President Bola Tinubu has underscored the vital importance of data in governance, declaring it “the new oil” and setting out a directive for all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to capture, protect, and responsibly disseminate data to drive public value and enhance Nigeria’s global standing.
The President’s announcement was made during the 2025 International Civil Service Conference in Abuja, a gathering attended by members of the Federal Executive Council, the diplomatic corps, industry leaders, and civil servants.
Unlike traditional oil, President Tinubu explained, data’s value increases with refinement and careful utilisation. He mandated all MDAs to comply strictly with the Nigerian Data Protection Act (2023), ensuring data sovereignty and privacy through secure local and allied data centres.
“We must let our data speak for us,” the President said.
“We must publish verified data assets locally and share them globally. This will enable international benchmarking and strengthen Nigeria’s standing on the world stage.”
The emphasis on data coincided with the launch of Galaxy Backbone’s 1Government Cloud Academy, an initiative aimed at equipping civil servants with the digital skills necessary for Nigeria’s transition to a paperless public sector.
The academy is designed to train selected public servants and stakeholders in technical tools that are crucial for digital transformation and improving communication across MDAs.
Programme Director of the 1Government Cloud initiative, Mr Wumi Oghoetuoma, spoke on a panel during the conference, highlighting the importance of trust and understanding in the adoption of digital tools.
“Many digital solutions have failed not because they were ineffective, but because users didn’t trust or fully understand them,” Oghoetuoma noted.
He praised the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, for her decisive reform efforts. The academy’s training programme includes both technical competencies and vital soft skills to support a successful transformation.
The 1Government Cloud Academy will serve as a central hub for training and certifying government personnel, particularly Enterprise Content Management (ECM) project managers, who act as “transformation champions” within their departments. These champions help colleagues overcome challenges and build confidence in new digital tools.
“This approach builds trust, improves usability, and encourages widespread adoption across MDAs,” said Oghoetuoma.
He explained that simple issues, such as poor WiFi connectivity, often go unresolved due to poor communication between ministry staff and IT departments, which in turn affects the perception of system failure.
To address these challenges, the academy also offers specialised certification courses for IT departments to improve responsiveness and collaboration.
Oghoetuoma emphasised that digital literacy is not the main barrier, as most civil servants are adept with smartphones and social media. Instead, the key challenges lie in mindset, motivation, and ongoing support.
“Digital transformation hinges on people, processes, and technology,” he said.
“The missing link is often technology adoption, and the glue that holds it all together is communication.”
Mrs Walson-Jack highlighted Nigeria’s digital reforms as exemplary for other nations. She pointed to the automation of processes through the Enterprise Content Management system, the introduction of a Performance Management System, and the deployment of ServiceWise GPT, which aligns individual roles with national priorities.
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, praised the reform agenda under President Tinubu, describing it as “bold and necessary steps for long-term development.”
He stressed that the success of these reforms depends on efficient service delivery and integrity within the civil service.
As Nigeria embraces digital transformation, initiatives like the 1Government Cloud Academy promise to strengthen governance, improve public service, and position the country more competitively on the global stage.
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