By: Abdullahi Inuwa
In a moment of national pride and a resounding victory for progressive governance, the Borno State Executive Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has been crowned Digital Governor of the Year 2025 at the National Information Technology Merit Award (NITMA) held in Lagos. The honour, described by organisers as one of the most competitive categories of the night, recognizes Zulum’s transformative use of technology to rebuild, reposition, and reimagine governance in a state long affected by insecurity and developmental setbacks.
The announcement, met with thunderous applause from industry stakeholders, policymakers, innovators, and international partners, underscored the Governor’s growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s most forward-thinking leaders. For many in the hall, the award did not come as a surprise; rather, it was seen as a long-overdue national acknowledgment of a man who has consistently redefined public service through innovation, digital tools, and practical leadership.
Since assuming office in 2019, Prof. Zulum has carved a niche for himself as a hands-on, solutions-driven administrator with a deep understanding of how information technology can accelerate development. One of the key criteria for this year’s NITMA Digital Governor Award was demonstrable impact: the measurable use of digital platforms to enhance governance, service delivery, transparency, and public sector reforms.
Under Zulum’s leadership, Borno has emerged as an unexpected model for digitally enabled governance—an impressive feat for a state recovering from over a decade of insurgency disruptions. The Governor’s efforts to rebuild institutions did not stop at bricks and mortar; he approached it with a futuristic mindset, pushing aggressively for technology-driven systems in education, healthcare, security coordination, public engagement, and civil service management.
One of Zulum’s landmark initiatives is the Borno Digital Transformation Project, aimed at integrating ICT into the entire governance ecosystem. The project introduced electronic documentation, automated workflows, biometric verification for civil servants, and digital dashboards that track government project in real time.
The civil service, once encumbered by inefficiencies, has been repositioned through digital training programmes that have produced one of the most technologically updated public workforces in northern Nigeria. Ministries now operate with improved coordination, thanks to the rollout of internal communication systems and cloud-based platforms that enhance efficiency and reduce paperwork.
Central to Zulum’s digital push is the belief that governance must be accessible, transparent, and people-centred. His administration launched several e-governance platforms, including portals for public feedback, job applications, social welfare access, agricultural intervention support, and town hall engagements.
These platforms have helped bridge the gap between the government and the people—especially youth—ensuring faster service delivery while reducing middlemen, manipulation, and long queues traditionally associated with public services.
As one ICT expert at the Lagos event remarked, “Zulum has shown what governance looks like when a leader understands the power of data, innovation, and digital access. He is not just building infrastructure; he is building the future.”
Security remains a top priority for the Governor. Beyond physical reconstruction, Zulum has invested heavily in technological support systems for security operatives. This includes digital surveillance tools, communication gadgets, and community-based reporting channels that enhance responsiveness and protect vulnerable populations.
In addition, the Governor’s approach to resettling displaced persons is anchored in digital mapping, biometric enumeration, and real-time monitoring tools—ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability in humanitarian interventions.
Borno’s education sector has also undergone a quiet digital revolution. Schools across the state now benefit from ICT-enabled learning, virtual training for teachers, and digital literacy programmes that equip young people with global-standard skills.
The state’s partnership with national and international development agencies has produced ICT hubs, innovation centres, solar-powered learning facilities, and youth tech empowerment schemes that continue to transform lives.
One of the award judges described Borno’s digital education model as “a miracle from the North East,” praising Zulum’s determination to ensure that children affected by conflict are not excluded from the digital future.
In his acceptance speech, delivered with gratitude and humility, Governor Zulum dedicated the award to the resilient people of Borno State.
“This honour is not mine alone,” he said. “It belongs to the hardworking men and women of Borno—our teachers, civil servants, humanitarian partners, tech innovators, security operatives, and every citizen whose spirit has never been broken. We have embraced technology not because it is trendy, but because it is necessary for our rebirth.”
Zulum emphasized that the digital transformation journey had only just begun, promising even greater investments in innovation, ICT entrepreneurship, youth skills development, and digital infrastructure.
The Digital Governor of the Year 2025 award is a milestone not only for Zulum but for the entire North East, a region often overshadowed by stories of conflict rather than innovation. His victory demonstrates that visionary leadership can emerge from any part of the country—and that technology, when embraced sincerely, can change the destiny of millions.
As Nigeria continues its march toward a fully digital economy, industry observers say leaders like Governor Zulum offer a glimpse of what is possible: a governance culture built on transparency, efficiency, innovation, and genuine commitment to improving lives.
With this honour, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum has once again cemented his place as one of Nigeria’s most transformational leaders—proving that even in the most challenging environments, technology can light the path to progress, resilience, and hope.
Abdullahi Inuwa Social Commentator ainuwa303@gmail.com
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