Osun partners UK on digital reforms, public service delivery

The UK partnership comes a few weeks after the Osun State Government’s collaboration with Chinese tech company to deploy AI surveillance system.

The Osun State Government has entered into a partnership with the United Kingdom to strengthen its digital economy, expand internet access and improve the delivery of public services across the state.

Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson for the governor, said in a Tuesday statement that the initiative followed months of consultations and assessments of Osun’s digital landscape by the British Deputy High Commission and state officials.

The programme, known as State-level Policy, Regulatory and Institutional Reforms Enabling Digital Transformation (SPRIRET), is guided by the UK–Nigeria Strategic Partnership.

“Together they assessed Osun’s digital landscape, including its needs, readiness, and opportunities to expand connectivity and build digital skills. The response was co-designed with the state,” the statement read.

According to the statement, SPRIRET will focus on five areas: reforms to Osun’s digital economy policies and institutions; digital infrastructure, connectivity and access; civic technology and digitisation of public services; capacity development; and coordination of the state’s digital economy ecosystem.

The Initiative for Digital Inclusion (iDi) will implement the programme in collaboration with the Osun State Government.

Governor Ademola Adeleke said the partnership would help position Osun to compete in the digital economy and create opportunities for residents.

“This partnership affirms Osun’s place as a state ready to compete in the digital economy space for wealth creation. We appreciate the UK Government for its confidence in our vision,” Mr Adeleke said.

He added that his administration would work with its partners to ensure that residents in both rural and urban communities benefit from improved digital access, public services and opportunities for young people.

The British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, said the programme was co-designed with the governor’s team and would strengthen the policies, systems and institutions needed to develop the state’s digital economy.

“The UK is proud to partner with Osun State on this ambitious programme,” Mr Baxter said, adding that the initiative would help promote economic growth, job creation and wider access to digital opportunities.

Also speaking, Bamikole Omishore, the governor’s Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals and Multilateral Relations, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to international partnerships that support the Sustainable Development Goals.

He said the government remained committed to placing inclusive, technology-driven growth at the centre of governance.

The UK partnership comes a few weeks after the Osun State Government announced a separate collaboration with a Chinese technology company, Hefei Shengwen Information Technology Company Limited, in October to establish a statewide artificial intelligence-powered surveillance system to tackle insecurity.

Under the proposed security project, the state planned to deploy AI-enabled cameras, drones, radar, robotics and Internet of Things devices, linked to a central Command and Control Centre for round-the-clock monitoring.

The system is expected to cover schools, banks, farms, mining sites, commercial centres, motor parks and other public facilities across the state.

The Chinese partnership also includes a Safe School initiative and a mobile application through which residents could connect directly with the command centre.