By Angula Bishop Reuben
A high-level delegation from Benue State is currently participating in the Digital Government Africa Summit, holding from 2nd to 4th October, 2024 at the Ciela Resort & Spa in Lusaka, Zambia.
The event, hosted by Africa’s Ministerial E-Government Forum, brought together government leaders, technology experts, and industry stakeholders to explore the role of digital governance in shaping Africa’s future.
The summit’s agenda focused on key topics such as e-government, digital skills, fintech, and digital identity.
Day one of the forum featured several high-profile speakers, including John Glassy, CEO of AfricanBrains, who delivered the welcome address, and Zambia’s E-Government National Coordinator, who provided an overview of the country’s national e-government policy.
Prominent among the speakers was Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, Zambia’s Minister of Finance and National Planning, who discussed Africa’s priorities for digital and financial inclusion. Other key presentations includes a talk on public sector transformation by Jack Ngare, Technical Director at Google Cloud, and a session on enabling digital government ecosystems led by Aida Diarra, Visa Inc.’s Senior Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa.
The day’s discussions culminated in several panel sessions, addressing critical challenges in digital transformation. The first session, focusing on a whole-of-government approach to African digital transformation, saw participation from ministers and senior government officials from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Kenya.
Another panel examined the issue of securing resilient digital infrastructure, with contributions from Léocadie Ndacayisaba, Minister of Communications, ICT and Media from Burundi, and His Excellency, Hon. Dauda Lawal, Governor of Zamfara State, among others.
The final session of the day explored technological progress in building e-government capacity across Africa, featuring experts from Mauritius, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone.
Benue State’s delegation also took part in several pre-scheduled roundtable meetings aimed at fostering partnerships between government entities and potential investors, furthering efforts to leverage digital solutions for enhanced governance and development in the state.
The gathering highlights Africa’s growing commitment to embracing digital technologies to modernize governance and drive socio-economic growth. The forum will continue with further discussions and collaborations on advancing e-government across the continent.
The delegation that attended from Benue State include: Hon. Kwaghgba Amande (representative of the Governor), the Honourable Commissioner of Communications, Innovation, & Digital Economy, Comrade Angula Bishop Reuben, Private Secretary/PSA to the Governor on ICT & New Media, Iyaghigba Maureen Mlumun, Confidential Secretary/PPA on Gubernatorial Secretariat, Hon. Gbande Hembaor Terwase, MD, Benue Digital Infrastructure Company (BDIC), Zaki Asen, Honorary Adviser on International & Global Partnerships, and Clement Tyav, SSA to the Governor, attached to the Office of the PPS.
