The United Nations University Operating Unit on e-Governance (UNU-EGOV) has commended Nigeria’s ongoing digital transformation efforts.
Director of UNU-EGOV, Prof. Delfina Soares, gave the commendation on Friday at the closing ceremony of the 18th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV 2025), in Abuja .
Organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the weeklong global conference had the theme: “Shaping the Future of Digital Governance through Cooperation, Innovation and Inclusion.”
Prof. Soares said her institution has closely followed Nigeria’s digitalisation progress and remains impressed by the government’s commitment to building a robust digital ecosystem.
“Before I came here, I did my work; I tried to understand what is happening. We have been in contact with Nigeria since 2018, with delegations attending ICEGOV over the years.”
“It is now clear to the global community that Nigeria is giving real priority to digital transformation. The discussions and the number of research papers from Nigerian authors at this year’s conference reflect significant development in this area“, she said.
She emphasised that ICEGOV would continue to serve as a collaborative platform for knowledge sharing and advancing digital governance globally.
“We expect it to remain a space where all relevant stakeholders can jointly tackle the challenges and harness the opportunities of digital technology for national development,” she added.
The Programme Chair of ICEGOV 2025, Prof. Adegboyega Ojo of Carleton University, Canada, noted that the conference provided a platform for governments and experts to dialogue on improving public sector efficiency through technology.
“The focus is on how technology can improve internal government operations, policy development, and service delivery to citizens,” Ojo said.
Also speaking, Lukman Lamid, Special Assistant on Innovation and Research to the NITDA Director General, said the agency would integrate recommendations from the conference into national digital economy strategies.
“Some of the recommendations and best practices discussed here will form part of the framework to advance Nigeria’s digital economy,” he said.
Meanwhile,the Lead Business Analyst on Digital Development Initiatives at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Robert Ifeonu ,won the best research paper award at the conference. His work explored new models for improving digital transformation in the public sector.
“The paper addresses the recurring failures of digital transformation projects globally, which often lead to wasted resources and eroded citizens’ trust in government,” Dr. Ifeonu said.
The ICEGOV 2025 conference brought together delegates from over 80 countries to exchange ideas and innovations shaping the future of digital governance worldwide.
