Nigeria must urgently embrace innovation and technology to address long-standing inefficiencies in its public institutions, Bassey Ita Etim-Ikang, a development expert and governance analyst, has said.
He warned that failure to modernise governance structures could further widen service delivery gaps and erode public trust.
The call was made during a presentation at the four-day International Study Tour on e-Governance, Innovation and Resilience, held at the Swiss-Belinn Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.
The event brought together policymakers, scholars, and development practitioners from across Africa to examine challenges, gaps, and practical strategies for building resilient, citizen-centred public institutions.
In his paper presentation titled “Modernisation of Public Institutions: Gaps, Realities and Pathway to Enhance Effective e-Governance”, Etim-Ikang called for urgent reforms driven by innovation, technology, and institutional resilience.
He noted that public and private institutions globally have rapidly transitioned from analogue systems to digital ecosystems, propelled by advances in information and communication technology (ICT).
“Governance in the 21st century has been fundamentally reshaped by digital transformation.
“Paperless processes, real-time service delivery and electronic governance are no longer optional; they are inevitable for effective administration”, he said.
Etim-Ikang traced the country’s shift from manual administrative systems to modern governance structures through reforms and institutional reorganisation.
According to him, the adoption of e-governance tools has been central to repositioning public institutions to deliver faster, more transparent, and citizen-friendly services while reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks.
He highlighted frameworks already in place, including the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), which has deployed digital identity solutions nationwide, and Galaxy Backbone, which provides core e-governance infrastructure linking ministries, departments, and agencies.
He described these platforms as the backbone of Nigeria’s emerging digital public service architecture.
Etim-Ikang also highlighted the growth of Nigeria’s e-governance hubs, noting that government portals and the Government Contact Centre (GCC) have simplified citizen access to public services and information.
Institutions such as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Digital Transformation Centre Nigeria were identified as key drivers of innovation.
He noted that Nigeria’s 8,813 political wards across 774 local government areas represent a vast but underutilised opportunity for digital inclusion.
He pointed to initiatives such as NITDA’s planned 1,600 ICT centres and the 774 Local Government Connectivity Project as crucial for extending e-governance benefits to rural communities.
Etim-Ikang acknowledged persistent challenges hindering effective e-governance in Nigeria, including limited ICT infrastructure, resistance to change within the bureaucracy, low digital literacy among public servants, funding constraints, cybersecurity and data manipulation risks, energy supply challenges, and weak political commitment.
He stressed that rising citizen expectations, global digital trends, and ongoing national initiatives leave Nigeria with little choice but to accelerate public sector modernisation.
To address these gaps, he advocated strategic investment in digital infrastructure, aggressive capacity building, inclusive stakeholder engagement, pilot projects at community levels, enabling legislation, stronger international partnerships, and the integration of renewable energy solutions to power digital systems.
He also highlighted flagship e-governance platforms, such as IPPIS, TSA, GIFMIS, REMITA, e-procurement platforms, and SERVICOM, as critical tools that have improved transparency, accountability, and service delivery.
Etim-Ikang expressed optimism about Nigeria’s digital future, urging participants to remain hopeful and committed to reform.
“Strengthening public institutions through innovation, creativity, and digital processes remains Nigeria’s surest pathway to people-oriented governance, economic diversification, and sustainable national development,” he said.
