By Michael Ovat
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Mr Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, has called for a greener, smarter and more connected Anambra as the state commemorates its 35th anniversary, emphasising the need to deploy technology in tackling environmental challenges and creating stronger channels of engagement between government and citizens.
Agbata, in an anniversary reflection on the theme “Our Environment, Our Future,” said the theme was particularly relevant to Anambra, where communities continue to contend with erosion, flooding, blocked drainage channels, indiscriminate waste disposal and increasing pressure on land and communities.
He said the emphasis placed on environmental sustainability by the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, should prompt Ndi Anambra to think beyond the present and consider the kind of state they want to build over the next 35 years.
According to Agbata, the Anambra of the future must not only be greener, but also smarter and more connected, with technology serving as a critical tool for achieving that vision.
He noted that many environmental problems are first detected by residents living within affected communities, often long before they come to the attention of government agencies.
“The truth is that government cannot act on what it does not know; government cannot be everywhere, Ndi Anambra already are,” he said.
Agbata explained that technology could significantly reduce the gap between what citizens observe in their communities and what government knows, making it easier for residents to report emerging environmental problems.
He envisioned a system where a resident could photograph an environmental challenge, identify its location and transmit the information directly to the appropriate government authorities through a digital platform.
According to him, such a process would reduce dependence on traditional channels such as phone calls, letters or personal access to government officials, while making citizens’ interaction with government faster and more accessible.
He identified Smart Anambra, the state’s digital gateway for accessing and engaging government services, and SolutionLens, a platform designed to enable citizens to provide feedback and draw government attention to issues in their communities, as part of this emerging digital governance ecosystem.
However, Agbata stressed that the value of such technology extends beyond simply receiving complaints.
He said properly captured information from citizens could help government identify recurring environmental challenges and emerging patterns, potentially providing early warning signals on issues such as flooding, blocked drainage and erosion.
Multiple reports from a particular location, he explained, could help authorities identify areas requiring attention and make more informed decisions about the deployment of resources.
For Agbata, this represents the real purpose of digital governance , using technology not merely for its own sake, but to make government more aware, accessible and responsive.
“Digital governance should ultimately be about not technology for technology’s sake, but technology that makes government more aware, accessible and responsive to the people it serves,” he said.
He linked the approach to Governor Soludo’s vision of “Everything Technology, Technology Everywhere,” describing technology as an enabler capable of improving government and society across multiple sectors.
Agbata said the Anambra State ICT Agency would continue to translate that vision into practical digital systems that improve the way Ndi Anambra interact with government.
At the same time, he cautioned that technology could not substitute for individual and community responsibility, noting that the word “our” in the anniversary theme was significant.
He urged residents and communities to take reasonable action within their capacity to protect their environment, rather than leaving every environmental responsibility to government.
According to him, residents should not wait for a minor drainage blockage to develop into a major flooding problem before taking action, just as communities should not tolerate illegal dumping on the assumption that government would eventually clear the waste.
He argued that early action by communities, combined with timely reporting through digital channels, could help prevent relatively small environmental challenges from becoming major problems.
Agbata summarised the desired relationship between citizens, communities, technology and government as a shared responsibility.
“Ndi Anambra observe, communities act where they can, technology connects, and government responds where its intervention is required,” he said.
He added that the same digital connection between citizens and government could extend beyond environmental management to areas such as public infrastructure, government projects and public services.
As Anambra looks towards the next 35 years, Agbata said the focus should therefore not be limited to creating more digital platforms, but on ensuring that technology produces measurable improvements in governance and public participation.
He said the real measure of progress would be whether technology helps the state identify and solve problems earlier, strengthens citizens’ participation and brings government closer to the people.
“Our environment is our future. And increasingly, technology can help us protect both,” he said.
By Michael Ovat
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Mr Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, has called for a greener, smarter and more connected Anambra as the state commemorates its 35th anniversary, emphasising the need to deploy technology in tackling environmental challenges and creating stronger channels of engagement between government and citizens.
Agbata, in an anniversary reflection on the theme “Our Environment, Our Future,” said the theme was particularly relevant to Anambra, where communities continue to contend with erosion, flooding, blocked drainage channels, indiscriminate waste disposal and increasing pressure on land and communities.
He said the emphasis placed on environmental sustainability by the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, should prompt Ndi Anambra to think beyond the present and consider the kind of state they want to build over the next 35 years.
According to Agbata, the Anambra of the future must not only be greener, but also smarter and more connected, with technology serving as a critical tool for achieving that vision.
He noted that many environmental problems are first detected by residents living within affected communities, often long before they come to the attention of government agencies.
“The truth is that government cannot act on what it does not know; government cannot be everywhere, Ndi Anambra already are,” he said.
Agbata explained that technology could significantly reduce the gap between what citizens observe in their communities and what government knows, making it easier for residents to report emerging environmental problems.
He envisioned a system where a resident could photograph an environmental challenge, identify its location and transmit the information directly to the appropriate government authorities through a digital platform.
According to him, such a process would reduce dependence on traditional channels such as phone calls, letters or personal access to government officials, while making citizens’ interaction with government faster and more accessible.
He identified Smart Anambra, the state’s digital gateway for accessing and engaging government services, and SolutionLens, a platform designed to enable citizens to provide feedback and draw government attention to issues in their communities, as part of this emerging digital governance ecosystem.
However, Agbata stressed that the value of such technology extends beyond simply receiving complaints.
He said properly captured information from citizens could help government identify recurring environmental challenges and emerging patterns, potentially providing early warning signals on issues such as flooding, blocked drainage and erosion.
Multiple reports from a particular location, he explained, could help authorities identify areas requiring attention and make more informed decisions about the deployment of resources.
For Agbata, this represents the real purpose of digital governance , using technology not merely for its own sake, but to make government more aware, accessible and responsive.
“Digital governance should ultimately be about not technology for technology’s sake, but technology that makes government more aware, accessible and responsive to the people it serves,” he said.
He linked the approach to Governor Soludo’s vision of “Everything Technology, Technology Everywhere,” describing technology as an enabler capable of improving government and society across multiple sectors.
Agbata said the Anambra State ICT Agency would continue to translate that vision into practical digital systems that improve the way Ndi Anambra interact with government.
At the same time, he cautioned that technology could not substitute for individual and community responsibility, noting that the word “our” in the anniversary theme was significant.
He urged residents and communities to take reasonable action within their capacity to protect their environment, rather than leaving every environmental responsibility to government.
According to him, residents should not wait for a minor drainage blockage to develop into a major flooding problem before taking action, just as communities should not tolerate illegal dumping on the assumption that government would eventually clear the waste.
He argued that early action by communities, combined with timely reporting through digital channels, could help prevent relatively small environmental challenges from becoming major problems.
Agbata summarised the desired relationship between citizens, communities, technology and government as a shared responsibility.
“Ndi Anambra observe, communities act where they can, technology connects, and government responds where its intervention is required,” he said.
He added that the same digital connection between citizens and government could extend beyond environmental management to areas such as public infrastructure, government projects and public services.
As Anambra looks towards the next 35 years, Agbata said the focus should therefore not be limited to creating more digital platforms, but on ensuring that technology produces measurable improvements in governance and public participation.
He said the real measure of progress would be whether technology helps the state identify and solve problems earlier, strengthens citizens’ participation and brings government closer to the people.
“Our environment is our future. And increasingly, technology can help us protect both,” he said.
