The Enugu State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Lawrence Ezeh, says Governor Peter Mbah has pushed digitalisation, innovation, and tech-driven policies, programmes, and projects to an unprecedented height within two years.
Ezeh disclosed this to newsmen on Monday, in Enugu, while reeling out what Gov. Mbah had achieved in the innovation, science, and technology ecosystem in two years.
The commissioner said that the governor, who is technology and innovation savvy, had not only believed in what innovation, science and technology can do but had gone ahead to support its growth and deployment in critical aspects of the state’s socio-economic sectors.
He noted that the governor through the ministry started by introducing robust digital infrastructure and e-governance by ensuring digital literacy, transparency, speed and seamlessness into government ministries, departments, commissions and all government functions.
“Governor Mbah ensured effective implementation of robust digital infrastructure, training and retraining of all government employees and functionaries, eliminating paper usage, enshrining proper information and data management, facilitating online transactions and effective citizens engagement.
“Through the ministry, Governor Mbah introduced Geographic Information System (GIS) to the ministry of lands, and the system capabilities can help the state optimise land administration processes, prevent encroachment, and support sustainable development initiatives.
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“The ministry partnered with Project Development Institute (PRODA) on the production of the multi-biomass briquette cooking stove, which is meant to provide a solution to current energy requirements for cooking and provide solutions to the current socio-economic energy situation.
“In 2024, the state invested heavily in youth empowerment through skilling up and up-scaling in tech-innovation, through these youth empowerment programmes cultivated a vibrant ecosystem of innovation, enterprise, leadership, and ensured a prosperous future for generations to come,” the commissioner said.
Ezeh noted that to further harness innovations from the grassroots in the health sector, and encourage local research on roots and herbs, the ministry started the regulation of traditional medicine practitioners.
“This is to safeguard public health, uphold ethical standards, and promote collaboration between traditional healers and modern healthcare professionals,” he said.
For the second year, Ezeh noted that the state government in anticipating a tech-innovation driven future, set-up the Enugu Smart Tech Limited, which represents a groundbreaking collaboration between the e-School Africa and the Enugu State Government on the 260 smart schools.
