The award not only spotlights Anambra’s dedication to tech-driven governance but also highlights a series of groundbreaking achievements in the realm of E-Government Implementation.

Key Achievements:

Digitized ANSEC Processes: A complete digitization of Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) processes eliminates the need for costly printing, making the process more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable.

E-Government Infrastructure: The baseline study of E-government Infrastructure sets the stage for a digital revolution, with the procurement and distribution of state-of-the-art PCs and laptops advancing the objectives of digitization across the public sector.

Collaboration and Interconnectivity: Partnerships with the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the state aim to establish an Internet Exchange Point, focusing on improving interconnectivity and reducing Internet access costs.

IT Project Standardization: The implementation of the ITPRS Portal ensures the digitalization and standardization of IT projects in the State, issuing certificates as proof of compliance.

Communication Enhancement: The State-wide launch of the Unified Messaging Service (UMS) facilitates enhanced communication and collaboration among all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) assigning @anambrastate.gov.ng email addresses for seamless communication.

Land Administration Revolution: The deployment of a Centralized e-GIS System by the Ministry of Lands to revolutionize Land Administration in Anambra State.

Project Management Innovation: A partnership with the Tony Blair Institute (TBI) results in a Digital Delivery Dashboard, facilitating real-time project monitoring for the State’s 5 Solution Agenda.

ICT Policy Development: An inclusive draft ICT Policy document that represents the views of all relevant parties and aligns with the vision of “Everything Technology and Everywhere Technology.”

Blockchain Strategy Adoption: Anambra State has adopted the Federal Government’s Blockchain Strategy, promoting and enhancing the blockchain ecosystem within the state.

These accomplishments underscore the commitment of the Governor, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, to harnessing technology in governance processes for the betterment of our citizens. They are also a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Anambra State ICT entire team.

As Anambra State continues its technological journey, the successful integration of innovative tech-driven initiatives showcases the state’s dedication to becoming a digital powerhouse, creating a brighter, tech-driven future for its citizens.

The inaugural of the Accelerator programme takes place in London, the United Kingdom on Monday November 21st, 2022.

Giving the background to the Tony Blair Institute Tech Policy Accelerator programme in the invitation letter to Engr. Aziz and personally signed by Sir Tony Blair, the institute observed that “the technology revolution is the central issue of our age” which is set to present “some profound challenges.”

According to the institute, “too often” however, “the debate around technology is focused on narrow, short-term issues rather than the wider long-term implications.” It stated that “the political leaders willing to grasp this complexity and harness the opportunities will be those who shape the future.”

Blair wrote: “At my Institute, we have built a practical programme to equip current and prospective leaders to master it. This includes new ideas, but also new coalitions between those who are at the forefront of innovation and those shaping policy. Through such thinking, the idea is to build a new platform for prosperity in the 21^st Century.”

The former British Prime Minister (1997-2007) went on to inform Engr. Aziz that “we believe you are an important part of making this happen, so I want to invite you to join our inaugural Accelerator” which is for “a select group of leaders in policy and politics to reimagine the role of state in harnessing tech-enabled progress.”

Aziz is flying the Nigerian flag at the forum, being the only Nigerian invited.

He will be joining leaders invited from over 20 countries including Kenya, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Singapore, United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland, to the Tony Blair Institute Tech Policy Accelerator inaugural programme.

President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Engr. Aziz Director-General of NIMC in November 2015 when the total National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment figure stood at seven million. Through innovative ideas, policy direction driven by a can-do spirit, as well as support from President Muhammadu Buhari and the Honourable Minister, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), he has led the NIMC workforce in the face of challenges to reach an all-time high NIN enrolment figure of over 90 million. Despite this achievement however, Engr. Aziz continues to press further to accelerate the pace of NIN enrolment for all Nigerians within the shortest time possible.

The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change works in more than 20 countries across four continents to support leaders with strategy, policy and delivery by providing fresh analysis, practical policy solutions and embedded support in response to the world’s biggest challenges; the institute’s vision is driven by the insights of its founder and executive chairman, Tony Blair who served as Prime Minister of Britain and Northern Ireland from 1997 to 2007. Blair was the Labour Party’s longest-serving prime minister, and the first and only person to date to lead the party to three consecutive general election victories.

The event championed the industry’s growth and evolution, key players, and collective action required to increase investment in equality, diversity, and Africa’s new green economies.

