Bong Duke is an alumnus of Kookmin University, Seoul, South Korea, where he studied Strategic Planning and Economic Development Strategies; In his early years, he studied Geology at the University of Calabar, Nigeria; He Studied Economics at Post Graduate Level in the University of Calabar, Nigeria; Bong Duke is a celebrated awardee of a Doctorate in Divinity at Zoe Life Institute, Philadelphia, USA.
In Information and Communication Technologies, he studied Oracle Database Administration, Comptia A+, Microsoft Suites, and Network Engineering all at NIIT in South Africa and Nigeria.
In Projects and Programmes Management, he is a Prince2 Certified Projects Manager, and an alumnus of Impetus, Dubai, UAE. He is also certified by the British Office of Government Commerce through the APMG.
His core areas of competencies include Strategic Innovation and Development Planning, Policy Formulation and Governance, Â Collaboration and Alliance Building, Business Development (Public and Private Sector); Political Economy and Africa Business Environment, Â Strategic Communications; Supportive Supervision and Grants Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Projects Management (Prince2 Certified Project Manager), Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), Research and Data Management.
He has over 25 years of experience working in diverse sectors, and has served in several government administrations in Cross River State, working closely with the governors. He served as the CEO of Donald Duke Vendors, during the administration of Governor Duke. He served as personal assistant to Governor Liyel Imoke on ICT Development for four years, special assistant to Governor Imoke on Strategic Planning for another four years, Technical Consultant to Duchdorbon in charge of ICT Infrastructural Development for the Government of Rivers State of Nigeria, technically supporting the governor of Rivers State on ICT development.
He was also Technical Consultant (Data Management) to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, executing projects in Namibia, Togo, Mali, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria. He was the National Investment Consultant to DFID on the Organization for Economic Development’s (OECD) Policy Framework for Investment (PFI) toolkit in Cross River State, and International Consultant to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Research and Data Management in Guinea Bissau, Work-Flow Management Consultant to the Presidency, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria.
Duke also worked as an International Consultant on the End Project Evaluation of Enhancing Women Workers’ Access to Market (EWAM) in Pakistan, funded by the Embassy of Netherlands.
Duke served as a Special Adviser to the Government of Cross River State on eCommerce between January 2020 and May 2023 in the administration of Governor Ben Ayade. Duke is well endowed with knowledge of Cross River State governance.
Duke was Deputy Secretary and Head of Secretariat of the Cross River State Transition Reports Review Committee 2023, and a major contributor to the People-First Governance Blue Print of Governor Prince Bassey Otu.
By its enabling law, the Cross River State Planning Commission has the governor as Chairman, and Bong Duke has been appointed by Governor Bassey Edet Otu as the Vice Chairman and CEO of the Planning Commission, with the responsibility of having the best articulated and impactful socio-economic development plans that would drive and achieve the People-First Mandate and Vision of the State through Innovation and full implementation of e-Governance by 2027. And To be effective and efficient in the monitoring and management of strategic policies and programmes through the injection of new ideas for the realisation of the State Vision for 2027 in accordance with the People-First Strategy of the Administration.
