Abia Digital revolution ‘revs’ up as Gov. Otti unveils Civil Service Dedicated Internet Access Projec
By Chukwuma Evils
Friday the 21st of March is marked as a day in history when the Abia digital revolution embarked upon by the administration of Dr. Alex Otti received a significant boost with the launch of the Umuahia Dedicated Internet Access/Wide Area Network Project at the state secretariat complex in Umuahia.
This is the first comprehensive approach in aiding the state civil service perform it’s function through the deployment of functional digital technology in the quest to reform and significantly enhance the efficiency of the civil service.
Gov. Otti identified technology as crucial in today’s world more so in the civil service tasked with the statutory responsibility of carrying out the policies and programmes of government. A lack of digital access in today’s Abia has led to a state service almost out of tune with the direction of government and the needs of the People.
The deployment of digital technology is identified as central in the drive to evolve a new Abia marked by efficient service delivery and a reduced outlay on attendant costs associated with the analogue process of operation.
From inception, the current administration embarked on a reform of the state civil service through verification and training programmes, streamlining of the work force, regular and prompt payment of salaries, upgrade of facilities and the work environment which captures the recently launched dedicated internet access which is aimed at enhancing existing processes for better functionality.
No system or process can function in today’s world without the application of technology to enhance operations and communication though the fear of it replacing the human factor remains inherent. However experts agree that technology will not ultimately replace humans in the work environment but will ideally help in improving operations leading to greater efficiency and productivity.
This informs the drive of Dr. Alex Otti to introduce far reaching reforms in the civil service including the application of cutting edge information, communication, data access and management technology, urging those who may be behind in the use of current technology to quickly upgrade and not be left behind by the current wind of positive change sweeping through Abia civil service.
On this digital transformation journey embarked upon by the current administration, experts have been engaged to ensure seamless application of all aspects of relevant technology which must be embraced by the target beneficiaries to avoid stagnancy and continued backwardness.
In realising that many who currently populate the civil service do not posses requisite skills and knowledge to effectively use digital technology, the government is embarking on extensive training, the provision of tools and high end gadgets to make the transition from analogue systems to digital platforms seamless for those who will use these technology being provided for everyday work.
From the aforementioned, it is clear that the mindset of the governor is to quickly move the state forward in a bid to catch up with the rest of today’s digital technology world for rapid development in Abia bearing in mind that much time is already lost by the state owing to poor governance structure leading to gross underdevelopment during the locust years.
Dr. Alex Otti in embarking on this digital revolution, recognises that the state must leapfrog into the digital age to recover from the losses accumulated during the years of misrule and thus bold and definite steps must be taken in the spirit of the New Abia to reengineer operations in the civil service thereby spuring efficiency in what was once dubbed a grossly inefficient government administrative structure.
However Gov. Otti insists the adoption of technology is not to replace the human element but to act as an enabler to interphase with the human core because the philosophy of the current administration is to elevate the human being as the pinnacle of creation only deploying technology as a tool to ensure enduring and impactful experiences.
The digital backbone infrastructure is to be provided in Abia by IPNX; a pioneer operator in the fast internet broadband technology in Nigeria with an industry experience spanning over two decades stretching from Lagos to Ibadan, Kano, Port-harcourt and now Abia. The firm is to provide internet access speed of 310megabitts per second without any form of buffering allowing for uninterrupted high speed access round the clock.
This is unprecedented in digital technology access speed!
All ministries, department and agencies in the state are beneficiaries of this groundbreaking project including schools along the pathways of the internet access hard ware installation while the next phase will target penetration to the various local governments across the state.
It is a new day in the digital world as Abia; God’s own state is now counted among the league of states with unfettered broadband internet access for the smooth conduct of government administration and to spur economic investments. This digital revolution is one of the efforts also aimed at improving the ease of doing business in the state which is a mantra of the current government.
Abia has moved many steps ahead of its peers and the rating is very heart warming to all who reside in Abia and visitors alike who troop into the state in numbers daily to see the wanders unfolding under the people oriented and forward thinking ‘Chioma Abia’.
The digital revolution is on the fast lane in God’s own state and surely the benefits will abound in the coming weeks, months, years and for all time.
Kudos again and again to the visionary Dr. Alex Chioma Otti.
By Chukwuma E., Public Affairs Commentator