Galaxy Backbone, in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), yesterday hosted a high-level engagement workshop with the 12 key government agencies that will drive the first phase of this project.

This milestone marks a significant step forward in Nigeria’s ongoing digital transformation efforts, with the goal of improving Government-to-Citizen (G2C) interactions and enabling easier access to government services.

The Government Service Portal is a unified digital platform designed to enhance the delivery of public services by providing a seamless, secure, and accessible portal where citizens can interact with multiple government agencies.

Through this portal, citizens can access critical services such as NIN Registration, Immigration Services, healthcare services, and more—with little or no need to visit to physical offices.

Galaxy Backbone, a leading digital infrastructure and services provider for the Nigerian public sector, has played a pivotal role in championing e-government and in designing and deploying the GSP.

Through its partnership with KOICA, Galaxy Backbone has ensured that the platform leverages the latest technologies, prioritizing user experience, accessibility, and cybersecurity. KOICA has provided technical expertise, capacity-building support, and funding for the development of the portal, underscoring the shared commitment to Nigeria’s e-government strategy.

Key Highlights of the Government Service Portal:

1. Accelerating Digital Transformation: The GSP supports the Federal Government’s commitment to digitize public services, enabling more efficient governance and ensuring that all Nigerians, regardless of location, can access essential services.
2. Improving Government-to-Citizen Engagement: By reducing the need for face-to-face interactions and offering real-time service tracking, the portal fosters a more transparent and responsive government, enhancing citizens’ trust in public institutions.
3. Secure and Accessible Services: The GSP is designed with robust cybersecurity features, ensuring that citizens’ data remains protected. It is also mobile-friendly and accessible in multiple languages, making it easy for citizens from all parts of Nigeria to interact with government services online.
4. KOICA’s Role: KOICA has provided strategic support, leveraging its expertise in e-governance and technology-driven public service delivery. KOICA’s involvement ensures that the GSP aligns with international best practices and benefits from the lessons learned in similar successful projects globally.

Engagement Workshop with 12 Pilot Agencies:

The engagement workshop, which took place today, brought together senior officials from 12 pilot government agencies, including FMCIDE, NIMC, SMEDAN, NCC, NIPOST, FRSC, NAFDAC, NYSC, NPF, NIS, BPP and NEPC.

The goal of the workshop was to familiarize these agencies with the GSP’s features, capabilities, and integration process, and to ensure seamless service delivery as the portal goes live.

Speaking at the workshop, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, who represented the Honourable Minister, highlighted the significance of this project and the need deepened collaboration and deeper citizen engagement.

‘The Government Service Portal has the potential to change lives and I believe that through and efficient and effective collaboration we will achieve a lot for our nation’.  Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanyu, Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, emphasized the significance of this initiative in transforming how government services are delivered to Nigerians.

He noted: “The Government Service Portal is a testament to Nigeria’s dedication to embracing digitalisation for improved governance. Galaxy Backbone is proud to lead this initiative, working alongside KOICA to make public services more efficient, transparent, and accessible to all. With the engagement of these pilot agencies, we are taking a major step toward a fully digitized public service ecosystem that will benefit every Nigerian citizen.”

From KOICA’s side, the Country Director, Mr. Sunjil SON, expressed the agency’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s journey toward an inclusive digital economy, stating: “KOICA is delighted to partner with Galaxy Backbone and the Government of Nigeria in delivering a platform that will change how citizens interact with their government. This initiative aligns with our broader mission of promoting sustainable development through technology and innovation.”

Looking Ahead:

The successful integration of the 12 pilot agencies is a precursor to a broader rollout of the GSP across all government ministries, departments, and agencies. This initiative will serve as the backbone of Nigeria’s e-government strategy, reducing delays, improving transparency, and empowering citizens to engage more effectively with their government.

MTN Nigeria has launched the fifth edition of the highly anticipated mPulse Spelling Bee Competition on Monday, 9th September 2024. Aimed at promoting literacy and empowering young minds, the competition provides a unique platform for tweens and teens nationwide to showcase their spelling prowess.

Open to everyone between ages 9 to 15, this year’s competition promises to be even bigger and better, with participants vying for the coveted title of Spelling Bee Champion.

Through initiatives such as the mPulse Spelling Bee, MTN has continuously demonstrated its commitment to fostering education and empowering the next generation.

As the competition grows in popularity, it reinforces MTN’s dedication to nurturing young talents and promoting literacy among Nigerian youths.

Over the past four editions, it has become a hallmark event for primary and secondary students nationwide, allowing them to test their spelling knowledge while having fun. Participants also win prizes, with the first prize winner having the opportunity to be MTN CEO for a day.

The mPulse Spelling Bee Competition will unfold in three stages. With the first round which started Sept 9 underway and slated to end on Oct 27, 2024, participants will be required to answer ten spelling questions during Round 1 on the mPulse website (mpulse.mtn.ng).

