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Tag: Edo state governor

  • Obaseki unveils plan to facilitate steady power supply

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has revealed the state government’s plans to strategically develop industrial layouts away from residential areas to ensure proportionate power supply to help actualize the state’s developmental plans.

    Obaseki disclosed this during an interview with journalists in Benin City, Edo State capital.

    According to him, “We have developed plans to help overcome the challenges of power distribution to industries, residential buildings and other users. This includes building areas of use that is, developing industrial parks, housing estates and other clusters that can be directly connected to generating plants.”

    He said, “When these plans are fully achieved, the state would have steady power supply to support businesses and other users. With time, Benin City and other towns in the state will be better planned and segregated so that industrial use of power can be separated from domestic use.”

    “When this is done, the structural challenges along the chain of generation and distribution will then be reorganised and steady power supply will then be guaranteed,” he said.

    He explained that steady power supply cannot be achieved overnight until the structural impediments are addressed, noting, “Even if the issue of generation of power is addressed, efforts must be made to address issues mitigating distribution and transmission.”

    Obaseki said, “As long as we have determined people like the developers of Edo Azura Independent Power Plant (IPP), Edo state and Nigeria can become self-sufficient in power supply. As long as there is power generation, we will find a way to get it to users.

    “If we have people who know what they are doing like the developers of Edo Azura IPP, we will overcome issues of power supply. In terms of generation, I believe, given the resources available, hydro, thermal and green energy; we can generate all the electricity to power the state and country.”

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  • Obaseki appoints six new permanent secretaries

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved the appointment of six permanent secretaries in the state Civil Service.

    A statement signed by the Head of Service (HoS), Mrs. Gladys Idahor, said the state governor approved the appointment of Mrs. Oboh Akongie Usiriedo, Mrs. Imasuen S. I, and Ms. Enakhimion D. O. as permanent secretaries.

    Others are Engr. Enabulele Ferguson, Mr. Oigboke B. O., and Mr. Ogbebor R. O.

    Mrs. Idahor said the date for their swearing-in will be announced later.

  • Obaseki inaugurates committee, maps out strategies to combat malnutrition 

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has inaugurated the state’s Food and Nutrition Committee to develop sustainable strategies to tackle the problem of malnutrition in the state.

    Governor Obaseki, who inaugurated the committee at the Government House in Benin City, said, “The committee will assist the state government to identify and encourage the consumption of nutritious food in the state. Eating highly nutritious food goes a long way in ensuring that people not only get needed energy to work but also sustain good health to contribute to development.”

    “We are concerned about the health status and nutrition of our people, particularly among very young persons and old people. Therefore, setting up this committee is important,” he said.

    Explaining the role of nutrition in development, he said, “We are aware that there is a connection between healthy eating, preventive medicine, girl-child education, women empowerment and childhood development. And we don’t want to leave all of these issues to chance.”

    Obaseki said, the terms of reference for the committee include identifying the problems of nutrition in the state; coordinating efforts to improve nutrition and ensure adequate resource allocation towards addressing issues bothering on malnutrition.

    He noted, “The committee has the mandate to identify measures to be put in place by various stakeholders and institutions to tackle malnutrition in the state. They will also review strategies to tackle malnutrition and their impact on the society.”

    Obaseki called for synergy among various stakeholders in the food and nutrition sector to avoid duplicity of roles, as this will allow for optimal use of resources.

    Chairperson of the Committee and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs. Vera Obadan, said, “The initiative will put nutrition on the front burner, which is key to human development.”

    Obadan, who was represented by Vice Chairman of the committee and Vice Chancellor, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Prof. Ignatius Onimawo, said the bedrock of nutrition is breastfeeding, noting that the rate of breastfeeding in the country is low.

    She said the committee will embark on massive sensitisation campaign to educate mothers on the importance of breastfeeding which will ensure healthy childhood development.

     

  • Obaseki gives 48 hours turn-around ultimatum for approval of building plans

    … C of O approvals to be granted in 30 days

     

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has charged the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, to ensure a 48-hour turn-around time for approval of building plans in the state within the next two months.

