By Karen James
Anambra State has secured international recognition after emerging winner of the Top Fan Vote category at the prestigious Google Maps Platform Awards for its bold digitisation of property tax systems. The achievement places the state firmly on the global innovation map for leveraging geospatial technology to transform revenue administration and governance.
The award celebrates the strategic deployment of Google Maps and Earth Engine technologies by the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AiRS) to enhance property enumeration, mapping precision, and transparency in internally generated revenue.
The initiative, known as the APLUC Mapping Project and initiated by Stanley Okafor, has identified approximately 1.5 million properties across the state, with over 553,000 already digitally clustered for taxation.
The award, delivered from Silicon Valley, given to Stanley Okafor, and was formally presented to the Executive Chairman of AiRS, Greg Ezeilo, who described the recognition as a validation of deliberate, technology-driven reforms. He noted that upon full harmonisation of the property database, the state stands to unlock stronger, more reliable, and sustainable revenue streams.
Selected from over 4,000 global entries, the Anambra project distinguished itself through measurable impact, innovation, and overwhelming public support. The victory further strengthens the state’s growing reputation in digital governance, positioning Anambra among leading reform-driven states in Nigeria’s evolving revenue and ICT landscape.
