West Blue Consulting Captures Two Nigeria Technology Awards (NITA)

Accra, Ghana-West Blue Consulting (WBC) is the proud recipient of yet another two technology awards, presented by the Nigeria Technology Awards (NITA) and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). West Blue Consulting was declared Software Development Company of the Year and also, the winner in the Best Use of Social Media Government Agency category.

You may recall that since the introduction of Nigeria Trade Hub and Pre-Arrival Assessment Report, Nigeria Customs Service has won several awards from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), including Best e-governance Project, Runner up Best MDA Category and Best Government Agency Website/Portal which was developed by its IT partner- West Blue Consulting.

This is no mean feat and speaks volume of West Blue Consulting’s commitment to being a pace setting, innovating and world class sought after ICT organization.

The overwhelming need for an efficient and effective service delivery in the Nigeria Customs Service has been well acknowledged by stakeholders in the economy. The digital services provided by the top notch digital services provider –West Blue Consulting have been of tremendous impact on the services of the Nigeria Customs Services and Ghana Revenue Authority.

West Blue Consulting has built up a range of bleeding edge key technologies to advance the company’s core competences such as the on-going modernization drive of the Nigeria Customs Service with the introduction of the award-winning Nigeria Trade Hub (first of its kind in Africa), Pre-Arrival Assessment Report and ICT centre of Excellence training college, Nigeria which was built to boost and enhance capacity building for Customs organizations globally and till date has remained a focus point for all Customs Organizations globally.

The awards which have been rolling in after three years of its existence came out as determination to see Africa rise on the horizons of ICT development, the IT company who is currently delivering its cutting edge solutions in Ghana; simplifying the trade procedures remain upbeat to seeing that ICT remains the euphoria of any country willing to be developed.

West Blue has since been a visible brain behind the Modernization drive in the Nigeria Customs Service. The Nigeria Customs Service with the aid of West Blue Consulting has become more result oriented and grown from the narrow product base and capabilities it had in the past to a level that it is proud to present the sector to the Nigerian and International community maintaining sustainability and ensuring they are solutions built by Africans for Africans.

Speaking at the event, representative of the CEO- Valentina Mintah, disclosed that they have built a team of African experts who have been actively engaged as the Principal Consultant for the National Single Window implementation, ensuring people empowerment; business process streamlining and solution development, within a legal framework.

In so many ways, The Nigeria Customs Modernization Drive fuelled by the West Blue Consulting has received numerous plaudits from both local and International stakeholders, ranging from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization, Relevant/Major Minsters from Nigeria and so many more.

“Nigeria Customs and the Ghana Revenue Authority- Customs Division now provide timely, authoritative and accurate information about trade with the rest of the world through the trade portal. The interactive portal offers online advisory on Customs Tariff Classification and Valuation, tax base, regulatory agencies, customs brokers, and currency conversion tools”.

With these in place, all is set for the first ever Ghana National Single Window Conference, which is just around the corner – 1st December 2015. The Ghana National Single Window Committees have demonstrated that government is indeed focussed on boosting private sector for international trade.

The conference themed “Collaboration - Towards a facilitated trade environment" is organized by the Government of Ghana in collaboration with GIFF / CUBAG–FFAG / GUTA and supported by World Customs Organization; UNECE; Ghana Shippers Authority and ECOWAS.

Speaking further, the CEO West Blue consulting, Valentina Mintah, hinted that they are all about the 4 Ps, which basically are centred around People, Processes, Policies and Platforms; emphasising the need to focus on the People – i.e. Users, operators and of course the West Blue team, to ensure a sustainable environment. West Blue Consulting will continue to develop and advance on its enterprises and keep driving them onwards. Our aim as a team is to consolidate a clear brand identity encompassing technology, product value, and service and West Blue shall sustain its relevance in the polity as long as Africa remains on this progressive path.