    Obaseki gave the directive while speaking at a two-day workshop organised by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, themed: “Strengthening the Institutional Framework for Physical Development Management in Edo State, held in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    He also gave 12-month ultimatum to the Edo Geographical Information Agency, to ensure that Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) and Rights to Occupancy are issued to applicants within 30 days of application.

    Obaseki said the two-day workshop is organised to develop the expertise of stakeholders and strengthen the institutional framework for physical development and management. He said there was need to re-calibrate the management of the physical infrastructure to make room for well-coordinated urban development.

    Noting that development hadn’t been controlled for a long while in the state, he said, “This has contributed to raising a generation that lacks required knowledge on the importance of registering development plans. People need to be educated on the importance of registering their building plans. People just wake up and do what they like, and in the process turn cities into slums,” he said.

    Obaseki added, “The focus of this administration is to re-enact and rebuild the physical development and space of the state. There is need to explore the use of legal frameworks to reposition the Urban and Rural landscape of the state. This will assist us in capturing the needs of the people in the state without compromising standards.”

    He said his administration has developed well-thought-out plans hinged on six strategic pillars to include institutional reforms, environmental sustainability, culture and tourism among others, adding that the state intends to ensure sanity in urban development.

  • Obaseki signs Edo Criminal Justice Administration Bill into Law 

     

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has signed the Edo State Criminal Justice Administration Bill into Law.

    Obaseki, who assented to the bill at the Government House, in Benin City, the Edo State capital on Tuesday, said, “The law would strengthen the protection of the rights of citizens and ensure fair and speedy administration of justice.”

    Obaseki explained, “This event is historic as it is the first time in decades that a comprehensive review and modernisation of the Criminal Law procedure would be undertaken.”

    Noting that the law will address a number of bottlenecks that hitherto delayed dispensation of justice, he said “Our focus in the justice sector is informed by the deep conviction that there would not be a modern society, particularly the type we seek to build, without respect for the rule of law.”

    “The criminal justice administration law is designed to take us beyond the colonial era rules of criminal procedures and introduce innovative legal procedure, which will ensure fair hearing in the court of law with due consideration of time,” the governor said.

    Obaseki added that the state government, through the Ministry of Justice, would put all the needed infrastructure in place to ensure the implementation of the Criminal Administration Law.

    He commended the committee on judiciary for the effort put into the drafting of the bill, adding, “The state government will ensure that sufficient copies of the law would be made available. The law will be implemented to support the government in protecting lives and property.

    Chief Judge of the State, Justice Eseohe Ikponmwen, represented by Justice Joe Acha, said “The Criminal Justice Administration Law will give a new face to the criminal justice system in the state as well as improve the judiciary.”

    State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, said the Criminal Administration Law will eliminate procedures that delay justice.

    Chairman, Edo State Chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Barr. Ede Asenoguan, said the state government’s domestication of the law is highly commendable, noting, “As of last year, only six states had such a law in place, now that Edo has the law, it is work in progress.”

    Read Also: Obaseki convoy accident: Five-year old cancer patient gets lifetime treatment

  • Edo now destination for Asian investors – Obaseki

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that reforms by his administration and the state’s strategic assets account for the increasing interest of Asian investors in the state.

    The governor made the submission when he received the Director/ State Coordinator of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mrs. Ladi Katagum, at the Government House in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Obaseki said, “We are witnessing an influx of investors from Asia because we have a unique advantage that other states don’t have. Edo State is the new investment destination going by its strategic location, deposit of energy resources including on-shore gas reserves and other national infrastructure such as the gas lines, fibre network and transmission lines.”

    He explained that the reforms and initiatives undertaken by his administration account for the influx of investors from Asia, adding, “We have created an office for investment promotion in the state, which is located beside the NIPC office. This is to demonstrate how far we have gone to promote investments in the state.”

    Obaseki commended the NIPC for planning an investment certification programme for Edo State, noting, “This is a welcome idea and in line with the vision of my administration to transform Edo into an investment hub. The programme would open more business opportunities for the state.”

    “We are dedicated in our drive to make Edo come first in terms of investment promotion and in the ease of doing business. We are creating the infrastructure to support manufacturing in the state. The investment certification programme is needed to complement our drive in this direction,” he added.

