Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has said the success of the state’s digital transformation agenda will be measured by the level of investment attracted to the technology sector, jobs created and the sector’s contribution to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Otti stated this on Thursday at the opening of the State-level Policy, Regulatory and Institutional Reforms Enabling Digital Transformation (SPRIRET) Stakeholder Engagement Programme at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Government House, Umuahia.
The governor described technology as an increasingly important driver of economic development and said regulatory frameworks must be re-engineered to remove structural barriers that could discourage private-sector investment in the digital economy.
According to him, his administration has made technology a major component of its development strategy since assuming office, with a focus on job creation, reducing administrative costs and improving government processes.
Otti said the state established the Office of the Chief Information Officer to coordinate its technology programmes and had trained more than 2,200 young people in various Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills through the TechRise programme.
He added that other programmes, including ThriveAbia, Abia Digi-Upskill and Girls-in-ICT, had expanded digital skills among residents and increased access to local and international opportunities.
The governor also acknowledged the support of the British High Commission and the United Kingdom’s Digital Access Programme (DAP) in advancing the state’s digital transformation efforts.
He disclosed that 500 civil servants trained under the State-Level Inclusive Digital Transformation Programme were now contributing to digital transformation initiatives across different government institutions.
Otti said the SPRIRET programme, funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK FCDO), would support the development of policies, institutions and systems required to build what he described as a resilient digital economy in Abia.
The initiative brings together government representatives, private-sector operators, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to identify regulatory reforms that could stimulate investment in the technology sector.
The governor said Abia had already introduced measures aimed at creating a more conducive environment for digital businesses and reducing some of the infrastructure and regulatory challenges facing technology companies.
Among the measures is the Abia State Dig Once Policy, which took effect in May 2024 and regulates the installation of fibre-optic cables and other underground infrastructure.
According to Otti, the policy is intended to protect infrastructure investments, minimise unnecessary disruption and reduce deployment costs for telecommunications companies and internet service providers.
The governor also highlighted the Abia State Startup Law, signed in October 2025, as another measure designed to promote technology-driven businesses through regulatory incentives and financial support for innovators and entrepreneurs.
He said the state had established a N2 billion startup support fund for businesses developing innovative solutions.
Another initiative highlighted by Otti is the Abia State Technological Skills Acquisition Centre (ATSAC), which was established to provide advanced technology training in areas including artificial intelligence, machine learning, chip design and robotics.
The governor further disclosed that the state launched the N306 million Nkata technology-enabling business grant in May 2026 to support technology startups and business owners across Abia’s 17 local government areas.
Nearly 100 businesses had benefited from the grant since its launch, he said, while other applicants were still awaiting support.
Otti said the state’s broader ambition was to position Abia as a regional ICT hub, with improvements in mobile network coverage and data access expected to create additional opportunities for businesses and residents, particularly in communities that have previously been underserved.
He urged participants at the SPRIRET stakeholder engagement to focus on practical ways technology could address challenges confronting communities.
Among the areas he identified were insecurity, unemployment, post-harvest losses, urban property rentals and environmental degradation.
The governor said digital solutions should not be developed simply because they were technologically possible but should respond to specific economic and social challenges affecting residents.
He also stressed that the administration would not measure the progress of its digital agenda solely by the number of policies and programmes introduced.
Instead, Otti said the focus would be on the tangible economic outcomes generated by those interventions.
“We are also keen on results,” the governor said, stressing that increased investment, employment and the contribution of the digital sector to the state’s economy would ultimately provide a measure of progress.
The emphasis on measurable outcomes places investment and employment at the centre of Abia’s digital transformation strategy.
Through its various skills programmes, startup funding initiatives and regulatory reforms, the state is seeking to expand the pool of residents capable of participating in the digital economy while creating an environment that can attract technology businesses.
The government’s engagement with private-sector operators and other stakeholders through SPRIRET is also intended to identify areas where existing regulations and institutional processes may be improved.
For technology businesses, regulatory clarity and infrastructure are important considerations when deciding where to establish or expand operations.
The Dig Once Policy, for example, is aimed at making fibre deployment more coordinated and reducing repeated excavation and associated costs, while the Startup Law and funding programmes are intended to provide additional support for technology entrepreneurs.
The state’s investment in technical training through ATSAC is also expected to strengthen the skills pipeline in emerging areas such as AI, machine learning, chip design and robotics.
Otti declared the SPRIRET stakeholder engagement programme open and called on participants to develop practical recommendations capable of translating digital opportunities into social and economic benefits for residents.
The engagement comes as Abia seeks to expand its role in Nigeria’s growing technology ecosystem by combining regulatory reform, digital skills development, startup financing and improved connectivity.
The governor’s stated targets — increased ICT investment, job creation and a larger contribution from the digital sector to the state’s economy — provide the economic measures against which the administration intends to assess its digital transformation agenda.