The Edo State Government, through the Office of the Head of Service, has trained more than 70 E-Governance Champions on the interface, functionality, and deployment strategy of its newly developed, state-owned electronic governance platform, Edo Cloud. The training marked a key step in preparing personnel to lead the rollout and adoption of the platform across government institutions.
The one-day intensive workshop, held at the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) in Benin City, brought together E-Gov Champions from various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), alongside technical experts and stakeholders within the state’s digital governance ecosystem. Participants were introduced to the platform’s enhanced features, improved user experience, and operational framework, all aimed at positioning Edo State as a leading sub-national government in e-governance.
Declaring the workshop open, the Edo State Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, described Edo Cloud as a major milestone in the state’s digital governance journey. He explained that the training was designed to equip the E-Gov Champions with the knowledge and skills needed to drive a seamless, phased deployment of the platform across MDAs, ensuring stability, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.
Dr. Okungbowa clarified that the current administration did not abandon e-governance, but instead undertook a critical review of the former system due to structural challenges. He noted that issues surrounding intellectual property ownership and limited backend access prevented the state from exercising full control over its digital infrastructure.
According to him, Governor Sen. Monday Okpebholo found it unacceptable for Edo State to “breathe through the nostrils of another,” a situation that prompted the development of a fully state-owned, home-grown platform that guarantees data sovereignty, unrestricted backend access, and long-term sustainability.
Commending the technical team led by Dr. Benjamin Ben for delivering a more robust, secure, and user-friendly solution, the Head of Service acknowledged the role of E-Gov Champions in Edo State’s early success as one of the first states in Nigeria to adopt a paperless public service. He urged the champions to take ownership of the Edo Cloud project and serve as ambassadors of the new system within their respective MDAs.
He emphasized that resistance to change often stems from poor communication and limited understanding, encouraging the champions to clearly explain the platform’s benefits and impact on work processes. He added that widespread adoption of e-governance would improve transparency and accountability, enhance service delivery, increase citizen participation, and significantly reduce paperwork, while positioning Edo State once again at the forefront of digital public service administration in the country.
In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Dr. Peter Osagie, described the current phase of the Edo State Civil and Public Service as an era of digital revolution. He noted that the workshop was organized to ensure E-Gov Champions were well equipped to cascade knowledge and provide support across MDAs, with the aim of not only returning to e-governance but surpassing past achievements.
Dr. Benjamin Ben explained that Edo Cloud offers improved data control, a unified user experience, enhanced scalability, and automated workflows. He expressed confidence in the platform’s intuitive design, stating that the training would empower champions to independently support and train staff within their MDAs, reducing the need for constant technical intervention. He added that the platform has been successfully test-run for several months and is now ready for full deployment.
Also speaking, the Head of IT Infrastructure and System Engineering at the Edo State Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), Engr. Courage Adaghe, highlighted that Edo Cloud is a fully state-owned solution designed to ensure sustainability, security, and flexibility. He explained that its modular structure allows in-house technical teams to continuously update and expand the platform as service needs evolve.
Representing the Edo State Social Investment Programme Office, E-Gov Champion Mr. Ogbewe Osaro Anthony expressed appreciation to the Governor for approving a fully state-owned e-governance platform. He described Edo Cloud as richer in content, more flexible, and better suited to public service operations than the previous system, noting that its features would significantly enhance collaboration and productivity across MDAs.