Shortlisted students from the first round will proceed to the second round starting from Nov 4th to 10th, 2024. Like the first round, participants will answer twenty spelling questions on the mPulse website. The top 1,000 students from this round will be shortlisted based on their performance.

The grand finale will feature the top 20 students with the highest scores from the second round. This stage will be held in Lagos and streamed live on the mPulse website and YouTube, giving audiences across the country the opportunity to witness the competition’s climax.

The mPulse Spelling Bee Competition offers a range of exciting prizes for its top performers. The first prize winner will receive a ₦5 million scholarship grant, a laptop, a smartphone, and a mPulse goody bag, along with the unique opportunity to serve as the MTN CEO for a day.

In addition, the winner’s school will be awarded an ICT lab with 10 laptops and 10 MTN Hynet Flex devices, while the student’s teacher will receive ₦500,000 in cash.

The second prize includes a ₦2.5 million scholarship grant, a laptop, a smartphone, and a mPulse goody bag for the student, while the teacher will be awarded ₦300,000 in cash.

The third prize winner will be awarded a ₦1.5 million scholarship grant, a laptop, a smartphone, and a mPulse goody bag, with the teacher receiving ₦200,000 in cash.

The remaining 17 finalists will each receive scholarship grants and a mPulse goody bag in recognition of their efforts during the competition.

With the mPulse Spelling Bee Competition in full swing, the excitement continues to build as students across Nigeria prepare to participate.

Whether you’re a parent encouraging your child, or a teacher guiding your students, MTN’s mPulse Spelling Bee offers a thrilling opportunity to showcase skills and win amazing prizes.

In commemoration of the World Tourism Day, MTN Nigeria launched the See Naija platform, a digital tourism initiative aimed at showcasing Nigeria’s vibrant culture, iconic landscapes and creative talent.

L-R: General Manager, Internal Audit & Fraud Management, MTN Nigeria, Ibe Etea; General Manager, Architecture and Engineering, MTN Nigeria, Bukola Ajayi; Chief Customer Relations Officer, MTN Nigeria, Ugonwa Nwoye; Ayham Moussa, Chief Operations Officer, MTN Nigeria; General Manager, Brands and Communications, MTN Nigeria, Emamoke Ogoro and Idowu Adesokan, General Manager, Consumer Segment and Devices, MTN Nigeria during the MTN See Naija Press Conference in Lagos.

The launch which held at the MTN Event Centre in Ikoyi, seeks to reshape the misconceptions and negative stereotypes often associated with Nigeria.

The See Naija platform is a curated online destination that allows individuals to discover beautiful spots and unique insights about Nigeria’s diverse culture, from its stunning natural landscapes to its colourful festivals and traditional lifestyle.

In collaboration with some content creators, the platform will explore captivating visuals and stories about the Great Oyo Empire, Gashaka Gumti Park in Taraba state, Gurara Waterfalls in Niger state, Mount Patti in Lokoja, Agbokim Waterfall, Osun Sacred Grove and a host of others.

As a part of this launch, MTN also announced the ‘See Naija’ Competition which invites participants to rediscover the beautiful sights and sounds that highlight Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage. Using the hashtag #SeeNaijawithMTN, the creative challenge encourages individuals including content creators, photographers and videographers to share their unique perspectives on Nigeria through photos or videos that best represent the heart and soul of Nigeria, either through its people, landscapes, culture, or traditions.

To enter the competition, interested participants can:

• Visit the See Naija website
• Submit a 1–2-minute video entry of fascinating locations in your city
• Upload your video on social media – Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook or YouTube
• Use the hashtag – #SeeNaijawithMTN
• Tag @mtnng and tag your location

Speaking about the initiative, Ugonwa Nwoye, the chief customers relations officer and Ag. Chief Marketing Officer, said,

“At MTN, we believe in the beauty of diversity and inclusion. These two sit at the heart of our identity and organisational culture. Nigeria is a bigger picture of our culture. The nation is one of the most culturally varied countries, home to over 500 languages and over 300 ethnic groups. Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, encompassing art, crafts, and traditions from the Nok civilization to the Benin Empire, has formed the country’s identity.”

“To change the narrative about our country and showcase its beauty to the world, we, as indigenes, must play our part. This is why we have launched a competition inviting Nigerians to participate in rewriting history. Let’s tell and share our stories about the lively markets in Lagos, the beautiful scenery in Calabar, or the customary celebrations in Kano. From our cuisine to our craft, to the diverse languages we speak, there is so much about our culture that we are yet to uncover. Let’s see Naija for the beauty that it truly is,” she added.

The campaign kicked off on World Tourism Day and will run for 3 months. With the launch of this initiative, MTN Nigeria demonstrates its commitment to empowering Nigerians, promoting local talent, and driving socio-economic growth.