AKWA IBOM ADVANCES DIGITAL ECONOMY WITH NEW PROCUREMENT PORTAL, ELECTRONIC IDENTITY SYSTEM
By Tony Esin (Uyo)
The Akwa Ibom State Government has taken a major step in advancing its digital economy with the launch of a digital procurement portal and the Akwa Ibom Electronic Identity System (AKeID). These initiatives are designed to enhance transparency, economic empowerment, and ease of access to government services, creating more opportunities for indigenous contractors and streamlining citizen verification processes.
At a joint press briefing on Friday at the Akpan Isemin Hall, Government House, Uyo, the Commissioner for Science and Digital Economy, Engr. Frank Ekpenyong, described the initiative as a groundbreaking move that will promote fairness and accountability in the bidding process for government contracts.
During a PowerPoint presentation, the Commissioner explained that the portal was developed on the directive of Governor Umo Eno to eliminate favoritism and backdoor dealings while enabling qualified contractors to apply for projects seamlessly.
“We have a governor who believes in transparency. His directive was clear—every contract and procurement process must be open to all qualified persons. This portal ensures that only competent contractors with proven capacity are selected for government projects,” he stated.
Ekpenyong further disclosed that the platform will provide contractors and vendors with access to numerous projects, including the construction of over 400 housing units this year. These include Commissioners’ quarters, Legislative and Judiciary quarters, a Medical Village, the AKBC headquarters, and Aviation quarters, among others.
He urged interested contractors to visit (link unavailable) and register, explaining that each applicant will receive an 11-digit unique number upon successful registration.
Speaking on the Akwa Ibom Electronic Identity System (AKeID), Engr. Ekpenyong explained that residents will be required to provide their National Identification Number (NIN), Voter Identification Number (VIN), and bank details to register.
He described AKeID as a secure, all-in-one digital identity system designed to streamline personal verification processes. Once verified, individuals will be assigned a unique 11-digit number, which will serve as a single access key for multiple government platforms, including, procurement portal, employment portal, MSMEs portal, and bursary portal.
“This system eliminates the stress of repeatedly entering personal details like bank information, NIN, and VIN when applying for government services,” he added.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, reaffirmed Governor Umo Eno’s commitment to development, citing several of his recent initiatives, including, Town hall meetings, the ARISE Entrepreneurial Support Scheme, inauguration of a Model Primary School, and establishment of a Maritime Hub in Oron.
He revealed that during the last Delivery Advisory Meeting, Governor Eno directed the Ministry of Science and Digital Economy to create the procurement portal to ensure that capable contractors and vendors can bid for projects without undue interference.
The press briefing was attended by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ekerete Udoh; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Akparawa James Edet; Permanent Secretary, Finance and General Purposes Committee (FGPC); Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Research and Documentation, Dr. Essien Ndueso.
