The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, on Thursday received the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Ms. Jane Egerton-Idehen, and her team during a courtesy visit to his office at the Government House, Calabar.
Welcoming the delegation, Rt. Hon. Odey commended NIGCOMSAT for choosing Calabar as the host city for the ongoing VSAT Training and SpaceTech Hackathon, describing the initiative as both timely and strategic in preparing young people for emerging opportunities in the global tech and space economy.
“This training and hackathon represent a bold step in bridging the digital divide,” the Deputy Governor said. “It aligns perfectly with Governor Bassey Otu’s vision to leverage technology and innovation for economic transformation. Our partnership with NIGCOMSAT will open the minds of our youths to the vast potential of space technology and help build the local capacity critical to Nigeria’s digital future.”
In her remarks, Ms. Egerton-Idehen thanked the Cross River State Government for its warm reception and expressed NIGCOMSAT’s commitment to grassroots engagement in satellite and space-based technologies. She noted that the Calabar initiative is part of a broader national agenda to promote awareness, skills development, and innovation in digital infrastructure.
“Our goal is to bring space technology closer to the people, especially young Nigerians, and Calabar is proving to be a fertile ground for this engagement,” she said. “We believe the future of Nigeria’s tech space must include local talent equipped to build and sustain our digital infrastructure.”
Also present at the meeting was the Cross River State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Justin Beshel, alongside other members of the NIGCOMSAT delegation.
The ongoing training and hackathon in Calabar have attracted young innovators, developers, and students from across the state, as part of efforts to deepen local participation in satellite communication and emerging space technologies.
