The management of the Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (CRSMEDA) recently paid a courtesy visit to the newly appointed Head of Service, Mr. Orok Okon, as part of their ongoing efforts to strengthen the partnership with civil servants.
In his opening remarks, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of CRSMEDA, Great Ogban, congratulated the Head of Service on his well-deserved appointment, highlighting him as an administrator with substantial institutional knowledge. Ogban also recognized his support for the Civil Service Technology Empowerment for Capacity and High Performance (CIVTECH) program, which equips civil servants with essential ICT skills to enhance their efficiency.
Ogban announced that the Governor, Sen. Prince Bassey Otu, has approved the second phase implementation of the Retiree Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (REDI). This phase will benefit an additional 500 civil servants, focusing specifically on those with less than two years of active service remaining, and will be spread across the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
This initiative aims to adequately prepare them for post-retirement life by providing the necessary entrepreneurship education and skills to help mitigate post-retirement poverty.
In response, the Head of Service, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Glory Odu Orji, commended MEDA for its dedication to enterprise development throughout the state, particularly through the REDI program and the accompanying grant of Five Hundred Thousand Naira to each of the 500 beneficiaries.
He emphasized that his administration is adopting a three-pronged approach: Professionalism, Digitization, and Cultural Change. This strategy reflects a commitment to making the civil service more attractive and results-driven while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.
He concluded by noting that plans are underway by the Federal Government, through the Federal Civil Service, to transition to paperless documentation by 2026. This initiative underscores the importance of embracing the CIVTECH program to give civil servants in the state a competitive advantage.
