PARTNERSHIP | Plateau State in Nigeria Enters Partnership with Algorand to Explore Blockchain Use Cases

The government of Plateau State, Nigeria, has entered into a partnership with the non-profit organization, Algorand Foundation, to drive innovation and explore practical applications for blockchain technology within the region.

The collaboration with Algorand is expected to enhance efficiency, transparency, and economic opportunities for the residents of Plateau State. The pilot programs will encompass various sectors to demonstrate the potential benefits of blockchain technology across diverse areas.

“Nigeria has the leading digital economy sector in Africa, and our National Blockchain Policy was a groundbreaking first step towards blockchain adoption in the country,” said Engr. Datong, Dominic Gwaman, Director General, Plateau State Information and Communications Technology Development Agency (PITCDA).

“We look forward to collaborating with Algorand Foundation on real-world use cases that bring greater efficiency, transparency and access to public services, while creating new job opportunities.”

The Algorand blockchain is the platform supporting the federal government’s nationwide digital wallet plan to allow for international commercialization of intellectual property (IP) forms, an official press release has said.

Moreover, the Algorand Foundation will be backing an upcoming Incredible Music Festival taking place from February 22-24, 2024 in Jos, Plateau State, where they will conduct an NFT workshop. This workshop aims to educate creatives on how to transform their creations into NFTs and market them on Web3 platforms.

Plateau State, Nigeria’s 12th largest state, is situated approximately at the nation’s center. It boasts a population of about 4.2 million residents and is known for its mild weather, with temperatures occasionally dropping as low as 10 degrees Celsius.

According to the Algorand Foundation, it has invested significantly in Nigeria through software developer education across the country since 2021, with more than 500 software developers trained in 2023 alone. More than 10% of the developers trained in 2023 were said to be from Plateau State.

The Foundation organized a series of events in December 2023 where 50 software developers attended a workshop, capped off by a policy dinner the following evening with representation from senior members of the Plateau State Government.

“We are excited to collaborate with the Government of Plateau State in capacity development to train software developers, as well as developing real-world use cases that provide social and economic benefits,” said Ben Onuoha, Country Head for Nigeria at Algorand Foundation.