    Director and State Coordinator, NIPC, Mrs. Ladi Katagum, said, “The commission will commence the second phase of investment certification programme in Edo, Delta, Akwa-Ibom states. The objective of the certification is to allow investors know the business opportunities and potentials in the state. This will aid investors make informed decisions.”

    Katagum noted the investment certification would allow NIPC give advice to investors on what type of investment to set up in the state, adding, “Investors need access to business information, to ascertain if a state is investor-friendly.”

    She added that the investment certification programme would be organised in three categories, including information, property and marketing standards.

    Katagum commended the state government for making provision for an office for the NIPC, noting, “This will make room for smooth relationship and the execution of the certification programme in Edo State.”

    Read Also: Obaseki’s reforms boost investment climate in Edo

  • Obaseki okays teachers’ promotion, clears three years backlog

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved the promotion of teachers in public primary schools in the state.

    The outstanding promotions approved by Governor Obaseki covers three years, from 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    Obaseki has also directed that promotion letters be issued to the affected teachers by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

    Acting Chairperson, Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, said: “the details of the promotion letters are being finalised. A list of the teachers affected by the directive of the governor will be sent out to education secretaries in the Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs) indicating teachers who have been promoted across the 18 local government areas.”

    Dr. Oviawe explained that, “Clearing the backlog of promotion for teachers speaks to the prevailing narrative that Governor Obaseki cares about the welfare and wellbeing of teachers in the state.

    “The governor’s directive has further demonstrated his commitment beyond mere rhetoric. He has continued to display maximum support to provide conducive environment for effective teaching and learning.”

    Noting that lifting the ban on the promotion of teachers in primary schools is significant, she added, “This will enable the state government achieve the objectives of Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST).”

    Read Also: Be prudent with funds, Obaseki tells LG chairmen

  • EdoJobs launches skills development programme

    EdoJobs launches skills development programme

    …as demands for skilled manpower swell

     

    The Edo State Government through its job creation initiative, EdoJobs, has launched a skills development programme to prepare unemployed youths in the state for employment opportunities and as employers of labour.

    Addressing journalists during a press conference to announce the launch of the programme, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Skill Acquisition and Job Creation, Ukinebo Dare, said “Through the skills development programme, the Godwin Obaseki-led administration has been attracting investors that have need for highly skilled manpower to the state.”

    She explained that the state government is partnering with organisations that are specialised in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), mobile phone and laptop repairs, automobile mechanics among others, to train youths across the three senatorial districts in the state.

    The training she said “is designed in such a way that some programmes have stipend packages, start-up packs while others have business support packages for trainees. The programme will also address the needs of the participating business partners and individuals.”

    Ukinebo added that youths will be trained in various skills to meet the increasing demands for highly skilled workforce in the state.

    “The objective of the programme is to enable the state government prepare youths as entrepreneurs and employers of labour in line with the vision of the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to create 200,000 jobs.”

    Ukinebo said that the programme is open to youths who are indigenes and those who reside in the state, adding, “The programme will enhance the employability of youths and enable them maximise their potential. It will prepare the youths for different job opportunities. Those trained will be matched with employers who have vacancies in the state through the Edojobs portal.

    “The programme will assist the state government supply employers skilled labour force as the EdoJobs initiative has grown from a job matching to job creation platform.”

    One of the partners of the programme, Slot Academy, represented by Collins Uwadiae, said, “Slot Academy is partnering with Edo State Government to complement the strides of Governor Obaseki in creating jobs for youths. The Academy will train the youths at zero cost to prepare youths as entrepreneurs.

    Chief Inspector of IFEST Foundation, another partner, Engr. Anthony Okogue, said: “IFEST Foundation is partnering with EdoJobs to render technical and vocational training in motor and vehicle mechanic. We are partnering with Edojobs to train Edo youths in modern motor and vehicle mechanics.”

    Also in attendance were beneficiaries of skills development programmes organised by EdoJobs.

    Isioma Deborah said the programme has helped her with knowledge of branding and packaging which she is applying in her business. “Before the training, I was just doing my normal business but with the help of EdoJobs’ partners I have been able to put my business on several social media platforms and my customers are increasing. I really appreciate them,” she said.

