Cross River State has emerged as a winner of eight awards at the 2026 Nigeria eGovernment Excellence Awards, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos. The awards recognised the state government's digital policy initiatives, eGovernment service delivery, mobile government solutions, digital innovation, and technology-driven revenue administration. This achievement highlights the state's efforts to deploy technology in governance, revenue administration, payment systems, and public service delivery.
Among those recognised were Governor Bassey Otu, Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Associate Professor Justin Beshel, and the Cross River State Government. Governor Otu received the Governor of the Year Award for Digital Revenue and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Innovation, while Beshel was honoured as the state Digital Policy Leader of the Year. The state government received the Best State Mobile Government Initiative Award and the Most Improved State eGovernment Service Deployment Award.
The MyCross River App, a digital platform for government services and payment-related transactions, won two awards — GovTech Innovation of the Year and Best Government Payment Solution Award. Nugi Technologies Nigeria Limited, the state's technology partner, was recognised as E-Government Technology Partner of the Year and E-Government Startup of the Year. These awards reflect the administration's efforts to use technology to strengthen revenue administration and improve the ease of doing business in the state.
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation stated that the recognition of Governor Otu for Digital Revenue and IGR Innovation acknowledges the administration's use of technology to strengthen revenue administration and improve the ease of doing business in the state. The award to Beshel as State Digital Policy Leader of the Year recognises his efforts towards providing policy direction and institutional support for the state's digital transformation agenda.
The state's digital transformation programme, centred around the MyCross River App, provides digital platforms for government services and payment-related transactions. The ministry stated that its partnership with Nugi Technologies had contributed to the development and deployment of digital solutions for government operations and citizen engagement. This partnership has been instrumental in driving the state's digital transformation agenda.
The state government has expressed its commitment to continuing to expand digital public services in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), while strengthening technology-driven systems for efficiency, transparency, and sustainable development. Commissioner for Science and Technology, Justin Beshel, congratulated Governor Otu on the recognitions, saying the awards reflect the administration's determination to place technology at the centre of governance and development in Cross River State.
The awards demonstrate the impact of Cross River State's investment in digital transformation and its commitment to using technology to improve governance and public service delivery. The state government's efforts to deploy technology in revenue administration, payment systems, and public service delivery have earned it national recognition, and it is expected to continue to drive digital innovation and excellence in the country.
Key points
- Cross River State won eight awards at the 2026 Nigeria eGovernment Excellence Awards.
- The awards recognised the state government's digital policy initiatives, eGovernment service delivery, and technology-driven revenue administration.
- The state government's digital transformation programme is centred around the MyCross River App, which provides digital platforms for government services and payment-related transactions.
