State House Committee on Information Visits Anambra ICT Agency, Assures Support for E-Governance Initiatives
By Nwanodu Angela
The Chairman and Members of the State House Committee on Information visited the Anambra State ICT Agency on Tuesday for a familiarization meeting with the Managing Director, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata (CFA).
This visit underscores the critical collaboration between the legislative and executive arms in driving technological progress and ensuring effective governance in the state.
Led by the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Fred Ezenwa (Onitsha South 1), and including Hon. Jude Akpua (Njikoka 2), Hon. Justice Azuka (Onitsha North 1), and Hon. Patrick Udoba (Anambra West), the delegation met with the ICT Agency’s leadership to gain a comprehensive understanding of the agency’s operations, discuss the challenges it faces, and explore ways to address these challenges within the framework of the law.
Explaining the Committee’s role, Hon. Fred Ezenwa stated, “We are acting according to the Constitution of the Federal Republic, Sections 128 and 129, which mandate us to oversee the activities of agencies like this. If you have challenges, we can address them in the House to ensure you are more productive. If there is a need for an amendment of the law or for a motion to be moved, we will do it to make your work easier.”
During the meeting, CFA emphasized the agency’s efforts in driving e-governance across Anambra State, stating, “Our vision is to build a digitally transformed Anambra State. At the core of our mandate is e-government capacity for the state—to build it and deepen it.”
CFA elaborated on the state’s progress in digital infrastructure, noting, “One of the first things Mr. Governor did was to remove the Right of Way (RoW) charges, which has encouraged infrastructure companies to work with the state. As a result, people now have fiber in their homes, a significant improvement compared to what we had before, all thanks to these reform changes.”
He further discussed the agency’s role in pioneering digital transformation through collaborations with various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). “In terms of e-government, a number of things have happened in the state. Because our role is more of an incubatory role, we work with these MDAs to fulfill their goals. For instance, we partnered with the Ministry of Health to develop the Ashefamu e-platform that gathers all the accredited health systems in Anambra State, and with the Ministry of Budget to automate their budget systems. Ours is a supervisory and advisory role to ensure these projects succeed.”
CFA also highlighted ongoing efforts to expand broadband access, stating, “We are currently in partnership with a provider deploying internet in the Secretariat, and we have also extended this service to public places like Aroma, Eke Awka, Ifite, and Book Foundation. Expanding broadband access is crucial because the more Ndi Anambra have access to the Internet, the more possibilities open up for them.”
Additionally, CFA mentioned the agency’s initiatives in training civil servants and distributing laptops to civil servants, teachers, and heads of local government officials, noting, “Anambra is currently one of the leading states in tech adoption.”
The visit reinforced the importance of aligning the agency’s objectives with legislative support to effectively fulfill its mandate. It also served as a testament to the collaborative spirit necessary for achieving good governance and technological advancement in Anambra State.
CFA expressed gratitude for the Committee’s engagement, emphasizing that continued collaboration is essential as the agency strives to overcome challenges and achieve its objectives.