Governor Imoke, Cross River Government Win 2015 ICT Award

By Our Correspondent

Cross River State governor, Senator Liyel imoke was today conferred with the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) Award of Excellence on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), while the state government was acknowledged as the only state with the Best Use of ICT & Promotion of Software in Nigeria.

The double honors which were bestowed on Imoke and the state government during the IPSON 2015 President’s Dinner Award at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, was in recognition of Governor Imoke’s consistent, exemplary and pioneering role in the deployment of Software technology in service delivery in Cross River.

Speaking at the ceremony, ISPON President, Mr. Pius Okigbo, Jnr. said the awards were to encourage states who recognize the strategic importance of ICT to governance as well as its cross cutting effect on various sectors and its catalytic effect on the socio-economic development of the state.

The ISPON President. who enumerated some of Governor Imoke’s giant strides in ICT revolution in Cross River to include Calabar Communication Infrastructure Project, Tinapa Knowledge City, Cross River State Open Data & Smart City Service, Cross River Geographic Information Agency (CRGIA), the Electronic Transaction Processing & Financial Inclusion (SmartGov.CRSG) Projects, among others, described him as a man of initiative, innovation and vision, whose sterling contribution to the IT landscape in Nigeria deserved celebration.

In his response, Governor Imoke disclosed that “ISPON is one institute that we have partnered with extensively in Cross River State because we share a common vision and we believe that that vision is realizable.”

According to him, “By working with them, We have been able to grow and strengthen our capacity to ensure that we take advantage of the tremendous opportunities in this industry. Working hand in hand with them and various parastatals of the Federal Government, particularly the Ministry of Communication Technology, we have been able to position Cross River State as a possible state that could be the leader, ultimately when it comes to application of ICT in service delivery.”