GBB: Fulfilling her mandate of deploying nationwide ICT infrastructure and capacity building for public officials
Galaxy Backbone (GBB) was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria to operate a nationwide IP-based network that will provide a common platform for connectivity and other infrastructure services for all Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Per the mandate of its parent, the Federal Ministry of Communication, Galaxy Backbone is responsible for the following:
- Be the provider of shared ICT infrastructure, applications and services to all Federal Government MDAs and institutions.
- Build and operate a single nation-wide IP broadband network to provide network services to all Federal Government MDAs and institutions.
- Deploying and maintaining all national database management systems and transversal applications in government. These include government wide messaging and collaboration, federal public service personnel and payroll system, Government gateway and national portal.
- Set standards and guidelines for the support of government MDAs in the acquisition and acceptable usage of ICT infrastructure, applications and services across different agencies and government institutions.
- Providing Wide Area Networks(WAN) and Metropolitan Area Networks(MAN) to connect all government entities.
- Be the provider of technical support to the Ministry of Communication Technology for end to end Quality Assurance of ICT projects and capacity building for ICT professionals in government.
One of such infrastructures deployed by GBB promoting digital transformation is the National Shared Service Centre (Now Muhammadu Buhari Galaxy Backbone Headquarters). The National Shared Service is housed in a seven-story twin building which sits beautifully at Central Business District area of the nation’s Federal Capital Territory. The National Shared Service Centre is helping to reduce the cost of governance by serving as a common platform for sharing data across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). It is also driving the digital transformation of the public sector by deploying world class tech equipment across MDAs to facilitate effectiveness in the fulfillment of various government functions. Under Abubakar’s leadership, Galaxy has built a multi-platform ICT infrastructure connecting more than 400 Ministries, Departments and agencies into a “one government” network platform known as 1-Gov.net and currently deploying terrestrial (Fibre) broadband connectivity to 30 states of the federation.
Also, within the National Shared Services Center is the Executive Telepresence Room for 3D high resolution virtual meetings with partners, international bodies, governments, customers and stakeholders across the world. This has proved to be important after the world was suddenly hit by the global pandemic of COVID-19. Meetings have gone on to be mostly virtual across many nations and organizations.
In line with this commitment to develop and enhance digital literacy, GBB has also been involved in various capacity building programmes for individuals drawn from across the Federal Government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies. The training courses usually range from Digital Economy and The Nigerian Federal Public Sector, Use of GOVMAIL (the official government email) for digital communication and Network & Cyber security In The Nigerian Public Sector amongst other Digital Service programmes. So far the agency has trained over 500 public sector officials.
The efforts so far are paying off and Nigeria is gradually moving to take its place in the emerging digital economy under the stellar leadership of Professor Muhammed Bello Abubakar.
As an organization that prides itself in the delivery of world class services, GBB consistently presents itself to the principles and scrutiny of the International Standards Organisation(ISO) as a way to ensure Customer service is paramount in its entire operations. The organisation recertifies itself every year as an ISO 20000 organisation ensuring its Service Management System (SMS) is always up to date.
