By Angela Nwanodu
Innovation at the Anambra State ICT Agency is increasingly becoming a shared responsibility, with staff being encouraged to embrace artificial intelligence (AI), acquire new skills and contribute beyond the traditional boundaries of their job descriptions.
This emerging culture was highlighted during the Agency’s weekly stand-up on Sept 1, where staff performance on its digital platform, The Office, showed growing engagement with AI and other digital tools.
Among those recognised was a driver who ranked third among the platform’s most active users. His performance earned him a complimentary lunch or its cash equivalent, while two other staff members placed first and second and were similarly recognised.
The recognition, according to the Agency, reflects its efforts to encourage continuous learning and digital adoption across all levels of its workforce.
In a separate example, a staff member assigned to reception recently served as a prompter during the production of a programme scheduled for launch, demonstrating how employees can deploy their individual abilities to support the Agency’s broader objectives.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA, said the developments reflect the kind of workplace culture the Agency is deliberately building as it pursues its ambition of becoming Nigeria’s first AI-Native ICT Agency.
Agbata said the participation of staff in activities beyond their conventional roles showed that technology could empower everyone to develop new capabilities and make meaningful contributions.
“A regular driver could simply mind his driving business, but this is someone who is pushing himself and leveraging AI and the tools made available to him,” he said.
He added that the Agency’s goal was to create an environment where employees could explore new possibilities, improve their productivity and contribute ideas regardless of their official designations.
“This is the kind of culture we are building, where people go beyond their job descriptions, explore what is possible and use technology to contribute more,” Agbata said.
He further stressed that innovation should not be restricted to technical staff or particular departments, noting that every employee has the potential to learn, adapt and contribute.
“A driver can leverage AI. A receptionist can support production,” he said, emphasising the Agency’s belief that innovation can come from anywhere and that job titles should not define a person’s potential.
The Agency’s approach points to a broader shift from viewing digital transformation solely as the adoption of technology to seeing it as a people-centred process driven by learning, creativity, collaboration and a willingness to embrace new ways of working.
Angela Nwanodu is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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