In commemoration of the one year anniversary of the Cross River State Executive Council, Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Justin Beshel has penned an emotional message, thanking Governor Bassey Otu for the opportunity to serve.
Beshel, who is touted as one of the best Commissioners under Otu after he led the newly established ministry to win laurels for the state in national exhibitions, noted in his letter that the Governor has helped him in the past one year develop the inert potentials he didn't know he possesses.He averred that "Your Excellency, I woke this morning to realize today is exactly one year I was sworn in as Member of the Cross River State Executive Council and Commissioner for Science and Technology. I cannot forget in a haste how tedious and tasking the selection process was, but despite all interests placed before you, you graciously considered an inexperienced me. In the course of this service, you have adopted me and shown me love to the envy of many. Your confidence in me has helped me develop the inert potentials I never knew I possess".He maintained that "today, I have built bridges across States, the Federal Government, Ministries, and Global Development Agencies.
The exposure and knowledge acquired in this short stay in office is unparallel and top notch. Everyday, I learn, unlearn, and relearn to meet up with the demands of my office. And everyday, I wake with a renewed determination to make the best use of this office to leave a legacy in the sands of time. And to the Glory of God, my one year in office has put Cross River State in the Science, Technology, and Digital Innovation Space, nationally and internationally"Giving account of his stewardship, he noted that "in line with the Global Best Practices for transparency and accountability, we began with the creation of the state’s one stop shop website - crossriverstate.gov.ng where information about the day-to-day activities of the state irrespective of one’s location can be seen and followed. Today, it’s no longer news that our online payment authentication system has helped boost the revenue generation of Cross River State. A state which was perennially known as a poor state through our app now generates up to six billion Naira monthly.Just within a year, through my Ministry, 200KVA Solar Power Infrastructure has been built and deployed serving several MDAs, and the process is still ongoing with a view to supplying uninterrupted power supply to all MDAs across the state.
Your Excellency, the Metro Fibre Optic Network is receiving attention. Repairs are ongoing, and the vision to running a Smart City is almost a certainty. Some households and Institutions are already served with our state network. Just recently, we launched internet service for both staff and students’ use in the College of Health Technology, Calabar."Read the remaining part of the letter: "We have not relented in knocking the doors of our Mother Ministry, the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology. Through persistent effort, we got approval for the building of the Regional Office of PRODA in Cross River State, with ongoing work at Akamkpa. And not less than 1000 Youth were trained in post-harvest reduction modern techniques, fish farming, Snailry and Mushroom farming, facilitated by the Federal Government.Same is applied in the ongoing 3MTT jobs, an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. Cross River state is fully participating and many youth undergoing the training, with a typical Youth of Cross River origin, Patrick Ndifon as the Project Manager.The IDICE programme under the Office of the SA to the President on Digital and Creative Economy promises to impact greatly on Cross Riverians. I have shared informal with the University of Calabar, UNICROSS and the Federal Polytechnics, Ugep for expression of Interest to serve as training centres. This is a privilege I got from my personal relationship with the Special Adviser, Mr. Fegho who himself has visited Cross River State twice to show his commitment to our course. And aside the IDICE project, his office has promised to partner with private creatives. One of such he recently informed is Last Prophet Show and Comedy, and the Carnival Calabar.
Your Excellency, brought before you just recently is a partnership opportunity I secured with NaWIWI Farms for the training of 1500 youth in smart and digital farming. The training which covers the application of AI, block chain, drones operation, tractor operations and precision farming is due commencement in September. And out of the 1500 trainees, there is a ready job for the best 1000 trainees.NITDA has assured us 3 Digital Innovation Hubs in the last quarter of this year. And UNESCO is concluding arrangements for the Girls in STEM Education project.Your Excellency, it is on record that Cross River State today is the best state in Science and Technology.
This was declared and followed with an award during the last Science Tech EXPO held in Abuja where all states competed, and Cross River State emerged first. This was the second award after been declared the best state in Digital Innovation and presented the .NG Award in Lagos by NIRA.Your Excellency, there is much in the offing for our Dear State because you have charted a course for us. I can only but submit myself to you in gratitude for granting me this opportunity to serve and learn under your tutelage. I promise you nothing but unalloyed commitment, diligence, trustworthiness and a ready-zeal to do more."
