President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed the strategic importance of data to national development, declaring it “the new oil” and a critical resource for governance, transparency, and Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 International Civil Service Conference in Abuja, Tinubu directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to proactively collect, protect, and responsibly release data in compliance with the Nigerian Data Protection Act (2023).
He emphasized that such efforts would unlock public value, enable international benchmarking, and project Nigeria’s progress on the world stage.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets locally and share them globally,” the President stated. “This will strengthen Nigeria’s standing and credibility in the international community.”
Unlike crude oil, Tinubu explained, data increases in value the more it is refined, managed responsibly, and applied effectively. He stressed the importance of data sovereignty and the need to store sensitive information within secure local and allied data centers.
The President’s remarks came as Galaxy Backbone—a government digital infrastructure agency—unveiled its new 1Government Cloud Academy, a capacity-building initiative aimed at equipping civil servants with essential digital skills for a paperless and efficient public service.
According to a statement from Galaxy Backbone, the academy is designed to serve as a training hub for government personnel, particularly those managing Enterprise Content Management (ECM) systems. These civil servants will act as “transformation champions” within their agencies, guiding colleagues through the transition to digital tools and processes.
Programme Director of the 1Government Cloud initiative, Mr. Wumi Oghoetuoma, speaking during a panel session, highlighted the importance of trust and internal communication in the successful adoption of digital solutions.
“Many digital tools fail not because they don’t work, but because users lack trust or understanding,” he said. “Often, simple issues like poor WiFi go unreported or unresolved due to communication breakdowns between ministry staff and IT departments.”
To address this, the academy will also offer certification courses for IT personnel to enhance responsiveness, technical problem-solving, and collaboration across MDAs.
Oghoetuoma emphasized that the primary barrier to digital transformation in government is not technical skill but mindset and motivation. “Most civil servants are already digitally literate—they use smartphones and social media daily. What’s needed is support, communication, and a sense of ownership.”
He concluded by stressing that successful and sustainable digitalization hinges on three pillars: people, processes, and technology. “Technology alone isn’t enough. We must make public servants feel like active participants in the transformation journey, not just passive users.”
The launch of the 1Government Cloud Academy marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s effort to modernize public service delivery and boost transparency, accountability, and global competitiveness through data and digital tools.