Nigeria’s future economic competitiveness, governance effectiveness and public service delivery will depend heavily on how successfully the country embraces digital technology, George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has said.
Akume made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja while declaring open the Digital Transformation Summit 2026, a gathering of policymakers, ICT experts and public sector leaders focused on accelerating digital governance, innovation and technology adoption across government institutions.
The summit also marked the 20th anniversary of Galaxy Backbone Limited, the Federal Government-owned technology services provider responsible for delivering shared ICT infrastructure and digital services to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
“The future of governance will be digital. The future of economic competitiveness will be digital. The future of public service delivery will be digital,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Akume, who also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Galaxy Backbone, said digital innovation has become a critical pillar of national development and urged stronger collaboration across all tiers of government to advance Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
“The future of governance will be digital. The future of economic competitiveness will be digital. The future of public service delivery will be digital,” he said.
His comments reflect growing recognition within the government that technology is becoming increasingly central to state capacity, economic growth and the efficient delivery of public services.
Digital transformation key to national development
According to Akume, Nigeria’s digital future will require more than policy ambition, stressing that sustainable progress depends on robust infrastructure, innovation, collaboration and institutions capable of delivering services at scale.
“Powering Nigeria’s digital future requires more than ambition,” he said, adding that sustainable progress depends on “robust infrastructure, innovation, collaboration, and institutions capable of delivering services at scale.”
The SGF called on federal and state government institutions to deepen their adoption of existing digital infrastructure and leverage technology platforms already deployed across the public sector to improve governance outcomes and service delivery.
“The digital infrastructure already exists. The expertise exists. The partnerships exist. What is required is greater collaboration, stronger adoption, and a shared commitment to accelerating digital transformation at every level of government,” Akume said.
The remarks underscore the Federal Government’s push to ensure that investments in digital infrastructure translate into measurable improvements in public administration and citizen services.
Akume commended Galaxy Backbone for its contributions to Nigeria’s digital transformation journey over the past two decades, describing the organisation as a trusted partner in the country’s evolving ICT ecosystem.
He noted that Galaxy Backbone has grown into a critical national infrastructure provider, supporting MDAs with secure connectivity, cloud services, shared digital platforms and government-wide networks that enable more efficient public sector operations.
The SGF also praised the organisation’s management and workforce for their role in driving its growth and expanding its capabilities over the years.
According to him, the next phase of Galaxy Backbone’s development is expected to further strengthen digital governance capacity, improve institutional efficiency and support broader national development objectives.
Government intensifies digital transformation efforts
Nigeria has in recent years intensified efforts to digitise public services, expand broadband infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity frameworks as part of broader reforms aimed at improving transparency, institutional efficiency, innovation and economic growth.
Key initiatives include the expansion of national digital identity programmes, deployment of e-government platforms, investments in broadband infrastructure and the adoption of cloud-based technologies across government institutions.
These programmes are increasingly being positioned as strategic tools for modernising governance, improving service delivery, enhancing accountability and attracting investment into Nigeria’s growing digital economy.
The Digital Transformation Summit 2026 forms part of ongoing efforts to align policy, infrastructure and institutional capacity towards building a more connected, data-driven and technology-enabled public sector capable of meeting the demands of a digital economy.
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