By Julius Peter, Abuja
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has emerged winner of the 2025/2026 Best Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) Digital Transformation Award, after securing 57.4 per cent of the votes in the digital governance category at the 8th Nigeria E-Government Summit and Awards.
NASENI defeated the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), which recorded 25.6 per cent to emerge first runner-up, while the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) placed second runner-up with 16.9 per cent of the votes.
The award was presented on September 10, 2026, in Lagos, as part of the Nigeria E-Government Summit and Awards, a platform focused on promoting digital governance, innovation and improved public-sector service delivery in Nigeria.
The recognition comes against the backdrop of ongoing reforms at NASENI under its Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, with emphasis on digitising the agency’s administrative and operational processes.
Representing the EVC/CEO at the award dinner, NASENI’s Director of Information, New Media and Protocol, Segun Ayeoyenikan, said the agency had embraced digital transformation across its operations, including the deployment of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
Ayeoyenikan, in a goodwill message on behalf of Halilu, said the agency had moved away from paper-based administrative processes and was applying digital systems to improve efficiency and productivity.
He explained that digitisation at NASENI was not limited to its administrative activities but had been extended to its wider operations.
The development, according to him, reflects the agency’s commitment to building a modern institutional system in which technology is deployed to streamline processes, reduce dependence on paperwork and enhance service delivery.
The NASENI representative also stressed the importance of digital governance in improving the efficiency of public institutions and supporting the broader transformation of government operations.
The award organisers said the outcome was determined through a public voting process involving 33,785 Nigerians. According to the convener of the Nigeria E-Government Summit and Awards, Engr. Lanre Ajayi, mechanisms were introduced to prevent multiple voting and strengthen the credibility of the exercise.
Ajayi said the awards were designed to recognise individuals and public institutions deploying technology and innovative approaches to address challenges in governance and public service delivery.
He described the recognition as an acknowledgment of efforts by public servants, technology professionals, government institutions and other stakeholders seeking to improve the way government services are delivered to citizens.
The Nigeria E-Government Excellence Awards is the flagship recognition programme of the Nigeria E-Government Summit, which provides a platform for discussions and recognition around digital transformation and e-governance in Nigeria.
For NASENI, the latest recognition adds to a growing number of acknowledgements associated with its ongoing institutional reforms and digitisation drive. Reports on the award noted that the agency’s transition from paper-based administration to more digitised systems has been a key component of the reforms being implemented under Halilu.
The award also places greater attention on the role of federal agencies in adopting technology not only as an administrative tool but as an instrument for improving productivity, accountability, institutional coordination and public service delivery.
With digital transformation increasingly becoming an important component of public-sector reform, the recognition of NASENI alongside other major federal institutions such as NIMC and NRS highlights the growing emphasis on technology-driven governance in Nigeria.
The agency’s 57.4 per cent vote share therefore represents the outcome of the 2025/2026 public voting exercise and recognition under the specific digital transformation category, rather than a general assessment of all aspects of the three institutions’ mandates.
NASENI’s achievement is expected to further reinforce its ongoing efforts to institutionalise digital processes and leverage science, technology and engineering capabilities in support of its mandate.
The award comes at a time when public institutions across Nigeria are increasingly adopting digital systems to improve internal administration, automate processes and make government services more efficient and accessible.
