Chinedum Elekwachi
Anambra State government has launched an Artificial Intelligence driven website for enhanced citizens engagement and improved interactions.
The platform, SmartGov, https://smart.anambrastate.gov.ng is another decisive step in digital governance with the BETA aimed at providing digital government services designed to simplify how citizens access its over 31 public services anytime and anywhere.
According to the Managing Director, Anambra State ICT Agency, Fred Agbata, the SmartGov was built with citizens at the center, serves more than a service directory, while acting as an intelligent gateway that makes government interactions simple, fast, and reliable.
Agbata, in a statement by Public Relations Officer of the Agency, Angela Nwanodu added that Governor Chukwuma Soludo has consistently emphasized technology as the backbone of governance through the Everything Technology, Technology Everywhere vision.
He also noted that the platform would enable the citizens to interact with government through natural conversations rather than complex procedures or paperwork.
The statement reads in part, “At the core of the platform is NORA, an intelligent digital assistant trained on Anambra State government services, processes, and directories.
“This launch further cements Anambra’s leadership in digital transformation, coming on the heels of its recognition at the recently held National Council on Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (NCCIDE), where the State won four major national awards, including Best Overall Performing State in Digital Technology Development and Best State in Human Capital Development.
Single digital gateway
“SmartGov serves as a single digital gateway to official government information, services, and platforms across the State. Using AI, the platform understands citizens’ questions and guides them accurately to the right service, requirement, or process.
“Through a simple three-step interaction, citizens can: Ask questions about any government service in plain language; Receive intelligent AI-driven guidance that directs them to the correct procedure, requirements, or platform; Get answers or complete transactions online, via WhatsApp, or through voice-enabled access.
“The platform currently covers eight major service categories, including Taxes and Revenue, Land and Property, Business Services, Health, Education, Security and Complaints, Transport and Vehicles, and Culture and Tourism.
“With 24-hour availability and multilingual support in English and Igbo, SmartGov removes traditional barriers such as office hours, location, and unnecessary bureaucracy, making government services more inclusive and accessible.
“From business-related inquiries to renewing vehicle papers, paying taxes, or locating the nearest health facility, SmartGov guides users clearly and seamlessly through each step of the process, ensuring accuracy and consistency across government interactions.
The BETA launch
“The BETA launch also showcases Anambra’s technical innovation by bringing together AI, voice-enabled access, and WhatsApp connectivity into one unified platform, all supported by a continuously updated government service directory.
“This development positions Anambra as a national reference point for citizen-focused eGovernment, building on strong policy direction, sustained digital infrastructure investments, and a deliberate focus on human capital development. SmartGov is a practical expression of this vision.
“By embedding AI into everyday government services, Anambra State is making governance more transparent, accessible, and efficient for Ndi Anambra.”
The Agency boss further maintained that as part of the BETA phase, SmartGov also has a dedicated feedback channel to support continuous improvement. Citizens are enjoined to submit feedback via https://smart.anambrastate.gov.ng/feedback in addition to existing channels such as the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) and official email platforms, NORA, the AI digital assistant, is also available to guide users through the feedback process where required.
“As we refine SmartGov during this BETA phase, we invite Ndi Anambra to explore the platform, use it actively, and share feedback to help us make it even better.
“SmartGov is now live at https://smart.anambrastate.gov.ng, ushering in a new era of AI-enabled, citizen-centric governance in Anambra State and advancing Mr Governor’s Smart Mega City vision, where innovation is expected, not optional,” he added.
