Borno State Government says it is intensifying efforts to digitise public administration by launching a week-long ICT capacity-building workshop to train civil servants on e-governance, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies.

Dr Mohammed Ghuluze, Head of Service, who declared the training open on behalf of Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, Governor of Borno State, with a call for public officers to embrace digital tools for more transparent and efficient service delivery.

“This administration’s vision is to institutionalise a tech-driven civil service. This workshop comes at a critical time, and government will continue to support BICTDA to realise its digital mandate,” Ghuluze says during the event held at Borno State Hotel, Maiduguri.

The workshop, which was held from May 19 to 23, was hosted by the Borno State Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (BICTDA), in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). ICT desk officers from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) across the state participated in the five-day programme.

Dr Mustapha Tijjani, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, says the initiative goes beyond capacity building. “This is about preparing civil servants to lead Borno’s entry into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and reinforcing public trust in a digitally enabled government,” he tells participants.

Engineer Mohammed Kabir Wanori, Executive Secretary of BICTDA, says the agency has already reached over 500,000 people with cybersecurity campaigns, trained 10,000 citizens in digital literacy, established 22 ICT centres, and launched the Borno Rescue Management System to support emergency services.

“This workshop is part of a broader vision for a digitally empowered Borno,” Wanori says.

Honourable Ali Kotoko, Chairman of the Borno State House of Assembly Committee on Information, underscores the legislative backing for BICTDA, noting that the law establishing the agency was passed within three weeks of introduction.

“By 2026, we are committed to increasing budgetary allocations to the agency to scale up digital governance projects,” says Kotoko, who represents Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.

Barrister Garba Musa Chibok, who represents the Secretary to the State Government, commends Governor Zulum’s appointment of Engineer Wanori as a pivotal move that has enabled rapid strides in the state’s digital transformation efforts.

The training sessions, facilitated by experts from NITDA, Nexaura Solutions, CIATECH Africa, and academia, cover modules on digital literacy, e-governance, artificial intelligence in public service, blockchain applications, and cybersecurity awareness.

Dr Ghuluze urges trainees to become digital transformation champions within their agencies. “Apply what you learn. This is how we build a smarter, more efficient Borno,” he says.

The initiative marks a significant step in aligning state governance with Nigeria’s broader digital economy agenda, and positions Borno as an emerging leader in public sector technology adoption.