Tinubu highlights data’s strategic value as Nigeria launches digital skills academy to drive paperless governance and public sector reform.

President Bola Tinubu has declared that data is “the new oil,” underscoring its vital importance for governance and Nigeria’s position on the global stage. He issued a directive for all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to diligently capture, safeguard, and responsibly release data to generate public value and enable international benchmarking.

This strategic focus on data coincides with the launch of Galaxy Backbone’s 1Government Cloud Academy, an initiative aimed at equipping civil servants with essential digital skills to support Nigeria’s transition to a paperless public sector. According to a statement from Galaxy Backbone on Wednesday, the establishment of the academy represents a deliberate effort to promote a paperless civil service and improve communication among MDAs.

The announcement was a major highlight of the 2025 International Civil Service Conference held in Abuja. The event was attended by President Tinubu, members of the Federal Executive Council, representatives of the diplomatic corps, industry leaders, and civil servants. In his opening remarks, President Tinubu emphasized the strategic value of data, describing it as “the new oil.” He explained that unlike traditional oil, data’s value increases through refinement and responsible use.

The President mandated all MDAs to rigorously capture and protect data in compliance with the Nigerian Data Protection Act (2023). Furthermore, he stressed the importance of releasing data in ways that create public value while strictly adhering to international data privacy standards. “We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets locally and share them globally. This will enable international benchmarking and strengthen Nigeria’s standing on the world stage,” he declared. He also highlighted the critical need for protecting data sovereignty and privacy within both local and allied data centers.

Galaxy Backbone’s 1Government Cloud Academy is designed to train selected civil servants and public sector stakeholders in the technical tools necessary for effective digital transformation. This initiative represents a strategic step forward in advancing Nigeria’s digital public service and enhancing communication among MDAs.

Mr. Wumi Oghoetuoma, Programme Director of the 1Government Cloud initiative, spoke on a panel at the event, emphasizing that trust and understanding are paramount for successful adoption of digital tools. “Many digital solutions have failed not because they were ineffective, but because users didn’t trust or fully understand them,” he noted.

He praised the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for her firm commitment to reforming the public sector through digitalization, pointing out that the academy’s training curriculum includes both technical skills and crucial soft skills necessary for transformation.

The 1Government Cloud Academy will act as a centralized hub for training and certifying government personnel, particularly ECM Project Managers, who are selected as “transformation champions” within their departments. These individuals serve as in-house digital guides, supporting colleagues to overcome initial hurdles and build confidence in using new tools. “This approach builds trust, improves usability, and encourages widespread adoption across MDAs,” Oghoetuoma explained. He added, “Many tools are abandoned not because they don’t work, but due to lack of communication and internal support.”

He highlighted that even basic issues like poor WiFi connectivity often go unresolved because ministry staff fail to communicate problems to their IT departments, and IT departments do not escalate these concerns to Galaxy Backbone. “This silent communication breakdown creates a false perception that the system is broken, when in reality, it’s an unreported or unresolved issue,” he said.

To address this, the academy is also offering specialized certification courses aimed at IT departments to enhance their responsiveness and encourage cross-functional collaboration.

Oghoetuoma stressed that the core challenge is not a lack of digital literacy—most civil servants are already proficient with smartphones and social media—but rather a matter of mindset, motivation, and continuous support. He emphasized, “Digital transformation hinges on people, processes, and technology.” He concluded, “With strong personnel and well-documented processes already in place, the missing link is often technology adoption, and the glue that holds it all together is communication. Sustainable digitalisation in the public sector requires making people feel like active participants, not passive users.”

Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, highlighted Nigeria’s digital reforms as a model for other countries. She referenced the automation of processes through the Enterprise Content Management system, the introduction of a Performance Management System, and the deployment of ServiceWise GPT, which aligns individual roles with national priorities.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, commended Nigeria’s reform agenda under President Tinubu, describing the initiatives as “bold and necessary steps for long-term development.” He underscored that the success of these reforms depends on efficient service delivery and integrity within the civil service.