Anambra deepens digital push, targets SME formalisation
August 17, 2026 1:00 am
File: Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo
Anambra State, a major commercial hub in the South-East of Nigeria, is deepening its digital transformation programme to bring more small and medium-sized businesses into the formal economy by 2030.
The state’s ICT agency is moving into a second phase of its digital strategy, shifting from building basic technology infrastructure to expanding online government services, automating public administration and using digital platforms to formalise businesses.
The push is part of a broader economic modernisation agenda under Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the renowned economist and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, who has placed technology, innovation and human capital at the centre of his administration’s development strategy.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Agbata, said that the agency’s target is to digitise every government entity in the state and make more public services accessible remotely.
“My core vision is that we would have digitised every single government entity in Anambra State,” Agbata remarked during a virtual media conference recently.
The strategy will expand the use of the state’s OneGov platform, allowing residents and businesses to initiate government processes online rather than repeatedly visiting government offices.
The move is intended to reduce the time and cost of dealing with the government, while giving the state greater visibility into demand for public services.
Agbata said that the agency is developing and automating websites for Ministries, Departments and Agencies so that they can move beyond providing information to actually delivering government services online.
The push comes as Anambra seeks to use technology as a broader tool for economic development, particularly in a state whose commercial activity is driven by trading, manufacturing and thousands of small businesses.
The state’s digital strategy is also being linked to a push to formalise SMEs, which Agbata identified as a major challenge. The ICT agency is working with the Ministry of Commerce to encourage businesses, including those operating in major markets, to register and participate in the formal economy.
For businesses, formalisation can improve access to financial services, credit, insurance, government programmes and procurement opportunities. For the government, it can provide better information on economic activity and improve its ability to design targeted policies.
Digital platforms could also reduce the cost and administrative burden of registering and maintaining businesses, particularly for smaller enterprises.
“Business formalisation can unlock access to several economic opportunities,” Agbata argued, adding that registered businesses are better positioned to access formal financial services and institutional support.
The push comes as Anambra seeks to use technology to deepen economic activity in a state where commercial centres such as Onitsha and Nnewi host large concentrations of traders, manufacturers and other SMEs.
Early use of the Smart Anambra platform indicates demand for digital government services.
Agbata said that the platform recorded about 14,000 visits between 9 and 29 July, averaging roughly 700 visits a day despite limited publicity.
The agency sees the traffic as evidence that residents are willing to engage with the government digitally when services are accessible.
The next stage will involve expanding the number of services available online and using data from those interactions to identify bottlenecks and improve service delivery.
The state also intends to move further towards paperless administration. The State Executive Council already operates a paperless system, although Agbata said that the government is likely to adopt a phased approach for the wider civil service.
Selected Ministries, Departments and Agencies could serve as pilots before the model is expanded; however, connectivity could be a constraint.
Agbata said that telecommunications operators may be reluctant to invest in rural areas where commercial returns are limited, creating a risk that residents who could benefit most from online public services may have the weakest internet access.
The ICT agency is considering the use of federal infrastructure and the Universal Service Provision Fund to extend connectivity to underserved communities.
Artificial intelligence is expected to become another layer of the state’s digital strategy. The ICT agency has previously outlined an ambition to become Nigeria’s first AI-native government technology institution, signalling a move beyond simply putting existing government processes online.
AI could eventually support automated customer service, document processing, fraud detection, data analysis and other government functions.
However, the expansion of digital government also increases the importance of cybersecurity and data protection as state platforms handle more information about residents, businesses and government transactions.
Justice has over three years experience spanning digital and print media. At The PUNCH, he currently covers the automobile sector with special interest in features and industry analysis.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]