The Managing Director of the Edo State Investment Promotion Office, (ESIPO), Kelvin Uwaibi, has lauded the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki, commending him for his various initiatives, News About Nigeria reports.
He disclosed this while speaking to newsmen after his return from the second annual Africa Business Forum in Tallinn, Estonia, with the theme ‘Building Pathways to Partnerships’.
He noted that the state governor has facilitated several reforms in the public sector, while also impacting businesses positively.
According to him, the Obaseki-led administration has repositioned government agencies to thrive in a globally competitive environment.
Uwaibi also stated that investments in the technology sector in Edo State have boosted the government’s revolutionary e-government structure, which enables Edo State government staff to work remotely and efficiently, adding that it has further enhanced governance and the business environment.
“These include laying an additional 2,000 km of fibre optics to connect all 18 local government areas with internet access and constructing a Tier 4 data centre.
“Additionally, our public sector reforms, facilitated by our revolutionary e-government structure, enable Edo State government staff to work remotely and efficiently. These reforms include providing laptops to government employees and, in collaboration with our partners, training 3,000 staff members in ICT,” he stated.
He further noted that innovation can occur more swiftly in Africa, compared to more developed regions, due to less entrenched legacy infrastructure.
Uwaibi, who corroborated the position of the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Technology, Dr. Olatunbosun Tijani, said the private sector was crucial in developing Nigeria’s technology infrastructure.
He, therefore, emphasised the need for improvement in the potential of data harmonisation, which he expressed the hope to achieve through the Estonia X-Road model.
