The Cross River State workforce is set for a major digital upgrade, following a proposed strategic collaboration between the Cross River State government-owned Teachers Continuous Training Institute (TCTI) Biase, and the Office of the Head of Service. The partnership aims to inject essential digital literacy and emerging ICT skills into the state’s public service personnel.
The move, which seeks to modernize the civil and public service and drive the digital economy, was announced by the Director-General of TCTI, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, on Friday, during a courtesy visit to the new Head of Service at his office in Calabar.
Professor Adedoja, a former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, stated that the collaboration will leverage the TCTI’s internationally recognized Center for Digital Literacy and Emerging Skills. He proudly noted that the Institute is the first in Nigeria to be accredited and certified by CERTIPORT, demonstrating its capacity to deliver world class ICT-compliant training because of its array of advanced resources and expertise.
“There is a growing demand for advanced digital knowledge and global exposure for the workforce,” he remarked, adding that: “Those driving education and the public service in Cross River State want the best, so developing and maintaining a digital culture among the workforce is a continuous learning objective of the public services.
“This requires personnel who are digitally literate and proficient to competently drive government programmes through the digital economy for the greater good of the state and its citizens” he concluded.
Professor Adedoja praised the Head of Service for the recent capacity-building initiative aimed at transforming the civil service into a paperless, technology-driven workforce for directors and other staff categories. He noted that TCTI has the capability to handle a comprehensive residential training for the next batch, accommodating a larger number of participants from areas outside and within the proximity of Biase.
He presented a copy of the Institute’s profile to the new Head of Service, stressing the necessity of a follow-up training schedule to adopt advanced digital skills training components for all public servants in the state.
Receiving the TCTI DG, the Head of Service of Cross River State, Orok Okon Esq, expressed the state government’s readiness to collaborate. He commended TCTI for its cutting-edge facilities, capacity for mass training and preparedness to undertake training of its civil servants and other categories of workers in the state.
Mr Okon also pointed out that TCTI’s strategic and centralised location in Biase makes it easily accessible for workers traveling from other parts of the state.
The Head of Service affirmed that the collaboration will significantly strengthen the capacity of its workforce, ultimately enhancing the performance of public service across Cross River State.
This initiative is seen as a bold step by the state to drive modern ICT methods and ensure its personnel are competent to effectively drive government programmes in the digital age.
