CROSS RIVER STATE EMERGES AS THE ONLY NIGERIAN STATE SELECTED FOR WORLD BANK GLOBAL GOVTECH AI BOOTCAMPThe Cross River State Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology, under the leadership of Assoc. Prof. Justin Beshel, has earned international recognition for Cross River as the only state in Nigeria selected to participate in the 2026 World Bank GovTech Bootcamp on AI in Governance and Public Administration, scheduled to take place in Seoul, South Korea, from December 7–11.This recognition places the Cross River State Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology among 10 government teams selected globally from 940 applications representing 108 economies.
The selection process was overseen by a committee of specialists from the World Bank, Korea’s Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), and the National Information Society Agency (NIA).The global initiative, organised by the World Bank in partnership with the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Interior and Safety and the National Information Society Agency, approved 10 participating teams, including the Cross River State Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology, and government institutions from Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Pakistan, Sierra Leone and Uzbekistan.Cross River State’s selection as the only Nigerian state alongside other global government institutions is a significant milestone in the state’s growing digital transformation journey under the leadership of Assoc. Prof. Justin Beshel as Commissioner. It has also placed the state on an important global platform for knowledge exchange and technological advancement.The bootcamp is designed to strengthen the capacity of government institutions to develop and deploy Artificial Intelligence-driven solutions that improve public administration, service delivery, transparency, efficiency and citizen engagement. During the five-day programme, participating teams will engage directly with Korean public and private sector institutions, World Bank experts and AI practitioners.
They will gain practical insights into Korea’s advanced public sector AI systems, participate in technical workshops and develop implementation roadmaps for their respective AI initiatives.This achievement aligns with the broader development vision of the State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, whose administration has prioritised innovation, digital transformation and the use of technology as instruments for sustainable development through strategic initiatives, institutional partnerships and the promotion of emerging technologies to strengthen governance and position Cross River State for greater global competitiveness.Beyond the international recognition, this selection presents an opportunity for the Cross River State team to learn from Korea’s successful AI-driven governance systems, strengthen its institutional capacity and explore practical ways of integrating Artificial Intelligence into public administration.With Assoc. Prof. Justin Beshel, the Cross River State Ministry of Science,
Innovation and Technology has gone beyond national boundaries. From Nigeria to the global stage, our state is now among 10 selected government teams representing 108 economies, and the only Nigerian state chosen for this prestigious World Bank initiative.The future of governance is digital, and Cross River State is not just embracing that future; we are taking our place in shaping it through the visionary leadership of Assoc. Prof. Justin Beshel as Commissioner of the Ministry.Congratulations to our uncommon Commissioner, Assoc. Prof. Justin Beshel, for this remarkable achievement.Beshel Media.https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/govtech/govtech-bootcamp-for-ai-in-governance-and-public-administration
Joseph Akwagiobe is a media contributor from Cross River State, Nigeria, currently based in Abuja. He is a graduate of Microbiology and has earned several professional certifications across diverse fields, reflecting his commitment to continuous learning, professional growth, and excellence.