By Funmilola Gboteku
A platform for borderless living, Multipolitan has released a digital state project report examining how emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, blockchain and metaverse are fundamentally reshaping statehood, governance and citizenship.
Mr Nirbhay Handa, the Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Multipolitan, disclosed this during a webinar organised to release the report on Wednesday in Lagos.
He noted that digital tools are reshaping how governments interacted with citizens and residents.
Handa said the report argued that in the coming years, people would increasingly log into countries through digital identity platforms rather than rely only on physical borders.
He said: “Digital identity systems now determine access to public services, voting platforms, financial systems and cross-border mobility.
“Many governments are redesigning public services to meet the expectations of young, digitally-skilled populations who demand speed, transparency and convenience.”
Handa noted that the report brought together case studies and expert analysis from countries already using advanced digital governance models, including Estonia, Ukraine and Palau.
According to the report, countries such as Estonia have built a full e-government system that allows citizens to carry out most government transactions online, reducing cost and bureaucracy.
The report also highlighted Ukraine’s Diia platform, which delivered digital public services through mobile applications, even during periods of conflict.
The report also examined Palau’s digital residency programme, which allowed non-citizens to hold state-backed digital identities, expanding the idea of citizenship beyond geography.
Handa said the report also discussed the growing role of artificial intelligence in governance, including the use of intelligent systems to automate service delivery and improve policy planning.
According to Multipolitan, the report is intended to serve as a practical reference for policymakers designing digital identity frameworks and modern public institutions.
“The report is designed as a practical toolkit for government leaders, regulators, technology builders and investors working at the intersection of governance and emerging technologies,” Handa said.
He added that the report also explored new ideas such as digital citizenship, e-governance, virtual cities, space sovereignty and the role of the metaverse in human connection and nation branding.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the publication featured interviews and analysis from global experts, including James Ellsmoor of Island Innovation and William Wang of Palau’s Digital Residency Programme.
It also included contributions from Oleksandr Bornyakov, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation, and Luukas Ilves, former Chief Information Officer of Estonia.
Luukas Ilves outlined how artificial intelligence was helping governments automate and personalise public services. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Christiana Fadare