    Similarly, Loveth Osagie, who is undergoing training in fashion design, said the programme has helped her discover her innate abilities.

    Read Also: Edo reopens job portal March 1

  • Obaseki swears-in elected council executives

    Obaseki swears-in elected council executives

    …Urges prudent mgt. of N2b Paris Club savings

     

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has sworn-in the newly elected local council chairmen for the 18 local government areas of the state, charging them on prudent management of resources saved up in their treasuries.

    Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony held at the Government House, in Benin City, Edo State capital, on Monday, Obaseki charged the new heads of the councils to be accountable, responsive and responsible in administering the affairs of their councils.

    He said, “My administration has kept aside N2 billion saved from the Paris Club refunds in the councils’ treasury for the new executives to commence activities.

    According to him, “You are not coming to meet an empty treasury. I have saved your Paris refund in excess of N2billion and some of you have savings in excess of N2billion.

    “So, you will be coming into office with some reserves and savings, but you have to focus on enduring projects.”

    He said the era, in which council bosses left offices with debts for their successors would not be accepted, noting that his administration has spent the last 17 months offsetting debts incurred by former local government executives.

    The governor described the peaceful conduct of the electoral process as historical, noting, “The increasing acceptability of the laudable programmes of the All Progressives Congress (APC) enabled you to secure victory at the polls. We do not expect less from you.

    “Your elections were free and fair, so you must go and serve the people who voted you into office. You have no Godfather to settle. Your sole responsibility must be the welfare of the people in your council,” the governor charged the newly elected executives.

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, who witnessed the swearing-in ceremony, commended Governor Obaseki for saving up funds for the chairmen to kick-start their activities. He described the act as benevolent and urged the council bosses to utilize the fund for the benefit of the masses.

    In his vote of thanks on behalf of other chairpersons, Mr Jenkins Osunde, Oredo Local Council chairman, thanked people of the state for finding them worthy to pilot their affairs.

    He assured that they would live up to the confidence reposed in them and build on the foundation already laid by the Godwin Obaseki-led administration.

    Read Also: Obaseki reassures of Economic Expansion, urges social, political harmony

  • Sports reforms to drive job creation, youth development in Edo – Obaseki

    Sports reforms to drive job creation, youth development in Edo – Obaseki

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his administration’s vision to reform sports is aimed at creating jobs and curbing restiveness among youths.

    The governor made the submission during a dinner organised to unveil the new logo, jersey, team bus, technical team as well as manual for the rebranded Bendel Insurance Football Club (FC) in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Obaseki said, “We have a keen interest to reform the sports sector in the state, and this is aimed at providing solutions to youth restiveness and unemployment. For us, sports have the potential to uplift the lives of our people and offer hope to youths who seek a better country.

    “Edo people are sports-loving. We will leverage this as we continue our reforms and give hope to our teeming youths. The steps made in reforming the Bendel Insurance FC will serve as reference point to drive more reforms in the sector.”

    He added the reforms will focus on grassroots sports development, noting, “Design and contracts for the construction of mini stadium in each local government area across the state have been completed. Local government chairmen will be mandated to ensure that the project is completed to encourage young men and women at the grassroots to tap into sports.”

    Obaseki called on investors in the state to support the present administration’s efforts to restore the state to its pride of place in sports in the country.

    Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, hailed “the achievements of the club, which has a reputation of producing contenders in the national team. These include, Peter Osazee Odemwingie, Austin Eguavoen, amongst others. These great players have represented the state at national and international assignments.”

    Shaibu added, “The decision to rebrand the Bendel Insurance FC’s logo with the image of Queen Idia was to project the club members as warriors, out to win battles. I am optimistic that the rebranded Bendel Insurance FC will emerge as a force to contend with.”

    On his part, President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, commended the state government for its initiatives in repositioning Bendel Insurance FC, and urged “The state government to partner corporate bodies for sponsorship to achieve self-funding and ensure the club is not dependent on government grants.”

    “It is important for football clubs to run independent of government interference to ensure consistency. The club can develop its cards; Silver and Premium cards and VIP stand to serve as means for generating funds,” he added.

    Read Also: Obaseki lauds FG on welfare package for IDPs in Edo