Thursday, June 4, 2026

The Sun Nigeria

ipNX drives Abia’s digital transformation at ATIS

Group

L-R: Mr Daniel Chinagozi, Board Chair, Abia Technology Innovation Network; Mr Gerald Ilukwe, Chief Information Officer, Abia State; Mr Babatunde Olurombi, Programme Manager, West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC) Group; Olusola Teniola, Director, Strategic Business Initiatives, ipNX; Engr. Mrs Justina Eboh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and Dr David Kalu, Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Abia State, at the recently concluded Abia Technology and Innovation Summit.

ipNX has strengthened its engagement with Abia State’s digital transformation drive, spotlighting infrastructure development, innovation and youth inclusion at the Abia Technology and Innovation Summit (ATIS) held from December 10 to 12, 2025, at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.

The telecommunications and ICT solutions provider participated in the summit as a strategic partner to the Abia State Government, with its Director, Dr. Olusola Teniola, delivering a keynote address and taking part in a high-level panel session titled “Developing the Infrastructure Network for Abia State’s Digital Transformation.”

Dr. Teniola praised the Abia State Government, led by Governor Alex Otti, for what he described as a clear vision and determined execution in laying the foundation for a digitally driven economy. He said the collaboration between ipNX and the state has moved beyond policy intent to visible outcomes.

“When we kicked off this partnership, we spoke about a digital future where government, businesses, and citizens are seamlessly connected through world-class infrastructure. Today, that future is no longer theoretical. It has begun to take shape,” he said.

According to him, the digital backbone being deployed across ministries, departments and agencies is not merely about internet access but about enabling smarter governance, improved service delivery and transparency. He noted that resilient digital infrastructure is critical to attracting investment, supporting innovation and unlocking economic opportunities for businesses and citizens alike.

Dr. Teniola also commended the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for organising the summit and creating a platform that balanced strategic policy discussions with practical innovation. He highlighted the ATIS Hackathon as a standout feature that showcased the creativity and problem-solving capacity of young people in the state.

“Because digital transformation must be inclusive, ipNX is deliberately investing in the youth of Abia State. The creativity and problem-solving we witnessed at the hackathon reaffirmed our belief that Abia’s future is bright and its young people are ready,” he added.

Speaking on the broader vision for the state, Abia’s Chief Information Officer, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe, stressed that people remain central to the digital journey. He described human capital as the most critical asset required to position Abia as a leading innovation hub on the continent.

“The most important resource required to transform Abia into Africa’s emerging innovation powerhouse is human capital, which Abia has in abundance. Combined with the strong digital infrastructure being built by the Dr. Alex Otti-led government, through partnerships with WIOCC and ipNX, we are laying a solid foundation for sustainable innovation and growth,” Ilukwe said.

The summit drew government officials, technology professionals, private sector players and young innovators, fostering collaboration and fresh ideas aimed at accelerating inclusive digital development across Abia State.