In a landmark recognition of Edo State’s pioneering role in educational reforms and digital transformation,Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs Ozavize Eyitayo Salami, were honoured at the Nigeria GovTech Public Service Awards 2024, hosted by the Federal Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR).
As part of the broader celebration of Edo State’s achievements, the Edo State Geographic Information Service (EDOGIS) was honoured with the Best GIS in Nigeria award, while Oredo local government council received recognition as the Digital Local Government of the Year, further showcasing Edo State’s leadership in digital governance across multiple sectors.
Governor Obaseki, who received the Digital Governor of the Year Award (Public Sector Automation), was lauded for his bold reforms over the past eight years, driving digital governance and service automation in the state.
Under his leadership, Edo has emerged as Nigeria’s most digitally connected state, with every local government-linked through fibre optics and the entire public service running on an efficient e-government platform. This transformation has positioned Edo State at the forefront of public sector digitization in Nigeria.
Equally significant was the recognition of Mrs Ozavize Eyitayo Salami, Executive Chairman of Edo SUBEB, who was awarded the Distinguished GovTech Trailblazer’s Award. Mrs Salami took over leadership at Edo SUBEB in November 2021.
Since coming into office, she has dedicated herself to consolidating the gains of the EdoBEST Programme, an education reform initiated by Governor Obaseki, which leverages technology and data to accelerate foundational literacy and numeracy and significantly improve learning outcomes in classrooms.
As a leader, she demonstrates strong programme implementation skills and resilience that drives and sustains reforms and transformation initiatives. This has set her apart and earned her this prestigious award.
EdoBEST, which has transformed public primary and junior secondary schools into centres of learning through a blend of modern teaching methods and cutting-edge technology, has been hailed as a national model for improving the delivery of basic education in public schools.
The programme’s focus on teacher training, technology-enabled teaching with smart devices, adequate instructional materials, and an elaborate measurement and evaluation mechanism currently empowers over 380,000 Edo children aged between 4 and 15 years with accessible, equitable, and qualitative education.
In response to the awards, Mrs Salami stated: “This recognition is not just for me but for the entire team at SUBEB and the dedicated teachers across Edo State. Our collective effort in driving education reform through technology is changing lives, and I am grateful to Governor Obaseki for his visionary leadership.
Governor Obaseki’s and Mrs Salami’s achievements underscore the importance of strategic leadership and innovation in transforming public service delivery, especially in the education sector.
The Nigeria GovTech Public Service Awards 2024 further solidifies Edo State’s reputation as a trailblazer in digital governance, creating a legacy that will benefit future generations.
