The permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Olubunmi Olusanya, Wednesday, said in an era where technology is rapidly reshaping industries, economies, and governance structures, digital transformation has become a necessity rather than a choice.

He said it lies at the core of policy formulation and service delivery in the public sector.

Olubunmi Olusanya made this assertion in Abuja during a capacity-building workshop on digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence (AI), organised by the ministry, in collaboration with UNESCO.

The permanent secretary, represented by Mr. Joseph Oluwole, director, General Service in the ministry, noted that the public sector, being central to governance and service delivery, must evolve to meet the ever-changing expectations of citizens.

“Governments worldwide are increasingly leveraging AI, big data, and digital technologies to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accessibility in public service,” he stated.

In his own remarks, Mr. Joshi Manish, the representative of  UNESCO  highlighted the pervasive impact of digitalisation on all aspects of life.

“For digital transformation to succeed, governments must change the way they function and adopt a whole-of-society, inclusive approach. This requires adapting governance models and structures to address the new challenges and opportunities presented by digital technologies,” Manish said.

He further stated that research has revealed significant gaps in digital competencies within governments, particularly in the global south.