with essential skills to excel in the 21st-century workplace.
He noted that part of his administrations broader digital transformation agenda is to transition the civil service to an E-governance structure as well as build a workforce that is efficiency driven, and can leverage technology systems.
“This exercise could not have come at a better time and I am happy to know that within the civil service today, we can find 280 persons who successfully scaled through the test of basic digital literacy and can effectively leverage technology to improve their day to day output.
“It is great to have started with this number of individuals but we are looking at the over 60,000 persons working for the state government across different establishment, institutions and local governments”, Governor Otti remarked.
The Governor also pledged to invest in the acquisition of digital work tools and data support systems to facilitate the transition of the state workforce to a digital operational ecosystem.
“We shall do everything possible to offer different degrees of relevant training on digital literacy to as many employees of the state government as are willing to go through the rigous learning and relearning.
“We shall not just stop at offering training programmes relevant to the different caders, we shall also invest in the acquisition of digital work tools such as desk tops and laptops, computers and data support systems that would be deployed to facilitate the migration to the digital operational ecosystem“, he stated.
Governor Otti who acknowledged the vital role of the FCDO and its technical partners, expressed gratitude to the British High Commissioner to Nigeria for his support to the state’s development and reiterated the readiness to collaborate with development partners to build a viral society in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
He congratulated the 280 Abia civil servants who successfully completed the program, and expressed optimism that the civil service will greatly benefit from the new skills they have acquired.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria and the UK Permanent Representative for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Dr Richard Montgomery, in his remarks, emphasized the need for of civil servants to embrace digital technology demands and encouraged governments at all levels to integrate digital solutions into their operations.
Dr. Montgomery expressed the UK government’s interest in the digital sector and its willingness to partner with Abia State to enhance broadband connectivity, among other initiatives.
He also commended Governor Otti for the significant improvements in the state’s infrastructure and the effective management of state resources to deliver democracy dividends to the people.
Also, the State’s Head of Service, Dr Mrs Queen Obioma, highlighted the digital literacy program as a crucial part of the Governor’s vision to create a more efficient and effective civil service, and encouraged graduands of the program to apply their newly acquired skills to foster a more dynamic and productive workforce.
Mrs. Obioma thanked Governor Otti for his efforts in closing the digital skills gap and equipping the state workforce with essential tools, assuring that they would align with his vision for a functional and progressive state.
