By Eghosa Emily and Aiworo S. Osahon
The Edo State Government’s zero tolerance for corrupt practices by leveraging technology has been reemphasized by the Permanent Secretary in the Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), Mrs. Birgitta Okodugha.
The Permanent Secretary expressed the government’s position during a routine meeting held with the staff of the Agency recently in Benin City, the State capital.
Addressing the members of staff, the Managing Director of the Agency, Mr. Goodluck Igbinedion, described the Permanent Secretary as someone with vast experience which the Agency needs to launch onto the global stage.
He enjoined the staff members to always seek counsel whenever they encounter challenges in the course of carrying out their duties.
According to him, the programs being organized by the Agency include training under Cisco Academy, an online cyber security program, to boost knowledge and skill.
He encouraged the staff to keep up with the momentum of work, carry out their schedules diligently and stressed the need for proper control of passwords and other login details, especially for those handling sensitive information.
Mrs. Okodugha, in her speech, expressed appreciation to the ICTA MD for his immense contributions thus far in repositioning the agency to perform optimally.
She also thanked the members of staff for their hospitality towards her, since her posting from the Ministry of Digital Economy, Science and Technology and her assumption of duty as Permanent Secretary after her annual vacation.
The new Permanent Secretary however reiterated the importance of collaboration and team work in achieving better results and the need for staff to be knowledge-driven as, according to her, “there is no limit to acquiring knowledge. No one knows it all, and anyone can learn from another.”
She added that critical thinking, creativity and innovations are the hallmarks of the Agency, while also stressing that every unit counts.
She maintained that the Agency is the hub of technology in Edo State and should set the pace for other ministries, while she challenged members of staff to make effective use of technology henceforth.
She sought the cooperation of staff in lifting the agency to higher heights and promised to study the mandates and meet with the heads of the units in order to set the tone for tasks.
During the interactive session with the Heads of Units, the Executive Director, Mrs. Emojabo Iyamah, described the Permanent Secretary as a mother to all as she had worked with her on a previous assignment.
Head of Unit, Mr. Donatus Igiekhume, commended the Permanent Secretary and appealed that avenues for staff training be created in order to expose them to new applications.
