Edo State Advances Digital Transformation with Launch of Homegrown E-Governance Platform

The Edo State Government has intensified its drive toward comprehensive digital transformation with the training of over 70 E-Governance Champions on its newly developed, state-owned electronic governance platform, Edo Cloud.

The one-day intensive workshop, held at the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) in Benin City, marked a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to modernize its civil and public service operations while asserting full control over its digital infrastructure.

A Strategic Pivot Toward Digital Sovereignty

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Edo State Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, described Edo Cloud as “a major leap forward” in the state’s digital governance journey. He clarified misconceptions about the current administration’s commitment to e-governance, explaining that Governor Monday Okpebholo had not discontinued digital operations but rather initiated a critical review of the previous system.

“E-Governance was not stopped by this administration. What the Governor did, which was needful and expedient, was to review things with the former structure,” Dr. Okungbowa stated, highlighting fundamental challenges with the previous platform that included restricted backend access and unclear intellectual property ownership.

The Head of Service noted that Governor Okpebholo deemed it unacceptable for Edo State to “breathe through the nostrils of another,” a situation that necessitated developing a homegrown platform guaranteeing data sovereignty and long-term sustainability.

Enhanced Features and State Ownership

The workshop brought together E-Gov Champions from various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), alongside technical experts and stakeholders in the state’s digital governance ecosystem. Participants were exposed to Edo Cloud’s enhanced features, including improved total data control, unified user experience, enhanced scalability, and automated workflows.

Dr. Benjamin Ben, who led the technical team behind Edo Cloud’s development, expressed confidence in the platform’s user-friendliness and intuitive design. “With what we have done, there will be no need for micro managing. The E-gov champions will provide support for their community, and this is in view of His Excellency’s directives that civil and public servants be able to do their jobs independently,” he said.

Engr. Courage Adaghe, Head of IT Infrastructure and System Engineering at the Edo State Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), emphasized that the platform’s state-owned design ensures sustainability, security, and flexibility. “The Platform will serve as a one-stop digital solution for public service operations. It was fully built, managed, and maintained within Edo State’s technology ecosystem,” he stated.

The modular structure of Edo Cloud allows for continuous updates and expansion by in-house technical teams, ensuring the solution evolves with the service’s needs without external dependencies.

Building Internal Capacity

The training strategy centered on empowering E-Gov Champions to serve as ambassadors and first-line support within their respective MDAs. Dr. Okungbowa stressed that resistance to technological change often stems from inadequate communication and understanding, urging the champions to take ownership of the project and effectively communicate its benefits.

The Head of Service highlighted that e-governance adoption would enhance transparency and accountability, improve service delivery, increase citizen participation in governance, and significantly reduce paperwork while positioning Edo State at the forefront of digital public service administration in Nigeria.

Dr. Peter Osagie, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs, described the current phase as “an era of digital revolution” for the Edo State Civil and Public Service. He explained that the workshop was designed to ensure E-Gov Champions could effectively cascade knowledge and support across MDAs, enabling the state to “not only return to e-governance but significantly surpass what we achieved in the past.”

Positive Reception and Phased Rollout

Participants expressed enthusiasm about the new platform’s capabilities. Mr. Ogbewe Osaro Anthony, E-Gov Champion representing the Edo State Social Investment Programme Office, described Edo Cloud as “richer in content, more flexible, and better suited to public service operations” than the previous system, noting that its features would significantly enhance collaboration and productivity across MDAs.

Dr. Ben revealed that the platform has been successfully test-run for several months and is ready for full deployment. The rollout will follow a phased approach to ensure stability, efficiency, and sustainability across all government operations.

By reclaiming control of its digital infrastructure and investing in homegrown solutions, Edo State is positioning itself to lead sub-national governments in Nigeria’s digital governance landscape while building sustainable capacity within its public service workforce.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​