In a significant step towards advancing digital governance and economic planning in Benue State, the Managing Director/CEO of Benue Digital Infrastructure Company (BDIC), Gbande Hembaor Terwase, led a high-level strategic meeting with the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.
Accompanying him were Engr. Prof. Daniel Amine, Director General of the Benue Geographic Information System (BENGIS), and Mr. Kumafan Dzaan, Statistician General/CEO of the Benue State Bureau of Statistics. The engagement aimed at strengthening collaboration between the NPC and the Benue State Government to facilitate seamless access to comprehensive geospatial data covering all 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 276 Council Wards in the state.
This initiative underscores BDIC’s dedication to leveraging accurate, real-time data as a cornerstone for governance, policy formulation, economic growth, and digital transformation.
Key Areas of Collaboration
🔹 Access to High-Quality Geospatial Data – The integration of NPC’s demographic and geographic datasets into Benue’s digital ecosystem will enhance land administration, urban planning, and public service delivery, ensuring efficiency in governance and infrastructure management.
🔹 Data-Driven Governance – With access to more reliable statistics, policymakers will be empowered to make informed decisions that drive strategic resource allocation, economic planning, and social development. This will facilitate better budgeting processes and improve government service delivery.
🔹 Economic Digitization & Smart Infrastructure – The application of geospatial intelligence will play a vital role in optimizing critical sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and transportation, creating a more structured and technologically advanced economy.
🔹 Investment and Development Opportunities – Access to verified data will serve as a foundation for investment, attracting development partners, financial institutions, and private sector players to explore economic opportunities in Benue State. This, in turn, will boost employment, entrepreneurship, and overall state development.
🔹 Strengthening Institutional Partnerships – A key outcome of this engagement is the commitment to fostering long-term collaboration between NPC, BDIC, BENGIS, and the Benue Bureau of Statistics. This partnership will drive continuous data exchange, capacity building, and technology-driven innovation to enhance governance and development planning.
This strategic engagement aligns with the vision of His Excellency, Governor Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, to position Benue as a smart, data-driven economy. By forging strong alliances with institutions like NPC, BDIC is laying the groundwork for evidence-based governance, improved public service delivery, and sustainable economic development.
As BDIC continues to champion the Digital Benue Initiative, partnerships such as this reaffirm the state’s commitment to harnessing technology and data for an efficient, progressive, and prosperous Benue.
