The Anambra State Government has unveiled an ambitious digital transformation agenda as part of as part of its vision for a digitally inclusive state by 2030.
With the transformation, the state seeks to deploy artificial intelligence across government operations, integrate public services under a single digital platform and expand broadband access to underserved communities.
The initiative, known as Digital Transformation 2.0, was presented by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State ICT Agency (ASICTA), Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, who said the state is moving beyond digitisation to building an intelligent government where technology drives decision-making, service delivery and economic development.
Speaking on the new roadmap, Agbata said the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo is pursuing a technology-first governance model designed to make government more efficient while creating opportunities for businesses and citizens.
“Governor Soludo envisions a smarter government where data, technology, and innovation are central to every decision and service,” Agbata said.
A key component of the strategy is the OneGov platform, an integrated digital ecosystem expected to connect ministries, departments and agencies, allowing citizens and businesses to access multiple government services through a unified interface instead of navigating separate government offices.
According to Agbata, the objective is to redesign the way government works by eliminating operational silos and improving the quality, speed and transparency of public service delivery.
Artificial intelligence is expected to play a central role in the initiative, with the state planning to automate routine government processes, strengthen data-driven policymaking and improve operational efficiency across public institutions.
Agbata explained that the state’s AI programme is built on open-source technologies rather than proprietary large language models.
“To be clear: this is an open-source system. We did not build a proprietary frontier model or a base Large Language Model, as that requires massive computational and financial resources beyond our current reach in Nigeria,” he said.
He stressed that the emphasis is on practical solutions that improve governance rather than adopting emerging technologies for their own sake.
“We must use AI intelligently, execute with speed, and do things differently,” Agbata said while outlining the agency’s long-term strategy for AI adoption in government.
Beyond government automation, the Digital Transformation 2.0 agenda places considerable emphasis on expanding digital access across rural communities, with broadband infrastructure expected to serve as a foundation for digital education, healthcare, commerce and access to government services.
The state believes that meaningful digital transformation cannot be achieved if communities outside major urban centres remain disconnected from the digital economy. Expanding connectivity to underserved areas therefore forms a critical part of the 2030 vision.
The programme also aims to accelerate the digitalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises by simplifying access to government services, improving regulatory processes and encouraging wider adoption of digital tools by businesses.
The latest announcement builds on ASICTA’s earlier commitment to transform Anambra into Nigeria’s first AI-native government institution, a strategy that places artificial intelligence at the centre of governance, public service delivery and institutional efficiency.
Agbata said technology adoption must ultimately deliver measurable benefits for citizens.
“We must use AI intelligently, execute with speed, and do things differently,” he reiterated, urging public institutions to embrace innovation while remaining focused on solving real governance challenges.
