The BDIC Footprints In Benue’s Digital Transformation

The Benue Digital Infrastructure Company (BDIC), established in July 2024 by the administration of Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia.

is leaving bold digital footprints across Benue State as it strives to discharge its mandate of expanding digital infrastructure, improving access to affordable digital devices, strengthening research and innovation ecosystems, and supporting human capital development.

As a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to drive digital transformation in the state, the company has since then been deploying digital platforms, building digital infrastructure, and providing digital skills training to youths, civil servants and others across the state.

The company has deployed over 10 functional digital platforms and aims to create over 100,000 digital jobs across Benue State. It has gone into partnerships with global organizations like Huawei Technologies, Cisco Networking Academy, WIPO, UNDP, and Digital Bridge Institute to drive digital development in the state.

They’re offering digital skills training to 23,000 youths and 40,000 public servants, with a goal to create 100,000 digital jobs within a three year target. The training covers areas like ICT fundamentals, digital workflow systems, and enterprise platforms. Some of its key achievements include deploying broadband fiber-optic networks to key government MDAs.

It also established digital outsourcing centres, start-up support hubs, and e-commerce platforms.

When the BDIC was recognized as the “Best State ICT Agency” at the Nigeria GovTech Public Service Awards 2025, it did not come as a surprise because the company’s digital footprints are everywhere.

It has so far touched not only the civil service of the state, but also educational institutions, where it has been delivering quality technological solutions to enhance teaching and learning, and research for the development of not just the state, but various sectors for national growth and development.

One of the key interventions is in the modernisation of the state civil service to make it digitally compliant to global standards.

This much was attested to by Benue State Acting Head of Civil Service, Dr. Ihu Eunice Ogbenyi, a digital technology enthusiast, who said she was among the over 15,000 civil servants trained by the BDIC on the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS), and digital skills and e-governance tools.

She said that the BIDC has also deployed the Civil Service Information Management System, and the Benue State Executive Council (EXCO) Digital Platform, as well as the EasyOwn Digital Device Access Loan Scheme implemented in collaboration with Novus Microfinance Bank.

As a demonstration of BDIC’s commitment to supporting a modern, technology-driven public service, it has also presented a manufactured laptop to facilitate the use of the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) and a BDIC tablet to support seamless participation in digital Executive Council (EXCO) meetings.

The BDIC has also reaffirmed its readiness to continue partnering with the Office of the Head of Service to deepen the adoption of digital technologies, improve productivity, and accelerate the implementation of e-governance across the Benue State Civil Service in line with the vision of the administration of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia.

The company has so far demonstrated commitment to digital governance in Benue as it pushes new frontiers of technology and innovation.

For this, the Acting Head of Service promised to ensure the training of the remaining 25,000 civil servants immediately to empower them digitally for the benefit of the service.

The BDIC has also left its digital footprint in Ministry of Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals, in the Redesign and Development of Benue Geographic Information System.

The office of the Head of Service is also working with the company to fully digitise the Benue State Civil Service and strengthen the implementation of e-governance platforms across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The Benue Digital Infrastructure Company (BDIC) recently donated a desktop computer and a multimedia projector to Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAU), as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration and promote locally developed technology solutions. The devices were designed and assembled to withstand Benue State’s climatic conditions.

It is a way of encouraging the University to patronize indigenous technology firms to support homegrown innovation and technological advancement.

On this, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Timothy Terseer Alabar, assured the company of the University’s readiness to build a mutually beneficial partnership, noting that the donation reflects the growing capacity of indigenous technology firms to deliver quality technological solutions for educational institutions.

Also speaking, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Professor Member Eugenia George-Genyi, the DVC Academic, Professor Innocent Otache Ogwuche; and the Deputy Provost, College of Health Sciences, Professor Efosa Kenneth Oghagbon, applauded BDIC’s innovation and valuable contributions to the technological development of Benue State.

They expressed pride that the company is driven by graduates of the University and encouraged its management to sustain the excellence, creativity, and ingenuity for which MOAU alumni are renowned.

It wasn’t just the MOAU that has benefited from the BDIC interventions. The company has extended 50% discount on its digital devices to Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi.

The discount is for the staff and students of the university.

The BDIC did not stop there. It also donated sample ICT products to the institution as part of its commitment to advancing digital transformation, innovation, and inclusive access to technology across Benue State.

The items donated were one BDIC-Manufactured All-in-One Desktop Computer and one BDIC-Manufactured Smart Projector to support teaching, learning, research, and digital administration.

This will certainly strengthen the strategic partnership between BDIC and the universities, as indicated by the Vice-Chancellor of JS Tarka University, Engr. Prof. Isaac Nathaniel Itodo, who commended the initiative and welcomed stronger collaboration between the two in promoting technology-driven education, research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital capacity development.

The Vice-Chancellor stressed that the partnership aligns with the University’s vision of producing globally competitive graduates equipped with digital skills for the modern economy.

The BDIC has no doubt, demonstrated uncommon committed to building enduring partnerships with not just the civil service but also tertiary institutions across Benue State as part of its mandate to expand digital infrastructure, improve access to affordable digital devices, strengthen research and innovation ecosystems, and support governance and human capital development.

Indeed, the introduction of the Benue @50 Special 50% Digital Device Discount Programme is designed to make high-quality digital devices more accessible to lecturers, researchers, students, innovators, and administrative staff, thereby accelerating digital learning, enhancing institutional competitiveness, and supporting the State’s digital economy agenda.

At the JS Tarka university, they are already exploring areas of long-term collaboration

with BDIC, including digital infrastructure development, smart campus initiatives, ICT skills development, professional certifications, innovation and entrepreneurship programmes, research collaboration, internship opportunities, and emerging technology projects.

The two are in sinc that closer cooperation would create lasting value for students, staff, government, and the wider digital economy of Benue State.

This, underscores the unwavering determination of the Benue State Government, under the leadership of Rev Fr Hyacinth Iormem Alia to promote digital inclusivity by ensuring that no segment of society is left behind in the state’s digital transformation journey.

Through strategic collaborations led by BDIC, the government has continued to expand access to digital tools, knowledge, connectivity, and innovation, thereby positioning the state as a leading destination for technology-enabled education, economic growth, and sustainable development.

Bridget Tikyaa Is the Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Media Publicity and Communications Strategy