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Nigeria and Ethiopia, Africa’s two most populous countries, are enhancing their digitisation initiatives to improve access to government services and reduce corruption. Nigeria aims for a paperless administration, whereas Ethiopia claims it has digitised more than 900 government services.
Ethiopia’s Technological Transformation and Digitisation
Ethiopia has established one of Africa’s most ambitious digitalisation goals regarding government services, the adoption of digital IDs, and internet access across the board. Ethiopia’s Ministry of Innovation and Technology issued a performance report recently. It stated that more than 900 government services have been digitised in the East African nation. The country is steadily progressing towards its objectives to digitalise all government services before 2026.
Seyoum Mengesha, who heads Ethiopia’s digital economy division at the ministry, said that the government is making significant investments in the Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy, initiated in 2022. This includes building state-of-the-art data centres. It also includes increasing the availability of electricity and expanding internet access for its population.
A sector that the government is focused on digitising is procurement and property management. For many years, dishonest officials have depended on the unclear, cumbersome, and paperwork-laden outdated systems to siphon off billions of dollars, according to Meseret Meskele, the nation’s Federal Public Procurement and Property Authority leader.
She stated that the digitisation of the procurement system has enhanced both the speed and efficiency of the whole process. More significantly, it is reducing corruption in what used to be one of the most dishonest government sectors.
Fayda: Ethiopia’s New Digital ID System
Ethiopia’s transformation through digitisation relies on digital IDs called Fayda, which the government has vigorously promoted recently. A month earlier, Yodahe Zemichael, director of the National ID Program (NIDP), announced that the government aims to issue 90 million IDs within two years. It has registered nearly 17 million Ethiopians for its Fayda Number digital ID.
Gabriella Abraham, a legal consultant at the NIDP, emphasised that the digital ID initiative is the cornerstone of Ethiopia’s digitisation path. She disclosed that its implementation has significantly reduced dependence on paper processes in government offices, enhancing efficiency and accessibility.
Mobile adoption has significantly enhanced the East African nation’s digital transformation. The country’s national bank (or central bank) reported that in 2020, there were under one million mobile money accounts, but by the end of last year, this figure had surged to 128 million.
Ethio Telecom, the leading telecom services provider, announced that it has extended 5G coverage to 16 cities, while 4G is now accessible in more than 500 towns. Safaricom in Kenya has established a strong presence in the market, boasting over 10 million users.
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Nigeria Goes Paperless
In West Africa, Nigeria, the largest economy in the region, is digitising essential government functions to eliminate paper usage.
Ibrahim Adeyanju, the managing director of Galaxy Backbone, stated that the government is prioritizing digitisation, leveraging cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).
“We are transitioning from a manual filing system to a paperless office, allowing directors to perform their tasks from anywhere in the world or within Nigeria, even while on the move,” he stated to local media.
Galaxy Backbone is a government-owned enterprise that offers connectivity services to agencies and institutions. Adeyanju assumed leadership of Galaxy Backbone in February 2024.
With more than 230 million people, Nigeria has recently focused on digital transformation to enhance access to government services. The ID4D digital ID initiative aims for 180 million IDs by the close of next year (2026), supported by a $430 million investment from the World Bank.
Besides enhancing access and efficiency, Adeyanju states that paperless services will reduce the widespread corruption in government offices. Nigeria placed 140th out of 180 nations on the Corruption Perceptions Index, with almost half of all participants reporting that they had given a bribe to obtain a public service in the past year.
“After digitisation occurs, the human element diminishes. From start to finish, if it’s digital, you can trust that individuals will perform their tasks and citizens will receive greater benefits,” noted Adeyanju.
