The civic tech space is rapidly evolving, particularly how it is fostering civic engagement, improving government infrastructure, and supporting citizen communication. With technologies that leverage open government and community action,  civic tech aims to bridge the gap between the people and the government by developing software that aids in communication, service delivery, decision making and the political process. 

At Civic Hive, our aim is to lead and contribute to the growth of civic technology and innovative solutions, nurture new tech leaders and strengthen the capacity of already existing NGOs. On March 19th, 2024, we launched our inaugural report on the Civic landscape in Nigeria which addresses the role of civic technology as a powerful tool for driving positive societal change through digital innovation, potentially expanding the civic space. 

Hosted at The Wells Carlton Hotel in Abuja, the event commenced with a welcome address from the CivicHive team lead, Joseph Amenaghawon. He emphasized that by publishing the report, we hope citizens will have unrestricted access and understanding of the importance of leveraging the innovations of technology that connect the government and citizens, facilitating the demand for accountability and transparency. 

The Civic Tech Landscape report highlights past and current trends and innovations in CivicTech/GovTech initiatives, and how it is shaping a more inclusive, transparent, and responsive dynamic between government and citizens. Beyond this report, the overarching mission of CivicHive is to create a comprehensive repository of the civic tech ecosystem in Africa and to foster partnership between, and build support for, innovators and institutions working to create governance that benefit the people.

Present at the launching was the Global Director of BudgIT, Oluseun Onigbinde; Tunbosun Alake, Commissioner, Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Lagos State; Ms Aminu Salihu, Deputy Director, MacArthur Foundation, several development partners, and different stakeholders. Following a riveting key address by Honorable Commissioner Tunbosun Alake, Oluseun Onigbinde, Tunbosun Alake, Ms. Bukky Shonibare; Executive Director, Invictus Africa and Goodness James; Program Associate, StepUp Nigeria participated in a panel discussion exploring the potential role of AI in expanding the CivicTech/Govtech space. 

While speaking during the panel session, Oluseun emphasized the importance of the civic space evolving and adapting alongside AI, while acknowledging the need for human talent in this development since these solutions are intended for human beings. Bukky buttressed this point by highlighting the importance of co-developing Govtech and Civic tech in collaboration with the public. She elaborated on this approach being  crucial in ensuring accountability, transparency and public acceptance of the idea of Govtech and Civic Tech solutions. Hon Tunbosun Alake acknowledges the significance of intentional engagement by both the civic and government sectors in developing AI. Both actors need to collaborate to develop a solution that benefits the public. Speaking on ethics, Goodness underscores the need for transparency while developing AI  in order to build public trust.

To conclude, the implementation of civic tech and Gov tech has led to significant achievements across various sectors in Nigeria. However, there remains greater potential for further innovation and solutions particularly with the rise in AI based technologies. As the world continues to evolve, it is our mission to evolve with it as we strive to promote accountability and transparency, enhance citizen engagement and foster partnerships and collaborations amongst different stakeholders with the ultimate goal of bringing the government closer to the people.