By Princess Funsho Sumanu
The Kogi State Government has strengthened its commitment to digital transformation, transparency and efficient public service delivery with a three-day capacity-building training on the State’s One Governing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software.
The Governance Delivery Unit (GDU) organised the training, which brought together public officers from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across the State.
The programme was designed to equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to effectively operate the State’s unified digital governance platform, while improving planning, monitoring, reporting, performance management, and accountability across government institutions.
Speaking at the opening of the training, the Director-General/Coordinator of the Governance Delivery Unit, Amb. Olusiji Aina, Ph.D., described digital governance as an important catalyst for efficient public administration.
He explained that the One Governing initiative represents a significant step towards modernising government processes by promoting transparency, accountability and evidence-based decision-making.
Amb. Aina urged participants to take the training seriously and become ambassadors of digital transformation in their respective MDAs.
He also disclosed that the Executive Governor had approved the distribution of laptops and iPads to GDU desk officers across MDAs to facilitate seamless data gathering and digital operations, adding that Permanent Secretaries and Directors-General would also be provided with laptops to support the initiative.
The keynote address, titled “One Governing Uncovered: The Glass Government,” was delivered on behalf of the Executive Governor by the Secretary to the State Government, Pst. Dr. (Mrs.) Folashade Arike Ayoade, who officially declared the training open.
She described a “Glass Government” as one in which government activities, projects, finances and performance are visible, measurable and accountable through technology.
The SSG emphasised that digital governance would enhance transparency, make government performance measurable, improve service delivery and strengthen accountability across public institutions, while reducing inefficiency and unnecessary bureaucracy.
She further encouraged public servants to develop e-governance skills, describing them as valuable additions to their professional capabilities.
Representing the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Asiwaju Idris, Dr. Elijah Evenemi, Special Adviser to the Executive Governor on Budget and Economic Planning II, stressed that technology alone could not guarantee the success of the initiative.
He noted that the effective use of the ERP platform would also depend on the professionalism, discipline, and commitment of civil servants.
The training combined theoretical presentations with practical hands-on sessions covering the architecture and components of the One Governing ERP platform, user roles and responsibilities, digital workflows, data management, authentication and security features.
Participants were also trained on user registration, secure login procedures, dashboard navigation, uploading of records, management of official information, workflow tracking and approval processes.
The programme further introduced participants to performance management, including Key Result Areas (KRAs), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), project monitoring, reporting mechanisms, accountability structures and result-based governance.
The practical sessions demonstrated how officers could use the platform in their daily responsibilities, including managing digital records, updating project information, monitoring assigned tasks, generating reports and improving collaboration among MDAs.
The system also provides for digital data management, with desk officers expected to upload programme activities, project milestones, photographic evidence and beneficiary information.
Another key feature is the e-Memo function, which allows official memos to be routed digitally through the heads of MDAs and electronically signed using iPads.
The ERP platform also integrates budget monitoring, enabling real-time tracking of budget utilisation, with project expenditure reflected against the relevant MDA allocation once an approved project is executed.
The training highlighted the wider benefits of the system, including centralised government information, faster processing of official activities, reduced paperwork, improved communication among MDAs, real-time access to information, stronger project monitoring and improved evidence-based decision-making.
Participants, however, identified challenges that could affect effective implementation, including limited ICT skills among some officers, inconsistent internet connectivity, power interruptions, inadequate digital devices in some MDAs, and the need for continuous technical support and practical training.
To sustain the initiative, the training recommended regular refresher courses, provision of adequate computers and tablets, improved internet connectivity, reliable power backup systems, and the establishment of dedicated ERP support teams within MDAs.
It also recommended periodic monitoring and evaluation of system usage, continuous software upgrades based on users’ feedback, stronger cybersecurity measures, and full management support for the adoption of the platform.
The three-day training reaffirmed the Kogi State Government’s commitment to building a digitally connected public service in which government operations are increasingly transparent, measurable, and responsive.
With sustained capacity building, adequate infrastructure, and continuous system improvement, the One Governing ERP platform is expected to support more efficient public administration and contribute to improved service delivery across the State.
Participants were consequently encouraged to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the training in their respective MDAs and support the wider adoption of digital governance in Kogi State.
