Digital Public Infrastructure: Minister of Communications advises ICT experts, technologists in government to deepen knowledge

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani has advised ICT experts and technologists in government offices to deepen knowledge of Digital Public Infrastructure, DPI.

DPI, as a term, refers to a comprehensive system of digital services, tools, and technologies provided by governments, organizations, and other stakeholders to facilitate the functioning of a digital society.

It is a critical enabler of digital transformation and is helping to improve public service delivery.

The minister gave the advice in Abuja during the inauguration of “DevsInGovernment”, a group of technology experts in the federal civil service, who are to lead digital transformation in public service for improved service delivery.

He said the DPI would be used as a catalyst to transform the Nigerian civil service into a world class institution and also improve government’s services to the people.

Tijani told the over 400 participants at the inaugural event that the essence of setting up the DevsInGovernment platform was to share ideas that would change Nigeria and make it a better country.

“The need to transform government services is the foundation to prosperity and the enabler to Nigeria’s progression towards the building of other digital capabilities in government,” he said.

Tijani said the mandate of this government was to popularise the concept of digital public infrastructure in the system by promoting the use of technology to effectively deliver government services.

He said the opportunities inherent in the application of DPI were limitless and would empower civil servants to carry out tasks more robustly.

“DPI is not about centralising all our solutions, but it is how to promote the use of technology in government services through an effective system and infrastructure for optimal delivery”.

He said digitalisation is not just about e-Government, neither is it just automating the system, but it is the ability to use technology to transform services with good deliverables.

He also said Nigerians were extremely fortunate to be led by a President who had deep knowledge of the power of technology to transform the nation.

Tijani said his ministry was committed to empowering and driving collaboration among technologists for the purpose of knowledge sharing and innovation which would ultimately lead to a more efficient, transparent, and responsive government.

He said conversations on this novel initiative would be holding monthly and subsequently there would be provision for trainings to enhance productivity.

The minister thanked the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Galaxy Backbone (GBB) as co-sponsors of the new initiative and the cooperation of other sister agencies under the watch of the ministry.

Faruk Yusuf Yabo, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said there was the need to have an enabling environment, a regulatory framework, infrastructure, computing devices and skilled manpower to achieve a desired development.

He said that sharing of ideas was critical to the operationalisation of DPI to enhance the delivery of government services.
Abdul-Malik Suleiman, the Acting Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, said digital transformation was at the heart of this government.

He said that was the reason the president appointed a young and dynamic minister to steer the affairs of the digital sector.
Suleiman said the purpose of bringing technologists together was to deepen their intellectual capability as drivers of the system.
He said DevsInGovernment would provide a platform for professionals in the civil service to be drivers of the technology in the 21st century.

He said the experts would go through different stages of learning in order to create a transformative public service that would, in the long run, give birth to a prosperous Nigeria. (GBN)