Justice Kashim Zannah, Chief Judge of Borno State, and Dr. Saleh Abba Kaza, Executive Secretary of the Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (BOSCHMA), have received the Distinguished GovTech Trailblazer Awards 2026.

The awards were presented by the presidency through the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) in recognition of their contributions to digital innovation and institutional transformation.

The ceremony followed a technical session at the State House Auditorium, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Representatives of the European Union, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Estonia and Nigerian government institutions discussed strategies for strengthening digital public infrastructure at the session.

Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, Director-General of BPSR, said the awards celebrated innovation and excellence in public service.

Today, we celebrate innovation and excellence in public service,' he said.

I urge us to remain steadfast as we continue to harness the power of emerging technologies to create a brighter future for our communities and Nigeria at large.'

Dr. Saleh, who also received an award on behalf of BOSCHMA as the Best State Ministry, Department or Agency in Digital Health Service Delivery, attributed the recognition to teamwork and the support of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.

'It was never a one-man job; it was the collective effort of the team, and we all got our inspiration from the governor,' he said.

He said he had prioritized the digitalization of the agency's operations, including the enrollment of healthcare units and management of accredited facilities.

Justice Zannah, who spoke on behalf of the recipients, said the recognition was meaningful because the Borno State Judiciary was also recognized for its electronic court system.

Other recipients included Dikko Radda of Katsina State, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State and Hyacinth Alia of Benue State.

Mr. Arabi said the annual international GovTech Conference was designed to accelerate digital transformation in governance and support the Tinubu administration's Renewed Hope Agenda.