By 
Benue Digital Infrastructure Company (BDIC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to drive digital literacy, smart education, and ICT infrastructure development across Benue State.
RELATED: BDIC and partners deploy satellite and signal infrastructure to strengthen border security in Benue State
The agreement, signed by BDIC Managing Director/CEO, Gbande Hembaor Terwase, and NITDA Acting Director General, Sarafa Lawal, marks a major step in the state’s strategic push to embed technology in governance, education, and capacity building for its population of over seven million people.
Benue as national grassroots digital transformation leader
Building on earlier collaborations with other agencies, this new MoU with NITDA positions Benue as a national leader in grassroots digital transformation. BDIC recently inked partnership with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to deploy satellite technology for development planning.
The partnership outlines several joint commitments including:
- Regular strategic meetings between BDIC and NITDA to track industry developments and align with community needs.
- Collaborative public information sharing to support digital literacy and disaster management.
- Efficiency-focused initiatives to streamline operations between both institutions.
- Joint execution of agreed deliverables despite operational challenges.
NITDA will provide technical support in the following critical areas:
- Domestication of the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF): Aligning Benue’s programs with national digital literacy benchmarks.
- Deployment of 15 Pilot Smart Secondary Schools: These institutions will introduce AI, coding, and digital skills in line with Benue’s digital education policy under Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia.
- Support for the “One Student, One Teacher, One Computer, One Digital Skill + Certification” initiative: A transformative learning program to ensure inclusive, certified digital education for all.
“This partnership marks another critical milestone in our mission to make digital knowledge accessible, impactful, and transformational for all learners across the state,” said BDIC’s Terwase.
“Working with NITDA brings national-level technical strength to our state-focused digital education revolution.”
Digital economy is Benue’s cornerstone of development strategy
Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tech-led growth.
“In Benue, the digital economy is a cornerstone of our development strategy. ICT and human capital development are embedded as one of the seven pillars of our governance,” said Alia, who was recently named among the 50 Most Valuable Personalities in Nigeria’s Digital Economy 2025.
Already, BDIC is working to deploy satellite and digital signal infrastructure to strengthen border security through real-time surveillance. This is a component of the broader agenda to modernize governance and public service delivery.
In May 2025, BDIC launched a Capacity Building Training Program in artificial intelligence, coding, and digital skills for secondary school students—making Benue the first Nigerian state to pioneer AI education at the secondary school level.
Through such bold partnerships and initiatives, Benue is positioning itself as a model for subnational digital transformation in Nigeria.
