Digitalizing Borno, An Interview With The ICT Chief

By Abubakar Muhammad (9News Nigeria, Maiduguri)

The mission and process of digitalizing of Borno State is taking a new dimension in recent times, with the state government taking bold steps in that direction.

Its investment in Information and Communication Technology, ICT development in the state can be viewed as a positive direction towards achieving that objective.

For the public however, it still remains a question of how and when can that be achieved.

To answer these lingering questions, this reporter has engaged with Engr. Ahmed Kabir Wanori, an ICT chief in Borno and the Executive Secretary of Borno Information and Communication Technology Development Agency, BICTDA.

In this exclusive interview at BICTDA’s headquarters in Maiduguri, Wanori explains the vision of the state government on ICT, where the project is currently at and how much time and resources needed to digitalize the state.

Now less than a month to its first year anniversary, Wanori also talked about the role of BICTDA on the mission, the current projects it is working on as well as plans for this year and beyond.

See full excerpt of the interview;

To begin with, let us make sense of the term ‘digital state’ or ‘digital village’ as we continue to hear in almost every ICT conversation, how does a digital state looks like?

Wanori: Well, a digital state is simply the continues existence of all government activities but through digital means, it is a shift from paper work to electronics, and perhaps not necessarily or entirely, but certainly its reduction to a minimum level. Therefore, when we say a state, society or village is digitalizing, is means it is going through this process of transition from the non-digital ways of doing things to digital means, which is associated with the use of technology.

It is important to also understand that this transition is not limited to government activities like governance, it accommodates the entire lifestyle of its people whether economically, socially, educationally and the rest. It boils down to basic activities like farming, constructions, health care services and the rest, all using technologies rather than exhaustive human labor.

Based on this elaborate description of a digital state, how is Borno State government confronting this mission?

Wanori: The effort of the Borno State government in that direction is very clear. Apart from other programs it has earlier executed on ICT development, this mission started precisely last year 2024 with the establishment of BICTDA, precisely in March.

When the state governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum was establishing the agency, his vision was clear, he tasked BICTDA to not only digitalize the state but also puts it at the center of globalization, it is like a surgeon of the state into global discussions and interaction because he believes that Borno should not be left behind in global conversation and space, and he understood that the gaps can only be bridged through ICT development at every corner of the state.

Part of our objectives on that regard is to establish ICT hubs at all the 37 local government areas of the state and we are already deeply into it.

You just mentioned the establishment of ICT hubs in all LGAs of Borno, take us to speed on the logic behind that and what you have done so far.

Wanori: The aim of establishing these hubs is to ensure that every citizen have at least basic knowledge of ICT, that is why the major objectives of these centers are not just to establish presence of ICT in particularly the rural areas, but to train the people and that is why our main target is the younger generation. Governor Zulum insisted that we catch them young because the future belongs to the young ones.

The governor also believes that this programs will also close some gaps in education, following its frequent disruption by insurgents’ activities in the state. It will also empower the younger generations economically as well as serve as recovery efforts on communities affected by the Boko-Haram insurgency.

In about ten months of our operations, we have established and inaugurated eight ICT hubs and 14 are on process. In this month alone, we have inaugurated four in, Mobar, Gubio, Nganzai and Mafa LGAs.

Others completed and ready for inauguration are in Kaga, Hawul, Damboa, Marte and Gwoza LGAs, and before the end of next quarter, that is around June, we would be able to inaugurate 24 in safe zones in the state, all included in this year’s budget.

There must be some challenges, can you highlight a few?

Wanori: Of course, the challenges are enormous, especially on sensitizing the local people to embrace and take ownership of the project. On that regard we have set up local government development committees with local government leaders, traditional leaders, and educational officials as members. All local government education secretaries will serve as secretary of the committees and it has been effective so far, I can assure you now that the acceptance is overwhelming.

Other challenges are insecurity in some areas, that is why all the centers we have inaugurated so far are located in safe zones.

Talk to us about sustainability, what are the mechanism you have put in place to ensure effective running of these centers.

Wanori: We have forged an important partnership with stakeholders in all the communities, especially local government administrations to ensure sustainability of our programs and that is why we involve the local community members in managing the facilities.

In each ICT center, there are five instructors, one technical manager, two cleaners and a security guard, all under BITCDA’s payroll and most of whom are members of the host communities.

We also ensure that there is adequate equipment in the centers. The centers are 100 seater capacity and we have provided equal number of desktop computers in those we have inaugurated so far, and solar system to ensure stable power supply. We have also install a broadband internet connectivity with unlimited data, even members of the host communities are tapping into it.

For efficient management, we have set up a supervising, monitoring and evaluation mechanism in place, who report every development to the local government committees and BICTDA as well. With these, I think we have a long way to go and we are open for new ideas on improvement.

You mentioned earlier that you have started training in these ICT centers, who are the beneficiaries and what are your plans on them on the long run?

Wanori: The beneficiaries are categorized into three, the out of school children, adult male and female, including people with disabilities and local government staffs.

All of these will go through basic ICT knowledge and skills training, as part of our startup program, but we hope to initiate subsequent programs in the future which would involve other higher practices and skills.

The training has started in some centers already inaugurated. We have started with 300 each, and it will continue in badges, with a target of 1,200 beneficiaries in a year, that is in four quarters.

How much of support is BITCDA getting from the government and other bodies in this mission of digitalizing Borno, and how much time and resources is needed to actualize it?

Wanori: For the state government, I don’t need to elaborate more on that because it is apparent. Governor Zulum has made ICT development a priority in Borno State and BICTDA is receiving adequate funding and support from the system.

However, there is still the need for other support and funding, without which we will not be able to expand our programs. I have mentioned several time that every resource person in Borno need to support our mission, especially those at the national level like the lawmakers.

Our national assembly representatives and other major stakeholders need to initiate ideas and move motions that would attract funding for ICT in the state.

We have seen how effective that can be in Damasak, where a member of representatives for that constituency established a 25 seater ICT development center in the town. That has greatly compliment the state government effort and the level of interest on ICT development in the community is now overwhelming, and I think if others will follow suit, it will go a long way.

And well, going by the rate and pace we are now, I can confidently tell you that Borno would be fully digitalized in the next four years and will rub shoulders with other digitally buoyant cities in Nigeria like Lagos, Edo, Port Harcourt and the rest.

Thank you for your time and happy anniversary in advance to BITCDA.

Wanori: It is my pleasure and thank you as well.