Abia State has taken a decisive step towards modernising public administration, with Governor Alex Otti underscoring the importance of reliable data in effective governance.
The governor, speaking at a one-day workshop on strategic digital public infrastructure in Umuahia, warned that without accurate data, policy planning amounts to speculation.
The event, organised for officials from ministries, departments and agencies, was declared open on Thursday by Otti’s representative, Deputy Governor Ikechukwu Emetu. The initiative forms part of the state’s broader Unified Data Architecture drive aimed at integrating government information systems.
“Governance in the 21st century must be anchored on credible data and a reliable identity system,” Otti said. He added that, in the information age, Abia “cannot afford to operate in silos”.
Otti told participants that a unified data framework would enhance performance monitoring, resource allocation, revenue generation and service delivery across the state. “Without accurate data, planning becomes guesswork,” he said, stressing that fragmented identity systems hinder efficient service delivery.
The governor described the workshop theme — “One Data, One Identity, One Government” — as more than a slogan, but a blueprint for harmonising information across government bodies to eliminate duplication and improve transparency.
In remarks emphasising the need for evidence-based policy, Secretary to the State Government Dr Emmanuel Meribeole said decisions can no longer rest on assumptions and incomplete evidence. He called for an integrated data system anchored on a dependable identity framework to support efficient resource planning and service delivery.
