Borno State has earned national recognition for its growing digital transformation after the Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (BOSCHMA) and the Borno State Judiciary won top honours at the 2026 Nigeria GovTech Conference Public Service Awards in Abuja.
The two institutions received the Distinguished GovTech Trailblazer Awards, presented by the Presidency through the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), for using technology to improve healthcare and justice delivery.
The recognition puts Borno in the national spotlight for reforms that have transformed key public services despite years of security and development challenges.
The awards were presented after a technical session at the State House Auditorium, Presidential Villa, where representatives of the European Union, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Estonia and Nigerian government institutions discussed ways to strengthen Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, said the awards were created to celebrate institutions driving innovation in governance.
“Today, we celebrate innovation and excellence in public service,” he said. “I urge us to remain steadfast as we continue to harness the power of emerging technologies to create a brighter future for our communities and Nigeria at large.”
Arabi said the annual Nigeria GovTech Conference was designed to accelerate digital transformation in public institutions and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He added: “The annual conference aims to foster digital transformation, enhance public service delivery via technology, promote innovation and efficiency, and share knowledge among stakeholders, aligning closely with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
According to him, the award category recognises individuals and institutions making outstanding contributions to public service delivery and socio-economic development through technology.
BOSCHMA’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Saleh Abba Kaza, received the award on behalf of the agency after it emerged as the Best State Ministry, Department or Agency in Digital Health Service Delivery.
He attributed the achievement to teamwork and the support of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.
“It was never a one-man job; it was the collective effort of the team, and we all got our inspiration from the governor,” he said.
Dr. Kaza described the award as the reward for five years of commitment to building a fully digital healthcare management system in Borno State.
“It means a lot to me. I have to use this opportunity, first of all, to appreciate His Excellency, the Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, and also the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Health, and all the citizens of Borno State who have given us tremendous support to achieve this feat.
“And in addition also my management team, I have to appreciate them, and especially those working with the ICT Department, they have done a lot for us to actually achieve this milestone. This is not something that actually started today. It is five years of hard work and sacrifice that made us recognized today.
“And today, at least for good reasons, Borno is going to be in the limelight, and then we are highly appreciative of that. We have to thank Allah SWT for giving us the opportunity, for giving us life, for us to witness this important day.”
He said the agency’s digital reforms have changed the way healthcare services are delivered across the state.
According to him, BOSCHMA has introduced digital enrolment, self-registration, customer care, referral services and electronic financial transactions, making access to healthcare easier for residents.
“It means a lot. A lot of people are doing a lot of things behind the scenes, many people that I may not be able to mention here. They have done a lot of things, and I have to use this opportunity to appreciate them and to dedicate this award to all of them, all our citizens of Borno State.
“We all know how valuable digitalization is all about. It is something that I believe in from the one, and I happen to be the pioneer Executive Secretary, and it is one of the things that actually made me to have a good speed to achieve the milestone that we have achieved.
“We were able to achieve full digitalization of our enrolments platform, including our customer care platform, including self-enrolment. We now have a platform where people can register without officials travelling to capture them. Our referral platform and financial transactions have also been digitised.
“We have a control centre where, in my office, while sitting, I can visualize everything that is going on in all the healthcare facilities that we piloted.
“The centralized Electronic Health Record system can only be found in Borno State because through that, we are able to monitor hospital attendance in real time. These are things that we are also advising other people to emulate.”
The Chief Judge of Borno State, Justice Kashim Zannah, who spoke on behalf of the award recipients, said the recognition was particularly encouraging because the Borno State Judiciary was honoured for introducing an electronic court system aimed at improving justice delivery.
Other recipients honoured at the ceremony included Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal and Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The Nigeria GovTech Conference is an annual platform that brings together government officials, technology experts and development partners to promote digital governance and innovation in public service. This year’s recognition highlights Borno’s growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading states in the use of technology to improve healthcare and justice delivery.