The Osun State Government has entered into a strategic collaboration with the United Kingdom to strengthen its digital economy, widen internet accessibility, and enhance the provision of public services throughout the region. This initiative, facilitated through the UK-funded Digital Access Programme, aims to provide essential support for policy and structural reforms necessary to fast-track the state's technological evolution.
Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson for the governor, disclosed in a Tuesday media briefing that the arrangement followed several months of evaluations and dialogues concerning the local digital environment, conducted jointly by state officials and the British Deputy High Commission.
The framework, titled the State-level Policy, Regulatory and Institutional Reforms Enabling Digital Transformation (SPRIRET), operates under the broader umbrella of the UK–Nigeria Strategic Partnership.
According to the official announcement, the collaborative evaluation examined the territory's digital readiness, existing infrastructure needs, and avenues for skill acquisition and connectivity expansion. The resulting strategy was formulated in direct consultation with the state administration.
SPRIRET will concentrate on five core pillars: institutional and policy updates for the digital economy, infrastructure growth and internet penetration, civic technology alongside public service digitisation, human capacity building, and ecosystem coordination.
Implementation of the project will be managed by the Initiative for Digital Inclusion (iDi) working alongside state agencies.
Governor Ademola Adeleke noted that the arrangement will empower the state to effectively participate in the broader digital marketplace while generating sustainable prospects for local inhabitants.
“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 remarked.
He further assured that his administration would collaborate closely with designated stakeholders to guarantee that citizens across both metropolitan and agrarian districts reap the rewards of enhanced digital infrastructure and modernised governance.
British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, highlighted that the roadmap was mutually developed alongside the governor's technical team to reinforce the foundational frameworks required for regional tech advancement.
“The UK is proud to partner with Osun State on this ambitious programme,” Mr Baxter stated, pointing out that the venture is poised to stimulate economic expansion, foster employment generation, and broaden access to technological tools.
Bamikole Omishore, the governor’s Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals and Multilateral Relations, also emphasized the administration's dedication to international alliances that align with global development objectives, prioritizing inclusive, technology-driven administration.
What other security measures are underway in Osun?
This latest international engagement follows a separate agreement secured by the state administration in October with Hefei Shengwen Information Technology Company Limited, a Chinese technology firm, aimed at deploying a statewide artificial intelligence surveillance grid to combat criminality.
The security architecture incorporates AI-driven closed-circuit television cameras, unmanned aerial vehicles, radar units, and internet-connected devices tied to a central command hub for round-the-clock surveillance.
Coverage under this security arrangement is projected to extend across educational institutions, financial houses, agricultural settlements, extraction sites, and transit terminals. Furthermore, the Chinese collaboration encompasses a safe-school initiative alongside a dedicated mobile platform enabling citizens to communicate directly with emergency responders.