The governments of Anambra and Lagos States have agreed to a collaborative partnership that will oversee the strengthening of their respective IT ecosystems. This was revealed in a statement made available to Technext by the Public Relations Officer of the state government, Angela Nwanodu.
The collaborative effort, which stemmed from bilateral meetings with the IT ecosystem members during the Reverse Trade Mission in the United States of America, is geared towards addressing emerging challenges, fostering innovation, and enhancing the overall cybersecurity infrastructure.
According to the statement, the objectives and key highlights of the Anambra/Lagos partnership include cybersecurity collaboration, protection of IT assets, cyber protection measures, and the expansion of IT service platforms.
Speaking about the collaboration, Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, Tunbosun Alake, expressed optimism about the collaboration. According to him:
“This partnership signifies a crucial step in fortifying our technological capabilities. By combining forces with Anambra State, we aim to create a resilient IT infrastructure that not only addresses current challenges but also anticipates and adapts to future advancements.”
More on the Lagos-Anambra ICT partnership
Representatives of both Lagos and Anambra states believe the purpose of the partnership resonates with the Federal Government’s call, through the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, for the digitalization of MDAs operations. The call was made at the recently concluded meeting of the Nigeria National Council of ICT Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
According to the Minister, there was a need for immediate provision of ICT infrastructure that would aid data sharing among government agencies, which in turn would not only aid proactiveness in the business of governance but would also block fraudulent activities, help improve Nigeria’s economy, and set government priorities right at all times.
Thus, representatives of both Anambra State and Lagos State have agreed to implement new methods of cybersecurity to fortify IT infrastructure as well as formulate strategies to comprehend and counter the evolving threat landscape in cyberspace.
Both states will also explore the introduction of advanced cyber protection measures for safeguarding critical IT assets, familiarisation with cutting-edge tools to mitigate and reduce cybercrime risks, and understanding new tools to enrich IT service platforms, including cloud solutions like AWS.
There is also the issue of aligning with digitization and the customer service agenda, to enhance service delivery and developing initiatives for rapid onboarding of new skills in the IT sector as well as Upscaling the skill system to meet the evolving demands of the IT landscape. Both parties will equally seek joint efforts to bolster the pool of skilled professionals in the Information Technology sector.
Speaking on the partnership, the MD/CEO of Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA, believes that: “Collaborating with Lagos State is an opportunity to leverage each other’s strengths and elevate our IT services market. Together, we can achieve technological excellence and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s digital transformation.”
This imminent partnership between Anambra and Lagos states is poised to make tangible strides in the Information Technology sector, setting a precedent for collaborative efforts in advancing the nation’s technological landscape.