
The federal government says empowering citizens through storytelling will enhance trust and participation in governance.
The Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone (GBB), Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, said this during the 1st edition of the 2025 DevsInGovt monthly program in Abuja on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the program themed “Data Storytelling: Harnessing the Power of Data Visualisation to Enhance Citizen Trust” was in partnership with Data Science Nigeria (DSN) and Microsoft.
NAN also reports that the program was supported by GBB and the World Bank.
Adeyanju said that the ability to transform raw information into meaningful insights is what will drive decision-making, accountability, and trust in governance in an age where data is abundant.
According to him, data visualization is not just about presenting statistics; it is about crafting narratives that empower citizens, enabling policymakers, and strengthening democracy.
’’Trust is the currency of effective governance. Without trust, even the most ambitious policies and technological innovations struggle to achieve their desired impact.
“Through data storytelling and visualization, we have the opportunity to bridge the gap between information and understanding, forcing greater engagement and participation from the people we serve,” he said.
He said participants’ work was to build the platform, analyze data sets, and improve citizen services, which has the power to shape governance and drive meaningful impact in the country.
He commended participants’ contribution, encouraging them to leverage data visualization as a tool for transparency, efficiency, and progress.
“There is no single institution that can achieve digital transformation alone.
“It takes collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective vision for change; this is why we are excited to welcome this month’s partners, that is, Data Science Nigeria and Microsoft,” Adeyanju said.
The Director of Government Affairs, Microsoft, Nonye Ujam, who spoke on “The Opportunity of Expanding AI to Everyone in Nigeria,” said collaborating with the government was about AI diffusion.
Speaking on the adoption of technology, Ujam said this initiative would give public servants a platform to join the conversation and really participate very keenly in the AI opportunity.
“It is really about us empowering people in a way that makes sense for the way that they do their work and the way that they are able to deliver value in wherever they find themselves,” she said. (NAN)