ABSG UNVEILS “ONE DATA, ONE IDENTITY, ONE GOVERNMENT” INITIATIVE TO DRIVE EVIDENCE-BASED GOVERNANCE

The Abia State Government has taken a bold step toward institutionalising data-driven governance with the formal declaration of the Abia State Data and Identity for Governance Workshop by the Deputy Governor, His Excellency Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, FNSE.

The high-level workshop, held at the Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, on Thursday, 19th February 2026, brought together key policymakers, development partners, heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and technical experts to advance the state’s “One Data, One Identity, One Government” initiative.

Declaring the workshop open on behalf of the Executive Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, the Deputy Governor reaffirmed the administration’s unwavering commitment to building a modern, efficient, and digitally enabled state anchored on credible data and a harmonised identity framework.

He emphasized that governance in the 21st century must be rooted in accurate data and reliable identity systems, noting that without them, planning becomes speculative and service delivery fragmented.

“Without accurate data, planning becomes guesswork, and without a harmonised identity framework, service delivery becomes fragmented. Today, we are taking deliberate steps to correct these gaps and position Abia State for intelligent, evidence-based governance,” the Deputy Governor noted.

“The future of governance is digital. The future of planning is analytical. The future of accountability is data-based,” Engr. Emetu stated, describing the initiative as a transformational blueprint aimed at integrating data systems across MDAs, eliminating duplication, enhancing transparency, strengthening revenue generation, and ensuring measurable impact in public service delivery.

Earlier in his remarks, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, described the workshop as a strategic turning point in the state’s transition from fragmented digital projects to a coordinated enterprise-wide data architecture. He stressed that data is a state asset and identity is the backbone of efficient service delivery, adding that integration would deepen transparency, improve policy coordination, and strengthen regulatory compliance.

The Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Kingsley Anosike, underscored the urgency of reform, warning that fragmented data systems pose significant risks to planning credibility, fiscal efficiency, and development outcomes. He noted that siloed data leads to duplication, revenue leakages, weak performance tracking, and poor impact measurement.

According to him, the proposed unified data governance framework will not strip MDAs of ownership of their data but will provide secure infrastructure, interoperability standards, and a central warehouse under a strengthened Bureau of Statistics framework to ensure a single source of truth for government decision-making.

Delivering a technical presentation, the State Chief Information Officer, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe, highlighted the importance of accurate, standardised, and secure data systems in achieving meaningful governance outcomes. He outlined key enablers of data integrity, including harmonised identity systems, cybersecurity safeguards, regulatory compliance, and institutional capacity building.

Contributions from sectoral leaders, including the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, and his Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection counterpart, Mrs. Blessing Ngozi Felix, reinforced the consensus that digital transformation and identity integration would enhance investment opportunities, improve communication between government and citizens, strengthen social protection targeting, and boost service delivery across sectors.

The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to develop a scalable, secure, and fit-for-purpose framework that will institutionalise data governance standards, establish clear reporting and enforcement mechanisms, and support evidence-based executive decision-making.

Members of the State Executive Council, including the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okay Kanu; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget and Planning, Dr. Eric Egwuibe; heads of several MDAs attended the workshop among other stakeholders.

Sir Cyril Chukwudi Eke Mba
Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Abia State
February 19, 2026.