Abi Mustapha-Maduakor, Chief Executive Officer, AVCA, opened the summit by setting out the imperative to pair private capital with purpose, describing it as an area where “African investors have been paving the way on sustainable investing for decades”. 

Concluding the opening address, she also announced that AVCA will be partnering with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change to produce a comprehensive report that maps Africa’s climate policy landscape and the level of green investment from the private capital industry being channelled to the continent’s 54 economies.

The panel, Profiting from Parity: Closing Africa’s Gender Gap saw participants including Anne-Marie Levesque, Director, Gender & Impact Management, FinDev Canada consider the unique opportunities that the continent presents for gender-lens investing. 

Despite suggesting thatgender and diversity finance should not be limited to women-led businesses, Matthew Davies, Chief Executive Officer, Renew Strategies said: “It’s important that our industry is intentional about ensuring that female-led businesses are provided the capital they need to succeed. We need to achieve at least 50% parity before 2030.”

‘Tokunboh Ishmael, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Alitheia IDF and Lindsey Wallace, Senior Vice-President, Strategy & Impact, Mennonite Economic Development Associates, pledged to leverage their convening power to ramp up investment for gender and diversity finance across the continent. 

Commenting on the evolution of gender-lens investing, Ishmael said: “We need to move from billions to trillions, and integrate net-zero commitments with this mission.”

A session unpacking the rise of sustainable investment platforms marked a focal point of the day.

During the panel, Africa at the Forefront of Sustainable Investing Globally, Wale Adeosun, Founder & Chief Executive Officer at Kuramo Capital, highlighted the DFI’s anchoring role investing in Africa from as early as the 1970s.

He also advocated for GP-LP strategies to back the creation of novel technologies and industries for the next generation.

Karima Ola, Partner, LeapFrog Investments, described how the popularisation and evolution of impact investing has been characterised by developing the DFI toolkit towards “intentionality” to solve local priorities, generating sustainable returns and opportunities with businesses. Ola and fellow panellists shared success stories involving the presence and performance of sustainable investing in Africa compared to insights from other emerging markets. 

Alison Klein, Manager Private Equity, FMO commented on Africa’s just transition and suggested that “Climate intention does not mean we can’t finance expansion in job creating sectors. It is important we develop a holistic view and utilise synergies that improve resource efficiency and economic output such as manufacturing, for example.”

These perspectives were followed by a session where next-generation founders, entrepreneurs, impact investors, and philanthropic players advancing sustainable growth across the continent discussed challenges and practical solutions for investing and innovating for social change.

Panellists on the Sustainability In Practice panel included Frank Aswani, Chief Executive Officer, African Venture Philanthropy Alliance. He raised the importance of mobilising local pools of capital through innovation with financial instruments to support high-potential markets in Africa at a time of global uncertainty and instability.

During the panel Digitalisation: The Last Mile in Unlocking Sustainable Development, Shruti Chandrasekhar, Regional Lead, Africa, Disruptive Technologies & Funds, International Finance Corporation discussed the prospects of an emerging  circular economy on the continent, and advised that a “unique aspect of Africa means that we’re not only fixing something that already exists but building something new and recognising that the most productive way to do that is to integrate sustainability into solutions”.

At the Financing Africa’s Climate Transition: Mitigation & Adaptation panel, Tariye Gbadegbesin, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, ARM Harith, drew the delegates’ attention to the need to define an adaptation framework and the feasibility of a co-benefits approach that yields outcomes in both climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The panel also explored how international investment can be applied to co-investments that encourage domestic capital and support the entry of institutional investors, including pension funds, now increasingly moving into Africa’s impact space.

The Making Impact Meaningful panel assembled high-level voices from DEG, Meridiam, UN PRI, and WHO Foundation to debate how the industry can overcome greenwashing to establish detailed and context-specific metrics for sustainable investing that unify diverse approaches to how stakeholders in the private capital industry can monitor and measure social and environmental impact.

The closing session saw industry figures such as Adam Hadidi, Founder & Managing Director, BluePeak Private Capital, reflect on how collective efforts such as GP-LP structures, green bonds, and digital and crowdfunding platforms can be deployed to maximise sustainable investing. 

Opuiyo Oforiokuma, Senior Partner, Africa50, concluded: “Africa cannot ignore climate change simply because we are only responsible for 4% of global emissions. Asset recycling in green assets can be used as a mechanism to bring in more capital in green infrastructure”.