By Esther Onyegbula

In a bold move to digitise Nigeria’s public policy landscape, Policy Vault Africa, the continent’s largest digital repository of policy documents, has proposed a no-cost, comprehensive digitisation partnership with the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

The proposal, presented during a high-level strategic engagement held on June 27 in Abuja, seeks to digitally preserve all policies, frameworks, and strategic documents under the Ministry. If accepted, this initiative could mark a significant milestone in Nigeria’s digital governance journey.

At the centre of the engagement was Senator Atiku Bagudu, the Honourable Minister of Budget and National Planning, who expressed strong interest in the initiative, calling it “laudable” and aligned with Nigeria’s vision for open, data-driven governance.

“This partnership represents an opportunity to strengthen institutional memory and ensure that our planning and policy processes remain transparent and driven by accessible data,” Bagudu said during the meeting.

Leading the Policy Vault Africa team were Mr. Ikechukwu Ofuani, Senior Adviser and Partner, and Ms. Damilola Atiri, Country Manager for Policy Practice. Ofuani highlighted the organisation’s offer to carry out the entire digitisation process at no cost to the government—preserving the authenticity and integrity of Nigeria’s policy documents for public access and long-term use.

“Digitisation is not just about access, it’s about preserving the original vision and technical depth of Nigeria’s policies,” Ofuani stated. “Our aim is to provide an infrastructure that enables continuity, inclusivity, and implementation across government transitions.”

Policy Vault Africa, already recognised for advancing digital access to governance tools across the continent, says the proposed collaboration would place Nigeria among global leaders in open government and digital public administration.

The digitisation would also support evidence-based planning and help eliminate information gaps that often plague Nigeria’s development efforts due to the loss or distortion of policy documents over time.

If adopted, the initiative could serve as a model for other ministries and African nations looking to modernise their governance infrastructure and bridge the gap between policy formulation and citizen participation.

Policy Vault Africa has consistently advocated for open and accountable governance, partnering with governments, researchers, and civic actors to drive inclusive development and public transparency.

The Ministry and Policy Vault Africa are expected to enter further consultations to finalise modalities for the implementation of the digitisation plan in the coming weeks.