Lagos: A platform for borderless living, Multipolitan has released a digital state project report examining how emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, blockchain, and the 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.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Handa noted that digital tools are reshaping how governments interact with citizens and residents. He mentioned that the report argues that in the coming years, people would increasingly log into countries through digital identity platforms rather than relying solely on physical borders. “Digital identity systems now determine access to public services, voting platforms, financial systems, and cross-border mobility,” Handa said. He emphasized that many governments are redesigning public services to meet the expectations of young, digitally-skilled populations who demand speed, transparency, and convenience.
Handa pointed out that the report compiled case studies and expert analyses from countries already using advanced digital governance models, including Estonia, Ukraine, and Palau. It highlighted how countries like Estonia have built a comprehensive e-government system that allows citizens to conduct most government transactions online, thereby reducing cost and bureaucracy. The report also spotlighted Ukraine’s Diia platform, which provided digital public services through mobile applications, even during periods of conflict. Additionally, it examined Palau’s digital residency programme, which enables non-citizens to hold state-backed digital identities, expanding the concept of citizenship beyond geographical boundaries.
The report also discussed the increasing 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 meant 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 added.
Furthermore, the report explored new concepts 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 reports that the publication featured interviews and analyses 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 elaborated on how artificial intelligence was aiding governments in automating and personalizing public services.