The Roman philosopher, Lucius Annaeus Seneca admonition that success occurs at the intersection of preparation and opportunity has been the story of Dr. Justin Beshel, Cross River State Commissioner for Science and Technology. When Governor Bassey Otu announced his cabinet in 2023, there were surprises with the unexpected inclusion of some people. One of such surprises was Dr. Beshel whom many, including the official notice of appointment from government attributed a different local government to.
Political observers have been keenly watching to see whether Dr. Beshel and other appointees will emulate the dedication and excellence of some young public servants who have seized opportunities to make meaningful contributions or follow the path of those who prioritised personal gain over public service. Almost two years down the line, Gov. Otu, however, has every reason to be pleased that he did not only identify Dr. Beshel’s talent but entrusted him with the critical task of building the state's maiden Ministry of Science and Technology.
Beshel, like some of his young colleagues in the Otu’s administration has been nothing short of amazing. He boosts of an impressive scorecard that shows silent revolution ongoing in his sector. For instance, his ministry’s building and deployment of a Central Authentication and Payment System (CAPS), a custom-built solution that is addressing the inefficiencies and gaps in revenue collection, governance procedures and service delivery has contributed immensely to the improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) the Otu’s administration has achieved.
His ministry has also ensured the implementation of the Cross Riverians Pay-self service portal which enables citizens to manage taxes, generate Tax Identification Number (TIN), conduct self-assessments, apply for Tax Clearance certificates and verification statuses. This application has drastically reduced human contact during these activities thereby ensuring more efficiency.
To enhance transparency and help the Governor stay informed with the state’s revenue stream, the Ministry has also developed and implemented the Governor’s Mobile App, a digital solution that empowers the Chief Executive Officer of the state with real time insight into the state’s revenue streams. Through this app, the Governor can monitor revenue from various sources hence enabling him to make key decisions around income and expenditure as well as budgeting.
Similarly, the ministry has also launched “My Cross River App”, a digital technology that facilitates citizens engagement with government, government to government engagement as well as access to information about activities of government. There are other applications like the Cross River Pay/Cross River Paypoint 1 and Enmeration apps for verified data, etc.
Moreso, Beshel has orchestrated the revitalization of the Cross River State government data and centre optic fiber network within Calabar metropolis and the provision of internet to government MDAs and institutions. He has led the ministry to winning two national awards in technology and innovation and many more.
In the area of human capital development, Beshel has also implemented the People’s First agenda admirably. For example, his ministry engineered the training of science teachers with skills in design printing and robotics, collaborated with the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology to train some Cross Riverians on Biosecurity and Bioterrorism, partnered the Korea International Cooperation Agency to train over one hundred senior government officials on e-economy and e-governance, etc.
To close the skill gap among young girls, the Gov Otu’s administration through the Ministry of Science and Technology has launched the “Girls in Tech Initiative “ to build their capacities in coding, app development and entrepreneurship. The initiative, supported y the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, is a four-month intensive training of young ladies between the ages of 9-16 in technology. Some participants are currently developing apps in medical, educational and vocational sectors that will be launched officially later this month.
Beyond these groundbreaking initiatives, the government through the ministry has also secured training for 15 Cross Riverians on 4G/5G technologies in partnership with Nigeria Communications Commission and Nokia Technologies and Solutions.
As the world rapidly advances in technology and digitalization, the Otu administration deserves credit for keeping pace and embracing e-governance in Cross River. However, despite this progress, there’s still room for improvement. In the coming months, it’s expected that the ministry will refocus its efforts on other key aspects of its mandate, such as revamping technical colleges and promoting the adoption of CNG technology to help mitigate inflation, among other initiatives.
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