Edo Govt Recommits to Digital Governance

.… Reviews Phase Three of Edo Cloud Deployment

Edo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the full deployment of Edo Cloud, the State’s indigenous electronic governance platform, across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), as part of efforts to deepen digital governance and improve efficiency in the Public Service.

The State Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, gave the assurance during the Phase Three of the Edo Cloud Implementation, Deployment Review and Workshop Session which held at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy in Benin City.

Addressing members of the Deployment, Technical and Implementation teams, the HOS said the successful implementation of the Edo Cloud remains a priority of the administration of the Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, describing the state-owned platform as a strategic investment in transparent, efficient and sustainable governance. He noted that the transition to a fully digital public service was steadily progressing, with significant milestones recorded across the various deployment phases.

The HOS expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far and commended the implementation teams for their dedication and professionalism throughout the deployment process. According to him, the achievements recorded so far demonstrated the commitment of the various technical teams working to ensure the successful rollout of Edo Cloud across MDAs.

Dr. Okungbowa particularly commended the Edo State ICT Team and the Edo Cloud Technical Team for their role in deploying the State’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) infrastructure, noting that the technology would provide secured remote access for authorised officers while safeguarding the confidentiality and integrity of government data.

The HOS disclosed plans by his office to organise a specialised technical training workshop for selected civil servants on the maintenance and repair of computers, laptops and other ICT equipment. He explained that the initiative aligns with the administration’s policy of building internal technical capacity and reducing government expenditure on outsourced maintenance services.

According to the HOS, developing in-house technical expertise would not only reduce operational costs but also ensure faster response to equipment-related challenges, improve the lifespan of government ICT assets and strengthen the sustainability of the State’s digital transformation agenda.

Dr. Okungbowa reiterated that the Edo Cloud was deliberately designed as a state-owned electronic governance platform to guarantee data sovereignty, improve operational efficiency and reduce dependence on external vendors, while providing a secured and integrated environment for government operations.

The Phase Three review session provided an opportunity for the deployment and technical teams to ass6ess progress, review deployment strategies, identify emerging challenges and determine the next steps towards the full implementation of the Edo Cloud across all MDAs.

The review further underscored the Edo State Government’s commitment to building a digitally enabled public service that leverages technology to strengthen institutional efficiency, accountability and service delivery in line with the SHINE Agenda.