Fides Media Living the Faith
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
In his bid to digitalized every sector of the State’s economy, Governor Chukwuma Soludo led administration last Friday in Awka the Anambra State Capital introduced E-Identification Scheme.
The scheme was aimed at implementing government’s initiative and also nipped in the bud ghost workers.
Addressing a Press Conference at her office in Awka the Head of Service Anambra State, Barr. Theodora Okwy Igwegbe, mni stated that at this digital age, the implementation of e-government initiatives had become imperative for efficient and transparent governance.
According to her, the essential aspect of the transformation was the adoption of e-identification schemes, which she said provided secure and reliable verification of individuals’ identities, noting that there was no gainsaying the fact that Anambra State could greatly benefit from the implementation of such a scheme for its civil servants.
‘One of the primary benefits of an e-identification scheme is the improved efficiency it brings to administrative processes. Traditional identification methods reliant on physical documents and manual verifications, are time-consuming and prone to errors. By adopting an e-identification scheme, Anambra State civil servants can streamline their interactions with various government agencies, eliminating repetitive paperwork and reducing bureaucratic delays.
‘This automation not only saves time but also enables civil servants to focus on their core responsibilities, ultimately enhancing productivity across board.
‘The implementation of an e-identification scheme significantly strengthens the security measures surrounding civil service operations. Physical documents are susceptible to loss, theft, or forgery, posing a considerable risk to the integrity of the system. With e-identification, each civil servant is assigned a unique digital identity, backed by robust encryption protocols and authentication mechanisms.
‘This ensures that only authorized individuals can access sensitive information or conduct transactions, reducing the likelihood of identity theft and fraudulent activities.
‘By safeguarding personal data and maintaining the privacy of civil servants, an e-identification scheme establishes a secure environment for effective governance.
‘Accountability is a crucial aspect of any well-functioning civil service. An e-identification scheme provides a comprehensive audit trail, enabling the tracking and monitoring of activities performed by civil servants. Through this digital system, Anambra State can establish a transparent framework that records interactions, transactions, and decision-making processes.
‘This fosters a culture of accountability by deterring corrupt practices and ensuring that civil servants are held responsible for their actions. Furthermore, the availability of accurate and reliable data assists in the evaluation of performance, enabling the identification of areas that require improvement and facilitating evidence-based decision-making.
‘This scheme can significantly enhance service delivery for Anambra State civil servants. By digitizing identification processes, civil servants can access government services more conveniently, reducing paperwork and minimizing the need for physical presence.
‘This digital transformation empowers civil servants to engage in online training, access relevant resources, and collaborate remotely, thereby facilitating professional development and fostering knowledge-sharing within the civil service. Moreover, streamlined processes and faster turnaround times result in improved public service delivery, ultimately benefiting the citizens of Anambra State.
‘While the implementation of an e-identification scheme brings numerous advantages, it is essential to acknowledge and address potential challenges. Some of the common concerns include data security, infrastructure readiness, and digital literacy.
To mitigate these challenges, robust cybersecurity measures are being put in place, including encryption, firewalls, and regular audits. Additionally, investments should be made in developing the necessary digital infrastructure, such as reliable internet connectivity and provision of WiFi. Simultaneously, training and capacity-building programs should be implemented to enhance digital literacy among civil servants and ensure a smooth transition to the e-identification scheme. The government of Anambra State is working assiduously towards the mitigation of these challenges. Optic fibres are being laid, and in no distant time, free WiFi will be provided for us.
‘In conclusion, despite these challenges, implementation of the e-identification is being realised today as we have been able to surmount the difficulties. The motivation to birth a modern civil service that really delivers on the manifesto of Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo CFR is more than enough to trump any implementation challenges that may be encountered. I applaud the efforts and ingenuity of ANSICTA in creating this laudable scheme and finally, thank immensely the Governor of Anambra State for approving this wonderful initiative,’ the HoS concluded.
For his part, the MD/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Mr Fred Chukwuemeka Agbata said that the Public Presentation of the SOLUTION E-ID CARD Scheme was for civil servants and all other government employees, noting that it was another milestone initiative for the Anambra State Civil Service coming just a month after the Phase-1 distribution of 200 laptops and computers to Civil servants and Political appointees to enhance the digitization processes in the State.
He stated that It was a strong demonstration of the Agency’s determination to give Mr. Governor 100% support, with the execution of his vision of “Everything Technology and Technology Everywhere”.
‘The conception and development of the E-ID Card Scheme was inspired by the need to strengthen identity management so that both the state government and its citizens can easily identify civil servants and all other government employees.
‘The SOLUTION E-ID card was made possible through the Collaboration between the State Government and Academia through the Agency’s Solution Internship Programme which was launched earlier in the year. The programme is conceived as a bridge between the State Government and the Academia, to build the next generation of code warriors that can innovate and produce a variety of technological advancements that supports Mr Governor’s of Everything Technology and Technology Everywhere.
‘This effort clearly shows the state government’s willingness to work with anyone genuinely interested in contributing to the transformation of Anambra State through technology, those who are willing to make the right commitment and sacrifice.
‘The world as we all know has rapidly transformed into a digital stage, and so, we continue to appreciate the efforts of Mr. Governor to promote access to technology in all areas of the public sector and we cannot wait to see the overall positive impact that this strategy will have on the workforce and our beloved state in general.
‘Let me boldly say that to say that for the first time in the history of Anambra state and under the visionary leadership of Governor Soludo, civil servants and all other Government Employees can now easily identify themselves on the go while government and citizens can equally identify them with ease.
‘The era of fake government employees is gone for good. The ICT Agency is thrilled to have midwifed and overseeing this digital identity management initiative on behalf of the state government
‘The E-ID card will be available on Google playstore as a downloadable app which every civil servant is expected to access and sign up for with their Name, Telephone Number and Official email address. The ID-card will also be printed and can be scanned and interpreted just like the digital card.
‘Let me quickly emphasize that the acceptable email address is the official Email address, which is in the format firstname.lastname@anambrastate.gov.ng. This is according to the State’s Digital Assets standardization policy, which totally aligns with the Federal Executive Council’s approval of the National Second Level Domain Policy making the Second Level Domain mandatory for all government-owned websites and official email correspondence of all government personnel.
‘A quick and detailed presentation will be made shortly for a more extensive understanding of how the E-ID Card operates. I encourage all State employees to pay very close attention to ensuring the efficient and effective use and management of the system when fully deployed.
‘I want to thank Mr. Governor for supporting this important initiative, and for providing the necessary resources to make it a success. Mr Governor, we are grateful Sir. I appreciate the support of the Head of service, Barr. Theodora Okwy Igwegbe, mni, for her continued support towards the enhancement of the state work force. And Also my senior colleagues here Mr Christian Udechukwu, Mr Don Onyeji and all other members of the Anambra State Federal Executive Council Members for their commitment to Mr Governor’s vision.
I also want to thank the dedicated team at the ICT Agency for their hard work in making this initiative a reality.
I am excited about the prospects of this initiative, and I am confident that it will contribute significantly to the digitization of the public sector in the state and improved security of lives and properties of Ndi Anambra,’ he said.