 and the Borno State Judiciary have emerged as prominent winners at the 2026 Nigeria GovTech Conference Public Service Award,){kind=link}
The Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (BOSCHMA) and the Borno State Judiciary have emerged as prominent winners at the 2026 Nigeria GovTech Conference Public Service Award, clinching the prestigious Distinguished GovTech Trailblazer Awards.
The awards, presented by the presidency through the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), recognize outstanding contributions to digital innovation and institutional transformation. The ceremony followed a technical session at the State House Auditorium, Presidential Villa, Abuja, where representatives of the European Union, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Estonia, and Nigerian government institutions discussed strategies for strengthening digital public infrastructure.
Speaking on the initiative, the Director-General of BPSR, Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, said the awards celebrated innovation and excellence in public service.
“Today, we celebrate innovation and excellence in public service,” he said. “I urge us to remain steadfast as we continue to harness the power of emerging technologies to create a brighter future for our communities and Nigeria at large.”
Mr. Arabi further noted that the annual international GovTech Conference was designed to accelerate digital transformation in governance and support the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He elaborated on this in remarks delivered at Rockview Hotels, Abuja, on Tuesday, 13th October 2026, during the 2026 Nigeria GovTech Conference Public Service Award themed “Advancing Digital Government Scaling Digits Infrastructure for Effective Governance and Service Delivery”, stating:
“The annual conference aims to foster digital transformation, enhance public service delivery via technology, promote innovation and efficiency, and share knowledge among stakeholders, aligning closely with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
He explained that the award segment honors individuals contributing to public service delivery and socio-economic development through technology.
A Milestone for Digital Health in Borno
Dr. Saleh Abba Kaza, the Executive Secretary of BOSCHMA, who also received an award on behalf of the agency as the Best State Ministry, Department, or Agency in Digital Health Service Delivery, attributed the recognition to teamwork and the support of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.
“It was never a one-man job; it was the collective effort of the team, and we all got our inspiration from the governor,” he said, noting that he had prioritized the digitalization of the agency’s operations, including the enrollment of healthcare units and management of accredited facilities.
Reflecting on what the recognition means to him and his organization, Dr. Kaza said:
“It means a lot to me. I have to use this opportunity, first of all, to appreciate His Excellency, the Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulin, and also the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Health, and all the citizens of Borno State who have given us tremendous support to achieve this feat.
And in addition also my management team, I have to appreciate them, and especially those working with the ICT Department, they have done a lot for us to actually achieve this milestone. This is not something that actually started today. It is five years of hard work and sacrifice that made us recognized today. And today, at least for good reasons, Borno is going to be in the limelight, and then we are highly appreciative of that. We have to thank Allah SWT for giving us the opportunity, for giving us life, for us to witness this important day.”
Detailing how the achievement will improve digital government services and benefit citizens, Dr. Kaza added:
“It means a lot. A lot of people are doing a lot of things behind the scenes, many people that I may not be able to mention here. They have done a lot of things, and I have to use this opportunity to appreciate them and to dedicate this award to all of them, all our citizens of Borno State. And we all know how valuable digitalization is all about. It is something that I believe in from the one, and I happen to be the pioneer Executive Secretary, and it is one of the things that actually made me to have a good speed to achieve the milestone that we have achieved. We were able to achieve full digitalization of our enrolments platform, including our customer care platform, including self-enrolment, which now we don’t even need to go and reach and go down to the people to capture them. We have a platform where they can be captured, and then referral platform as well, and even including our financial transaction—all has been digitized so far. We have a control centre where, in my office, while sitting, I can visualize everything that is going on in all the healthcare facilities that we piloted. And the centralized Electronic Health Record system can only be found in Borno State because through that, we were able to know how many people are even coming to hospital at a view, real-time data. And these are things that we are also advising other people to emulate.”
Justice Kashim Zannah, the Chief Judge of Borno State, who spoke on behalf of the recipients, said the recognition was meaningful because the Borno State Judiciary was also recognized for its electronic court system.
Other recipients honored at the event included Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, and Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State.
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