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Tag: Alaghodaro Summit

  • Alaghodaro Summit: Obaseki showcases reforms-driven growth

    …people-oriented governance

    The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Monday at the 2018 Alaghodaro Summit taking place in the state capital, Benin City, said the steady progress which his administration has recorded in all sectors of the state in the last two years was spurred by time-tested reforms and people-centred governance.

    Obaseki made the submission before an array of personalities in government, private sector players, foreign investors, traditional rulers, thought and community leaders, owners of micro, small and medium businesses as well as other stakeholders.

     According to the governor, the state has witnessed tremendous progress in the last two years of his administration, in the areas of infrastructure, quality education and job creation, with a policy strategy linking job seekers to training and employment opportunities, which have culminated in the creation of 77,200 jobs.

    The governor said: “Alaghodaro summit was designed to lay a solid foundation for the future of the state. Through the strategic summit, we have been able to lay out our plans for the Edo people and strategically showcase our potential to the world as guide to governance in the state. We understand that for there to be prosperity, peace and inclusive growth; reforms are imperative.”  

    Obaseki said his government’s focus on the wellbeing of the Edo people and residents informed the choice of this year’s summit theme: ‘Edo of our dream: Investing in our people’.

    He explained that the investment in the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST) programme has produced over 7, 000 digital teachers with impressive learning outcomes in public primary schools across the state.

     “Primary school pupils can now read in our public schools. I got this result first hand after an interaction with a parent. A mother came to me, thanking me for what we have done in the schools. She said her six-year-old child can not only read, but also always eager to go to school and have his name on the character board,” he said.

    Chairman of the 2018 Alaghodaro Summit, Asue Ighodalo, in his remark, said the summit would generate ideas for the Obaseki-led administration to deepen the gains it has recorded in critical sectors such as health, education and job creation as well as in allied areas.  

  • Alaghodaro Summit: Obaseki celebrates women, say female appointees spearheading Edo’s progress

    •Mrs Obaseki lists empowerment programmes

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has disclosed how he created more roles for women to find expression in his government, assuring that they will continue to be given priority due to their sterling performance.

    The governor said this at the Edo Women’s Summit held at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Sports Complex, in Ugbowo, Benin City, as part of activities to mark the second-year anniversary of the administration.

    He said: “Women will have priority in my administration.  I am proud of the women who have been given opportunity to serve in my administration; they are achieving a lot of successes and making progress in their endeavours.

    He described women in the Edo chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as faithful followers and urged them to continue to support the party.

    According to him, “When I found out that I did not have the number of women I wanted as commissioners, I created opportunities for more of them to join my government and I am very proud of what the women working with me are doing.

    “Whether it is the Attorney General, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe; the woman who is building 1,400 houses for the very first time almost in the last 16 years in Edo State, Isoken Omo, in Edo Development and Property Agency (EDPA) or the amazon of a woman, who is changing education in Edo State, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe. I could go on and on. All the remarkable changes we are making in my government are being spearheaded by women and I thank all of you.”

    Wife of the Edo Governor, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, said the state has evidence of robust engagement with women, listing the projects being executed by her office to include Centre for Women Development, Betsy’s Angels Shelter, Edo Youth Academy, Betsy Obaseki After School Club, Edo Women for Agriculture and Enterprise, Market-Moni, among others.

    Mrs. Obaseki said when women are empowered they would be able to contribute to nation building, noting that women were strong forces to reckon with.

    She commended women of the state for supporting the Governor Obaseki-led administration, assuring that the administration was committed to their welfare and progress.

    She also commended the Bank of Industry for its support in ensuring the growth of small and medium scale businesses in the state.

    “My office is collaborating with BOI in the trader and market moni programme which will be rolled out across the state.

    “We are targeting to have 50,000 beneficiaries in the financial inclusion scheme in the state.

    The first lady presented awards to 36 outstanding women from the 18 local government areas under the Community Mobiliser Award category and also presented the Civil Service Emeritus Award to the retiring Head of service of Edo, Mrs Gladys Idahor.

    In her speech, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Magdalene Ohenhen, said the Obaseki-led administration was addressing the gender gap in the state via appointment of women in political and administrative positions.

  • Alaghodaro: Waje, Mayorkun to inspire Edo youths at concert

    As part of activities lined up for the 2018 Alaghodaro Summit, to mark Governor Godwin Obaseki’s second year anniversary, Edo State will on Friday, play host to A-list artistes led by popular songstress, Waje and Hip-Hop rave, Mayorkun, in Benin city.

    A statement by Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said that the state government has finalized plans for the concert, which will fete Edo youths at the King’s Square in Benin City.

    He noted that the concert is part of activities lined up for the 2018 Alaghodaro Summit, which showcases Governor Obaseki’s investment in Edo people, specifically in health care, education and job creation.

    He added that the event will start from 6pm, after the two major events in the day, namely; EdoJobs Job Fair/Summit, holding at the Edo Innovation Hub and Women’s Summit, which holds at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Sports Complex, Ugbowo, Benin City.

    According to him, “We are intent on engaging the youths, who are major drivers of economic growth. In the course of the last two years, we have rolled out a number of programmes to get them busy, with the most impactful being EdoJobs and the Edo Innovation Hub.”

    He said that one of the lead acts, Waje, was raised in Benin City, and aside featuring as an act for the concert, will also inspire youths in the state, adding, “We realise that youths need role models, people who have gone through the same stress as they did, walked the same streets and all that, but have come out triumphant in life. That is the message that Waje will be bringing to Edo youths at the concert.”

    He said other local acts will also be featured at the concert, adding that the state government prioritises the arts industry and is already devising means to mainstream the sector into its programmes, an effort that will be set off with the Edo TV Village, among other initiatives.

  • Traders, drivers, others gear up for 2018 Alaghodaro Summit

    Members of different traders’ unions and market associations in Edo State have thrown their weight behind the 2018 Alaghodaro Summit, noting that they are fully in support of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s focus on enriching the life of the people.

    The 2018 Alaghodaro Summit is an event to mark Governor Godwin Obaseki’s second anniversary and showcase his administration’s people-centered policies, programmes and initiatives and his commitment to bettering the life of the people by opening up the state to investors, upholding law and order and expanding the economic space.

    Leader, Market Women Association in Edo State, Madam Blacky Omoregie, JP, in a chat with journalists, said that the market women in the state are excited about the event as it will give them opportunity to appreciate the governor for all he has done for them.

    According to her, “We are excited about Alaghodaro 2018 because the governor has said it is focused on the people and we are very much in tune with his vision for the event. He has shown that he truly cares for the people with the numerous programmes he has championed since coming into office.

    “We know what he has done with the fight against human trafficking, through which he has rescued our children from the grip of human traffickers. He is bringing investors to the state with projects such as the Benin River Port, the Edo Modular Refinery and the Benin Industrial Park. Not many states in Nigeria are having it as good as we are in Edo State.”

    Chairman, Edo State Chapter of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr. Odion Olaye, on his part, said that the event is a testimony to the people-centric government run by the governor in the state, noting that different unions in the state can testify to the administration’s unflinching stance for the people.

    “The union totally aligns with the governor’s stance to have the people at the center of his policies. He has been humane and we are not so surprise to have him commit the second anniversary celebrations to hosting and celebrating with Edo people, as against what held in the past,” he said.