By James Sani
The Kogi State Government has commenced a two-day Digital Transformation Training for Permanent Secretaries and Directors of Administration, with the Head of Civil Service, Hajiya Falilat Yusuf Musa, Esq., declaring that digital compliance will become a major requirement for career progression in the state civil service.
The Head of Service made this known on Tuesday in Lokoja while declaring open the training held at the Conference Hall of the State Secretariat Complex. The programme was organised by the Kogi State Government in collaboration with Tethered Atoms Ltd.
The training, themed “From Understanding Digital Transformation to Using the Tools Built for You,” is aimed at equipping senior civil servants with the knowledge and skills required to drive the state’s transition from paper-based administration to a technology-driven public service.
Hajiya Falilat said the civil service could no longer operate outside the global digital transition, stressing that digitalisation would make government business faster, more transparent and more efficient.
According to her, electronic communication and document management would eliminate delays associated with the movement of physical files, while digital records would reduce the time spent searching through cabinets for official documents.
She cited a recent experience in which a communication from the state to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in Abuja was rejected because it was not transmitted through the prescribed online channels.
She described the experience as instructive, noting that it demonstrated the irreversible nature of the transition to digital platforms for communication, document management and collaboration.
The Head of Service listed some of the digital platforms being deployed under the state’s transformation agenda to include the Smart Kogi App, KogiConnect, KogiVault, Head of Service Website and Career Portal, as well as the Training and Staff Improvement Management component.
She explained that the platforms were not merely applications but tools designed to fundamentally improve the way government operates.
Hajiya Falilat charged the participants, particularly Permanent Secretaries and Directors of Administration, to regard themselves as leaders of the digital transformation process and ensure that the knowledge acquired is cascaded to their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
She also called for greater collaboration among government institutions, observing that delays in one office could affect the performance of others, while digital systems would strengthen coordination and inter-agency connections.
She expressed appreciation to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for approving and supporting the programme, urging participants to participate actively, ask questions and make useful contributions towards improving the digital transformation agenda.
“On that note, it is my pleasure to declare the 2-Day Digital Transformation Training officially open,” she said.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Training in Industrial and Labour Matters, Mr. Ajibade Abimbola Babafemi, said the training was designed to build basic competence among senior officials in line with the government’s digital agenda.
He said participants were expected to leave the programme with a better understanding of digital transformation and be prepared to embrace and implement the new systems once they are fully deployed across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Babafemi stressed that participants would also be expected to cascade the knowledge gained to their subordinates in their respective offices.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Admin and Public Service in the Office of the Head of Service, Dr. Aisha Mohammed Atojoko, described the initiative as a welcome development with the potential to significantly improve efficiency, transparency, record management and service delivery across MDAs.
She noted that the adoption of digital systems would help reduce administrative delays, strengthen accountability and ensure that government business is conducted in a more structured and efficient manner.
In the same vein, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mr. Aminu Salami, described the training as timely and commended Governor Ododo for his commitment to workforce development.
“We commend him with trust and confidence. He has been doing well and I know he will do more for Kogi State,” Salami said.
He added that participants had embraced the programme and were looking forward to applying the skills acquired to improve service delivery in their respective MDAs.
