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Enugu State has won the 2026 Nigeria eGovernment Excellence Award, a national recognition for its digital transformation programme, placing technology at the centre of public service reform and economic development.
The award was presented in Lagos on September 10 during the eighth Nigeria eGovernment Summit and Excellence Awards, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja.
The recognition is a significant endorsement of the digital governance reforms being pursued by the administration of Governor Peter Mbah, whose government has increasingly turned to technology to modernise public institutions, improve access to services and strengthen engagement between citizens and the state.
Governor Mbah, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the summit, was represented by the Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Lawrence Ezeh.
The organising committee said Enugu had earned the award for its efforts to harness technology as a catalyst for economic growth, more efficient public services and greater citizen empowerment.
It also pointed to the state’s growing adoption of digital solutions across government, as authorities seek to make public administration faster, more accessible and more responsive.
Speaking at the event, Dr Ezeh said digital transformation had become a central pillar of Governor Mbah’s wider reform agenda.
He said technology was being deployed not simply as an administrative tool but as a means of reshaping the relationship between government, citizens and businesses.
Dr Ezeh, who joined a panel examining broadband connectivity, digital infrastructure, right-of-way reforms, election infrastructure, cybersecurity and public-private collaboration, said the administration believed that effective governance increasingly depended on the intelligent use of technology.
The state’s digitalisation programme has extended across areas including public administration, finance and revenue management, land administration, healthcare, security, education and infrastructure planning, with digital platforms and data-driven systems intended to improve efficiency and widen access to government services.
Dr Ezeh said Governor Mbah had consistently identified digital infrastructure and innovation as important foundations for economic expansion, investment and the creation of a more competitive environment for businesses.
He added that the administration would continue to deepen its technology programme, arguing that digital systems must ultimately produce practical improvements in the lives of residents.
The latest award adds to the growing national profile of Enugu’s technology-led governance agenda and comes as governments across Nigeria face increasing pressure to modernise public services and respond to the demands of an increasingly digital economy.
Dr Ezeh described the recognition as a reflection of the collective efforts of public servants, technology professionals, development partners and residents who had contributed to the state’s digital transformation journey.
He said the award would serve as an incentive rather than a finishing line, with the government determined to accelerate reforms and expand the use of technology across public institutions.
The 2026 summit was held under the theme, “Mainstreaming Technologies in Nigeria Election Management”, and featured discussions on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data protection, digital inclusion, broadband infrastructure and technology-enabled public administration.
