The Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (CRSMEDA) is positioning the state’s ambitious shift from analog to digital governance as a catalyst for immediate and measurable economic growth, specifically targeting the state’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
In a direct collaboration with the Head of Service, CRSMEDA co-spearheaded the launch of the Civil Service Technology Empowerment for Capacity and High Performance (CIVTECH) programme. While the programme is fundamentally reforming the state bureaucracy, CRSMEDA is framing it as the foundational step to digitally supercharge support, loan processing, and advisory services for local entrepreneurs.
The mandate for this comprehensive overhaul, which underpins CRSMEDA’s ability to serve the business community, was clearly articulated by the Head of Service, Mr. Orok Okon, Esq., who explained the state government’s commitment to modernization, noting that the initiative was launched shortly after his assumption of office in partnership with CRSMEDA. He emphasized the sweeping nature of the change:
“This initiative aligns with our goal of achieving a paperless civil service by the end of 2026. Every cadre of staff across state and local government services will undergo ICT training to ensure full computer literacy and digital proficiency. This is timely and crucial as we transition to e-governance.”
By setting the deadline for a fully paperless system, Mr. Okon’s stance ensures a service delivery environment where administrative friction is minimized, directly benefiting businesses that rely on timely government processes.
The leadership of CRSMEDA is focused on ensuring that this newly built digital capacity translates directly into palpable benefits for entrepreneurs—creating a faster, smarter, and more efficient pipeline for enterprise development resources.
Mr. Great Ogban, the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of CRSMEDA, stated that the training is a practical execution of Governor Bassey Otu’s reform agenda:
“You cannot reform the civil service without technology and education. This training translates the governor’s vision into action. Civil servants are the drivers of government policy, and this program will enhance their efficiency, speed, and output.”
Echoing this focus on tangible improvements for the private sector, Mr. Esessien Edet, Chairman of CRSMEDA Board, highlighted how the move will eliminate bottlenecks that historically hinder small businesses:
“This programme moves our workforce from non-ICT compliance to digital proficiency. It will drastically improve turnaround time, productivity, and service delivery.”
CRSMEDA’s new approach frames the CIVTECH programme not just as a civil service upgrade, but as the engine for Cross River’s economic competitiveness, ensuring that state support reaches the hands of entrepreneurs with unprecedented speed.
