March 16,2024
Cross River State Ministry of Science , Technology and Innovation(STI)’s exhibition won 1st position in the Sub-nationals category at the 2024 Technology and Innovation Expo in Abuja on Friday.
Dr Ekandem Udoh, Chairman, Assessment and Award Sub-Committee of the expo, announced the winners at the closing ceremony.
The project: “Cross River State Central Authentication Payment System(CAPS)”, carted away the prize for the state’s STI ministry.
Dr Justin Beshel, the Cross River State Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, who received the award spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN).
He disclosed that the STI ministry never existed in the state before the dispensation of the new state governor, Mr Bassey Otu, who created the ministry.
Beshel, who said the award, despite being their first time at the expo as a new ministry, was to encourage them for more exploits.
” We’re going back to add more value to what we have developed and to demonstrate that we have what it requires to come out the best state, not just in Nigeria but globally.
“Now that we’ve won this award at this level of national competition, we’re positive that we are going somewhere.
” Our project was a group work and I want to see how we can go into real training of young people and also ensuring that there is sustainability,” Beshel said.
The CRS Commissioner for STI stressed on the imperative of re-training on what they had done as well as enduring that they were properly integrated.
He hinted on expansion and building their academy, while looking out for collaborations, partnerships and opportunities, to avoid working alone as a state.
He said his ministry was open for collaborations to ensure that they were self sufficient as well as have a market value.
He explained that the the idea was to add value to the state and to ensure that it translated into a boost to the state’s economy.
“If it doesn’t translate to boosting the economy of our state, then we are no where.
” It’s not just about getting to this stage, but to commercialise our project which wouid add value to Cross River State, ” he said.
He noted that the award meant so much to his ministry, the state as well as the Governor who created the ministry.
He said going home with the award was a testament that the creation of the ministry was a great decision. (NAN)
