Strengthening Local Systems: BMZ, EU and Oxfam Lead Digital Budget Transition for Government Officials in the Northeast



By Ibrahim Abubakar Yola.


Seventeen local government officials from Guyuk in Adamawa State and Biu and Kwaya Kusar in Borno State have completed a six day capacity building training on basic Microsoft Excel skills to improve budget preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

The training, held in Yola, was organised under a project titled “Support to Improving Social Cohesion through Community Development Planning in Three Local Government Areas in North East Nigeria.”

The project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU), with implementation partners including Oxfam, GIZ, CRUDAN, CODERHI and Yaharakari Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation.

The training was facilitated by ATEK Innovations Ltd on behalf of Oxfam and its partners, with the aim of strengthening the capacity of local government budget and planning officers to adopt information and communication technology (ICT) in financial management and development planning.

The training covered nine modules of the approved curriculum, equipping participants with practical skills ranging from basic Excel operations to budget dashboard development, data governance and citizen friendly financial reporting.

Speaking at the opening session, Oxfam Country Director, Tijani Hamza, represented by Project Coordinator Samuel Lashom, encouraged participants to take the training seriously and apply their newly acquired skills to their work. He highlighted the importance of accurate financial records, transparency and accountability in strengthening public trust and improving the monitoring of Community Development Plans (CDPs) in the three participating local government areas

The initiative is designed to help local government administrations transition from manual financial management processes to digital, data driven systems that promote transparency, accuracy and accountability in the management of public resources.

The organisers said adopting Excel and other ICT based tools would enable budget and planning officers to prepare evidence-based budgets, track implementation more effectively and improve the monitoring and evaluation of development projects.

At the end of the six day training, all 17 participants successfully completed the programme and received certificates.

Some participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity, describing the training as beneficial to their professional development.

Alhaji Danladi Usman, Budget Officer of Biu Local Government Area in Borno State, said he would begin applying the knowledge and skills acquired during the training to budget preparation from 2027.

He expressed confidence that the practical application of the skills would produce remarkable results.

Hurera Modu, a participant from Kwaya Kusar Local Government Area of Borno State, said she had never imagined she could learn to use Microsoft Excel and apply it effectively in her work.

Similarly, Hon. Abdul Mohammed Kasila, from Biu Local Government Area, said the participants had acquired knowledge beyond their expectations. He thanked the organisers for providing the opportunity to enhance their skills.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen community development planning and promote social cohesion in the participating local government areas of Adamawa and Borno states.

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