Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has been named the Digital Governor of the Year 2025 at the National Information Technology Merit Award (NITMA) held in Lagos.
The award, described by organisers as one of the most competitive categories of the ceremony, recognises the Governor’s extensive use of technology to enhance governance, public service delivery, and institutional reforms across Borno State.
The announcement was received with loud applause from ICT stakeholders, policymakers, innovators, and international partners, many of whom noted that Zulum’s emergence was expected given his record of digitally driven reforms.
Since assuming office in 2019, Zulum has pushed a comprehensive digital transformation agenda aimed at strengthening governance processes in a state recovering from years of insurgency. His administration introduced electronic documentation systems, automated workflows, biometric verification of civil servants, and real-time digital dashboards for monitoring government projects.
A flagship initiative under his leadership, the Borno Digital Transformation Project, has repositioned the state’s civil service through digital literacy programmes and the deployment of cloud-based platforms to improve coordination and reduce bureaucratic delays.
Zulum’s administration also launched several e-governance platforms, including portals for public feedback, job applications, welfare services, and agricultural support. According to organisers, these innovations have made governance more transparent and accessible to young people and rural communities.
In the security sector, the Governor has expanded the use of digital surveillance tools, communication systems, and community-based reporting channels to support security agencies and enhance the protection of vulnerable populations. His approach to resettling displaced persons includes digital mapping and biometric enumeration to ensure accountability in humanitarian interventions.
Education in Borno has also seen major ICT-driven improvements, with schools adopting digital learning tools, teacher training programmes, and youth-focused tech empowerment schemes supported by national and international partners.
An award judge described Borno’s digital education reforms as “one of the most compelling transformations emerging from the North East.”
Engr. Mohammed Ahmed Kabir Wanori, FNSE, Executive Secretary of the Borno State Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (BICTDA), received the award on behalf of the Governor.
In his remarks, Zulum dedicated the honour to the people of Borno State, acknowledging their resilience and contributions to the state’s recovery.
“This honour is not mine alone. 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,” he said.
“We have embraced technology not because it is trendy, but because it is necessary for our rebirth.”
The Governor pledged to sustain investments in innovation, digital infrastructure, youth skills development, and ICT entrepreneurship.
Industry observers note that the award highlights the growing role of technology in governance and reinforces Zulum’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s most innovative public sector leaders.
The Digital Governor of the Year 2025 award marks a significant milestone for both Borno State and the North East region, showcasing how digital tools can drive development even in challenging environments.
