𝐄𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐢’𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲: 𝐅𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐔𝐳𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐤𝐰𝐮 𝐎𝐤𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞’𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 – 𝑨 𝑪𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝑪𝑻 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒓

Today marks two years of impactful governance in Ebonyi State, and we heartily commend His Excellency, Governor Francis Nwifuru, for his remarkable strides in various sectors. The visible transformation across our dear state, from infrastructural development to human capital investment, is truly laudable and a testament to his administration’s commitment to progress. We see roads taking shape, educational institutions receiving attention, and a renewed sense of purpose taking root.

These are indeed giant steps towards a brighter future for Ebonyi. However, as we celebrate these significant achievements, it is imperative to cast a critical eye on a crucial sector that, regrettably, appears to be lagging far behind the governor’s progressive vision: Information and Communication Technology (ICT). While the world hurtles into an era defined by Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, and advanced digital solutions, Ebonyi State’s ICT landscape, under the leadership of the Honourable Commissioner for ICT, Comr Machiavelli Uzoh seems to be stuck in a distressing time warp, representing a profound missed opportunity for our collective advancement.

The questions that arise from this apparent stagnation are not just profound; they are damning and demand immediate answers. How can a state in 2025 operate without a functional workers’ management system, forcing its civil servants and pensioners, the very backbone of our state, into the indignity of manual verification and “table payments”? This archaic practice is not merely inefficient; it is a blatant disregard for modern governance, susceptible to corruption and delays, and a stark indicator of a ministry utterly disconnected from contemporary administrative needs. 

Furthermore, the glaring absence of a state-of-the-art data centre is an unforgivable oversight. A modern government, aspiring for efficiency and transparency, requires a secure and centralised data repository. Without it, data security is compromised, and any meaningful digital transformation initiatives are rendered impossible, leaving us unable to leverage data for informed policy-making and essential service delivery.

Beyond basic infrastructure, the void in innovation is equally disturbing. Ebonyi boasts a wealth of bright, tech-savvy youth, yet where are the platforms to nurture their talent, to inspire them to ideate, and to build solutions that address our unique challenges? There are no innovation hubs, no hackathons, no incubation centres to speak of, effectively stifling the very creativity that drives economic growth in the 21st century. While the global tech ecosystem thrives on AI and blockchain-powered solutions, these transformative technologies remain largely untapped in Ebonyi State government operations. The year is 2025, the year of AI Agents, and our state is content to remain on the sidelines, watching other states and nations forge ahead, seemingly oblivious to the immense potential for efficiency, transparency, and economic diversification that these technologies offer.

The operational failures extend to the very core of our state’s financial health. The deplorable state of mobility revenue and tax collection, still reliant on “pen and paper” and the infamous “touts,” is not just archaic but a breeding ground for illicit activities and significant revenue leakage. How can Ebonyi maximize its internally generated revenue (IGR) when its collection mechanisms are so fundamentally flawed and easily compromised? This is a gaping hole in our fiscal fabric that technology could effortlessly mend yet remains unaddressed. 

Even the recently launched EBOCAB ride-hailing system, reportedly supervised by the ICT Ministry, is a testament to poor execution. While the intention to provide a regulated taxi service is commendable, the widespread complaints about its flawed pricing algorithm, which fails to consider crucial factors like time of day, type of car, and distance, speak volumes. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being perfect, EBOCAB’s current state is arguably a 7 in terms of flaws, indicating a clear lack of technical understanding and foresight in its development and implementation.

Perhaps most damning is the shocking statistic that almost 80% of tech experts operating in Ebonyi State are non-Ebonyians. This is not just an unfortunate reality; it is a systemic failure within the ICT Ministry to develop and empower local talent, raising serious questions about capacity building, local content development, and the overall vision for indigenous participation in the state’s burgeoning tech space. This situation underscores a leadership that has failed to invest in its own people and foster a vibrant local tech ecosystem.

These are not mere rhetorical inquiries; they are urgent calls for accountability and a desperate plea for a paradigm shift. The current state of ICT in Ebonyi is not just a missed opportunity; it is a profound detriment to the state’s progress and a disservice to its citizens. The technological revolution, particularly in the era of AI Agents, demands leadership that understands and champions digital transformation. 

Regrettably, the lacklustre performance of the Honourable Commissioner for ICT, Hon. Tochukwu Okorie, suggests a profound, even alarming, lack of understanding of this critical imperative. His appointment, considering these glaring deficiencies, feels like a knock and a mockery to the collective intelligence of Ebonyi’s tech literati. 

For Ebonyi to truly realise its potential and join the ranks of digitally empowered states, a drastic change is required within the Ministry of ICT. The immediate sack of Hon. Tochukwu Okorie, who has unequivocally demonstrated zero understanding of the technological revolution and appears to be operating in the “stone age” while the world embraces 2025, the year of AI Agents, is not just a recommendation but a dire necessity for the future of our beloved state. The time for digital progress is now, and Ebonyi deserves a commissioner who can lead us into it, not hold us back.

AKUMA CHIJUKA FORTUNE WRITES FROM UNITED KINGDOM