In a bold step towards deepening transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance, the Anambra State Government has officially launched SolutionLens, a tech-driven platform designed to track government projects and strengthen engagement between citizens and the state.

The launch event, which was held on Thursday 15th May, 2025 at the SID  Building in Awka, brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, civil society groups, community representatives, development partners, and the media.

The platform was developed through a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the Ministry of Information, and the Anambra State ICT Agency.

Representing the Governor, Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake, the commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, described SolutionLens as “OGP made easy and a democratic tool.” She emphasized its value in planning, budgeting, and fostering investor confidence, thanks to its community-based feedback mechanisms.

In her welcome remarks, Mrs. Ogochukwu Orji, the State Coordinator of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), noted that SolutionLens is “built to shine a light on public projects and empower citizens to ask questions, hold government accountable, and ensure our shared resources are used for the common good.”

Key features of the platform include:

• A centralized digital hub for government projects
• Interactive maps and a user-friendly interface
• A live chat feature to connect citizens directly with MDAs

Speaking during the event, Dr. Law Mefor affirmed that the platform will help Ndi Anambra “access real-time information on what government is doing,” while CFA highlighted its ability to “capture and preserve moments,” underscoring the value of technology in governance.

One of the key highlights of the launch was a live demonstration of the SolutionLens platform, followed by the formal inauguration of MDA focal persons who will serve as key liaison officers in ensuring the platform remains updated and responsive.

Participants at the launch commended Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, for this forward-thinking initiative, describing SolutionLens as a game-changer in how government connects with its people.

As part of its next steps, the government urged all citizens to actively engage with the platform and help spread awareness. This, they emphasized, will not only benefit Ndi Anambra today but safeguard the integrity and prosperity of the state for generations to come.

The 2025 Enugu Tech Festival being organised by the Enugu State Government kicked off on Wednesday with the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, describing it as the biggest technology conference that has ever happened in Nigeria.

Tijani said the Tech Festival, which attracted thousands of youths from within and outside the state, was a major leap for Nigeria’s determination to build a robust digital economy, noting that Enugu State under Governor Peter Mbah, had moved from policy to progress to lead the tech revolution in Nigeria.

This was even as Governor Peter Mbah urged the youths to embrace technology, insisting that the future is technology.

Speaking, the Minister said that the Tech Festival, tagged Coal to Code, fitted into the agenda and activities of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, having recognised that the future of digital economy in Nigeria would not only be built in Abuja, but would instead be co-created across all states.

“Enugu is showing how this should and will be done. I have never, never been to a conference on technology in Nigeria that is this big. I founded the first technology hub in Nigeria, the very first in Nigeria. So, I know a thing or two when technology people gather. I can assure you that today, you are part of history because we have never seen anything this big in Nigeria before.

“There is something powerful about your state: the energy, the ambition, the possibilities. Just two years ago, only a few people could imagine this kind of tech momentum. But today, Enugu has not just imagined, Enugu is building it. Under two years, we have seen investment in digital infrastructure, and the innovation ecosystem of the state.

“What is happening today in Enugu is part of something bigger. We are now witnessing a generational rise, not one where people complain and protest, but one where creativity is used to shape the future. Not just with passion, but with precision,” he stated.

While commending the participants for rising to “create the kind of Nigeria the world will pay attention to,” Tijani called for collaboration, commitment, and hard work by all stakeholders to make it happen.

“Progress is not automatic, but needs all of us. It needs the government to continue to be brave. It needs the private sector to invest deeper. It needs mentors, builders, teachers, and it needs leaders,” he concluded.

Speaking, Governor Mbah, while highlighting how his administration had invested in technology to dramatically revolutionise security, land administration, education, among others, noted that the Enugu Tech Festival was part of his government’s wider efforts to build the youth of the state into wealth creators and highly sought-after workforce of tomorrow’s workplace.

