By Alexis Uchendu
The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), will honor former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, for his groundbreaking reforms in the state’s digital and technology sectors.
The award ceremony, marking ATCON’s 31st anniversary, is scheduled for December 6, 2024, in Lagos.
According to ATCON, Obaseki will be recognized as the Digital Governor of the Year for his visionary leadership, which placed Edo State at the forefront of digital innovation in governance.
Tony Emoekpere, President of ATCON, highlighted the former governor’s achievements, including the launch of Edo’s digital policy and the establishment of Nigeria’s first regional government-owned data center.
“Governor Obaseki’s administration digitized Edo’s public service, transitioning from an outdated analogue system to a seamless, fully digitized operation with all local government areas connected via fibre optics,” Emoekpere stated.
In a letter to Obaseki, ATCON applauded his administration’s achievements, citing initiatives such as the e-governance platform, which streamlined key government processes like e-protocols, procurement, education, healthcare, and petitions.
The platform, they noted, enhanced transparency and encouraged public participation in governance.
Other innovations highlighted include the 3-tier data center, automation of public services, digital skills training, technology integration in agriculture, and the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST), programme.
These reforms, ATCON said, have set a benchmark for other states to emulate.
“Your visionary leadership has transformed Edo State into a digitally advanced society, fostering economic growth and improving the quality of life for residents,” ATCON said, emphasizing Obaseki’s lasting legacy in digital governance.
Meanwhile, Crusoe Osagie, Obaseki’s media adviser, criticized Edo’s current governor, Monday Okpebholo, for shutting down the e-governance platform.
Reports on November 25 indicated that Okpebholo ordered a return to paper-based communication within the civil service, a move Osagie described as regressive and counterproductive to the digital strides achieved during Obaseki’s tenure.
