Oru Urges Nigeria to Strengthen Public Administration Ties With Bangladesh, Asian Countries Calls for AI Adoption, Digital Governance and International Knowledge-Sharing to Improve Public Service Delivery

Maryam Aminu

Nigeria has been urged to strengthen institutional collaboration with Bangladesh and other Asian countries to promote digital governance, improve public administration and accelerate sustainable economic development.

The recommendation was made by Mr Oru Leonard Oru, Managing Director of Oru Medias Integrated Global Resources Limited, in a goodwill message delivered on his behalf by Dr Emmanuel Huleji Daudu, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Global Media Services and Global Sustainable Goals Consultancy, at the 6th International Conference of the Association of Nigeria Public Administrators (ANPA).

The conference, which brought together academics, public administrators, policymakers and other stakeholders, focused on the theme, “Artificial Intelligence, Digital Governance, and the Future of Public Administration in Nigeria.”

Oru commended ANPA’s leadership for organising the conference, describing the theme as timely and relevant to Nigeria’s efforts to modernise public institutions, improve service delivery and promote sustainable national development.

He noted that artificial intelligence and other digital technologies were increasingly transforming how governments formulate policies, manage public resources, deliver essential services and engage with citizens.

According to him, Nigeria must develop the infrastructure, technical expertise and policy frameworks necessary to harness emerging technologies for effective governance and improved public service delivery.

He, however, emphasised that the deployment of artificial intelligence in public administration must be guided by transparency, accountability, ethical standards, data protection and respect for human dignity.

The message stressed that technology should complement human intelligence and professional judgment rather than undermine the fundamental principles of responsible leadership and public service.

Oru Advocates Nigeria-Bangladesh Partnership

A major highlight of the goodwill message was the call for stronger cooperation between Nigeria and Bangladesh, particularly in public administration, digital transformation, economic development and sustainable governance.

Oru observed that both countries faced certain comparable development challenges, including the need to create employment opportunities, expand economic activities, strengthen public institutions and improve living standards.

He said these shared priorities provided a foundation for mutually beneficial partnerships through which both countries could exchange knowledge, experiences and practical solutions.

He identified Bangladesh’s experiences in digital public services, small and medium-sized enterprise development, export promotion, social development and grassroots economic initiatives as areas Nigeria could study for possible adaptation to its local circumstances.

He urged ANPA to initiate partnerships with relevant public administration institutes, universities, government agencies, policy research centres and development organisations in Bangladesh and other Asian countries.

Such collaborations, he said, could involve professional exchange programmes, joint research, capacity-building workshops, policy dialogues, international conferences and study visits to expose Nigerian public administrators to alternative approaches to governance and public sector innovation.

According to him, Nigeria should also explore opportunities for South-South cooperation, enabling developing countries to share technical expertise, policy experiences and development strategies.

He cautioned, however, that international partnerships should not involve the indiscriminate adoption of foreign models, stressing the need to assess successful practices and adapt relevant lessons to Nigeria’s unique social, economic and institutional realities.

Oru maintained that the future of Nigerian public administration would depend not only on domestic innovation but also on the country’s willingness to learn from other nations facing comparable development challenges.

Addressing the broader question of digital governance, Oru called for deliberate investments in digital infrastructure, continuous training for public servants and comprehensive institutional reforms.

He also advocated stronger collaboration among government establishments, academic institutions, the private sector and civil society to accelerate the adoption of technology in public administration.

He noted that effective digital transformation required more than the introduction of new technologies, explaining that public institutions must also develop the human capacity and administrative systems needed to deploy them responsibly.

According to the message, public administrators must acquire the digital skills, innovative mindset, international exposure and ethical commitment required to meet the demands of modern governance.

He expressed confidence that the conference would generate practical recommendations capable of strengthening public sector reforms, improving institutional capacity and advancing sustainable development in Nigeria.

The message also highlighted the importance of information, innovation, strategic communication and institutional partnerships in advancing national development.

Oru, through his representative, said Oru Medias Integrated Global Resources Limited recognised the role of professional conferences in promoting knowledge exchange, developing practical solutions and building partnerships that could translate policy discussions into measurable outcomes.

He expressed hope that the ANPA conference would extend beyond academic deliberations to establish sustainable programmes, strategic partnerships and practical initiatives for improving public administration in Nigeria.

He further called on participants to develop actionable recommendations that would strengthen governance and encourage international cooperation in addressing shared development challenges.

Oru congratulated ANPA’s leadership and members, the conference organising committee, the National Open University of Nigeria and other participants for their contributions to advancing knowledge, innovation and professional excellence in public administration.

He wished participants fruitful deliberations and a successful conference, while reaffirming the importance of cooperation in building a more efficient, accountable and citizen-centred public service.