Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia on Friday expressed confidence in his administration’s digital development initiatives across the education, health, and agriculture sectors, highlighting their rapid success in creating jobs and strengthening the state’s economy.
Governor Alia stated this at a two-day Progressive Digital Media summit 2025 attended by President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa, Abuja.
“From digitizing public services to leveraging data for development, from e-governance to digital entrepreneurship, our administration has embraced the digital economy as both a tool and a target,” Alia said.
The Governor explained that his government launched the Benue Digital Identity Verification System, which has significantly assisted in cleaning up the state’s payroll and eliminated ghost workers through biometric and digital validation.
“No longer will files gather dust in offices- governance in Benue is going paperless, seamless, and accountable,” Governor Alia added.
The Benue State Governor told the gathering that his administration has since started the establishment of Zonal Innovation Hubs in Makurdi, Gboko, and Oturkpo designed to incubate young tech talents, startups, and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), in the State.
He said, “In partnership with the private sector, we have trained over 5,000 youths in digital marketing, software development, data analytics, and drone technology.”
In the education sector, Governor Alia said that over 200 public schools are currently being equipped with solar-powered digital learning tabs, complete with internet-enabled smart boards and access to open educational resources.
“We have trained teachers across all the 23 local government areas in basic digital literacy and deployed tablets in pilot schools as part of our Digital Education for All (DEA) initiative.
“We believe every child in Benue deserves not just a classroom but a window to the world,” Governor Alia stressed.
The Governor explained that his administration through the Agri-Digital Register was currently creating a comprehensive database of farmers, crops, and yields to guide decision making, ensure fair distribution of inputs, and attract investment in precision agriculture.
According to him, the government has equally commenced the digital transformation of the health records in some of the State’s General Hospitals and some Primary Health Centers with systems for patients’ tracking, drug inventory, and live referral network.
“The Benue State Health Insurance Scheme (BSHIS) would be allowing for online enrolment, premium payment, and real-time beneficiary verification.
“Our digital tax administration platform is already improving internally generated revenue and reducing leakages across revenue-generating agencies,” Alia said.
President Bola Tinubu at the event described the new media as a central pillar of Nigeria’s national development and urged young digital influencers to harness its potential for economic growth, civic engagement, and social progress.
The President commended the creativity and drive of young Nigerians shaping the digital landscape, describing them as “not just the future, but the builders of it.”
He said “Across Nigeria, we are witnessing a surge of creativity and ambition as young people use digital media to share their voices and shape society.
“From developing new platforms to building vibrant online communities, you are redefining what is possible for this country.
“Verify before you amplify,” he cautioned. Let the digital space reflect the values that bind us together, honesty, compassion, discipline, and patriotism. Patriotism is not about slogans or political theatre, but about what we contribute to the common good,” President Tinubu added.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, praised digital media practitioners who have consistently stood up for Nigeria and positively projected the nation on the global stage:
“You are the vanguard of a reborn Nigeria, determined to reach for the stars. Under President Tinubu’s leadership, our nation has begun its long-delayed march toward greatness. The road may be challenging, but it is necessary,” the Chief of Staff said.
The summit convener, Segun Dada, Special Assistant to the President on New Media, emphasised that in less than a decade, digital media has evolved from a tool of personal connection into a powerful engine for communication, innovation, and influence.
He stressed the importance of harnessing this force for the good of Nigeria while managing inherent risks such as privacy