“The power of technology and innovation and what we can accomplish is something that I want the youths to be mindful of. If you look at the way things are being done in the world today, we are now talking about an era where people just sit down with great ideas, create platforms where they begin to essentially benefit from that platform.

“An example is the Uber that came and disrupted the city taxi without owning a key. Today, they provide by far the largest traffic just by creating a platform. You can extend that to Airbnb. Without owning a key, these guys have disrupted the business of those who own several brick and mortar houses. You can also extend that to Tesla. That is the power of technology. This shows essentially that technology is where the future is,” he emphasised.

In his remark, the Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Lawrence Ezeh, said the Enugu Tech Festival, which would now become an annual event, underscored a paradigm shift from the old Enugu known for coal to one that has become a rising force in Nigeria’s tech-driven future, a beacon of innovation, intellectual capital, digital enterprise, and endless possibilities.

“For decades, our identity was built on coal, a resource that powered Nigeria’s industrial rise. But today, we stand in a different kind of power—the power of knowledge, innovation, and technology,” he stated.

Also at the event were the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande; Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu; former Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Barth Nnaji; Chairman of Zinox Technical, Leo Stan Ejeh; and the Group Managing Director, Afrinvest, Dr. Ike Chioke, among a host of others.

Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah has inaugurated the South East zonal office of the National Information Technology DevelopmentAgency, NITDA, saying it would open a new horizon for the youths of the region and move the nation closer to diversifying the economy.

Commissioning the office located at Nigeria Construction and Furniture Company (NCFC) Building at Onitsha Road, GRA, Enugu, Mbah commended the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi, for the initiative, promising close collaboration with the Ministry and Agency.

“The call to diversify our economy, both at the national and the subnational levels has never been more compelling than now; and there are a few sectors that hold the opportunities for us to accomplish that like the information and technology space.

“But, just having the opportunity without bringing them to fruition won’t just cut it for us. The fact that opportunity exists, we must then take steps; and for me, I think that is what this NITDA presence in Enugu represents.

“It is an opportunity for our teeming young people to have the platform to imbue themselves with lifelong skillsets that would prepare them for the dynamic global workplace of today and tomorrow,” he stated.

Speaking earlier, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, expressed delight at what he described as an extraordinary technological revolution in Enugu State, saying the NITDA South East Zonal Office would serve as a permanent bridge between national policy and local potential.

“In just under two years, this state has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most promising frontiers for innovation. What we are witnessing here is not just progress—it is momentum; and I am proud that today, we are adding fuel to that momentum.

“This commissioning of the NITDA Regional Office in Enugu is far more than the opening of a building. It is the establishment of a permanent bridge between national policy and local potential.

“It is a strategic move under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu — a commitment to decentralising opportunity, deepening inclusion, and unlocking the full power of Nigeria’s digital economy across every region.

“By placing NITDA closer to the people, right here in the South East, we are saying clearly: no region should have to wait for innovation to reach them. Innovation must grow with them.

“This new office will serve as an engine room for digital skills development, through programs like the Three Million Technical Talent initiative; support for startups and indigenous tech solutions; regulatory advisory to help businesses thrive within the frameworks that protect Nigerians; and closer partnerships with state governments, academia, and the private sector. And there is no better place to launch this than in Enugu — a state that is not only dreaming of the future, but building it.

“I want to commend Governor Peter Mbah for proving what determined, technology-focused governance can achieve in such a short time. We are not just here to witness Enugu’s transformation. We are here to amplify it,” he said.

Tijani enjoined the young people of the South East region to grab the opportunities presented by the new office.

“To our young innovators, developers, and entrepreneurs – you now have a home in NITDA. Use it. Grow through it; and let it become the platform from which your ideas reach the world.

“Together, we will ensure that the story of Nigeria’s digital economy is not written from one place — it will be co-authored in every corner of this nation, and Enugu is leading the way,” he added.

The commissioning was also witnessed by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, among other dignitaries.