The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo State

  • Obaseki subsidizes tech training for undergraduates, graduates

    Committed to creating more opportunities for Edo youths to tap from Nigeria’s booming tech ecosystem for self-reliance, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki is subsidising the training of youths in in-demand tech fields, such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Machine Learning.

    The 6-week training programmes are being run by Curators University and held at the Edo Innovation Hub, Institute of Continuing Education (ICE), Wire Road, Benin City. At the last count, over 250 youths have been trained in the programme, which is also partly funded by Microsoft.

    Young people who want to take the same courses in Lagos and Akure, Ondo State pay as much as N160,000 ($140), in cases where they don’t get sponsors or subsidised by Curators University. This makes Edo one of the most IT-friendly state in the country.

    The programme, open for undergraduates and graduates, is being subsidised through EdoJobs, Edo State’s skills development and job creation platform.

    Senior Special Assistant to Edo State Governor on Jobs Creation and Skills Development, Mrs Ukinebo Dare said the gesture is part of the governor’s promise to create at least 200,000 jobs in Edo State before 2020, noting that up to 90,000 jobs have been created so far.

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    According to her, “Students in the programme get to learn Python and R programming languages and are encouraged to continue with advanced level work at the end of the 6-week training. By the fourth week, they are able to tackle real-life problems in data science and machine learning and are ready for the workplace.”

    A beneficiary, Princess Oviawe, a 300 Level undergraduate at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), said that though she could code in HTML and CSS languages before the programme, she was able to learn Python and R, and is now confident of working as a freelancer even before graduation.

    Joy Ativie, a graduate of Literature and English, said she did not know any code before joining the programme, noting, “My only exposure to code were these lines of number and letters I always saw online that looked like Greek. They have always fascinated me. My quest to make a career change into technology and related areas drove me to the programme. I’m writing code now. I can also use data to do several things. It’s amazing.”

  • Seven traffic offenders in Edo get community service

    Seven motorists who were arrested by the Edo State Traffic Control Management Agency (EDTSMA) for contravening traffic rules and regulations in Benin City, have completed different forms of community service, as punishment for their offence.

    Head of Operations, EDTSMA, Osamuyi Macaulay, in a chat with journalists, said the community service is a new measure introduced by the agency to discourage motorists from flouting traffic rules and regulations.

    He said when traffic offenders are arrested, they will be made to undergo community service such as sweeping, cleaning of drainage, among other options, adding that other measures that will be introduce will include payment of fines.

    “This is a new initiative and it will continue. Later, other measures like impounding vehicles and paying fines will be introduced. This is the first time we are embarking on this,” Macaulay noted.

    Read Also: Edo govt dispels rumours of PMS scarcity

    Among the motorists who completed the community service include Mr. Austin Nfere, Monday Ibuedefe and Endurance Joseph.

    Mr. Austin Nfere said after being shown video evidence of him flouting traffic regulations, he pleaded guilty to the offence and served out his punishment.

    Monday Ibuedefe said he has learnt a vital lesson and will exercise patience going forward so as not to fall foul of traffic laws.

    Another traffic offender, who has also completed the community service, Endurance Joseph, commended EDTSMA for not extorting money from traffic defaulter. “The option of community service is most welcome, as it would ensure that people face punishment for breaking the law instead of buying their way out,” he said.

     

  • Edo announces April 29 as resumption date for public, private schools

    The Edo State Government has announced that public and private schools in the state will resume on Monday, April 29, 2019, for the third term of the 2018/2019 academic session.

    The government said public primary schools will resume a week later, on May 6, as a result of the ongoing Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST) training for teachers in public primary schools.

    In a statement, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Ruth Obahiagbon, noted, “All Public and Private schools in Edo State will resume for the Third Term of the 2018/2019 academic session on Monday 29th except for Public Primary Schools that are to resume on Monday May 6th, 2019.

    Read Also: Edo govt dispels rumours of PMS scarcity

    She urged all stakeholders in the education sector to take note of the resumption date and commence school activities without delay, adding that parents and guardians are advised to send their children/wards to school as failure to do so will amount to breach of the Child Rights Law.

    “The parent or guardian of any school child found loitering during school hours will be dealt with according to law,” Obahiagbon added.

    Pupils in public schools are returning to school to an exciting learning experience made possible by the use of technological gadgets by their teachers, who have been trained to use a teachers’ computer to impact knowledge. Not less than 8700 teachers have been trained to use these computers by the Edo State Government under the Edo-BEST programme.

     

  • Don’t cause flood in our houses, residents warn construction firm

    Residents of 10 communities located along Saint Saviour road in Benin City, Edo state have warned the firm constructing the road, NSIK Engineering not to cause flood to their houses.

    The residents said they were raising the alarm of the sub-standard road project being executed by the firm and lack of proper drainage to channel flood water to the Ikpoba River.

    Governor Obaseki had in October last year awarded the contract for the construction of the 15km St Saviour road project at a cost of N3. 55bn and the road is expected to be completed in 30 months.

    The bad condition of the St Saviour road destroyed economic activities of the various communities as there are little or no vehicular movement on the road especially during the rainy season.

    Those who spoke said they were surprised that the firm did not make provision for where the flood water would be discharged to.

    Speaking to newsmen in Bénin City, Pa Edward Osayi, said the drainage being constructed was too narrow to carry the huge volume of water.

    He said they were crying out because their house would be affected if the state certify the job as completed.

    General Manager of the firm, Kingsley Ediafioghor, said the construction was not of low standard but according to job specification given to them.

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    Kingsley said a layman would not understand what they are currently doing on the road and added that the drainage size is what is in the design.

    He said the job was being delayed because of the discharge point that was not provided in the design by the consultant.

    His words, “The drainage size is what is in the design. It is what they asked us to do. It was even lesser than that. After negotiations and argument, we have to increase it. We wanted to widen it but they said they want to cut cost and it is what they can afford. It can take the volume of water.

    “If they respond to us fast and give us what we need, we will deliver on time. The discharge point was not in our bill and we cannot do what we were not paid for.

    “We are contractors. We have consultant and client (EDSOGPADEC). We made a proposal to the consultant on the need to provide a discharge point. We told them they designed the road without making provision for discharge point. They presented the proposal to the client, we are waiting for them.

    “If they told us to go ahead we will start it. We are waiting for their authorisation. The constraints on the road is discharge point. The work is moving slowly. If we have a discharge point, that is where we will start from. We can’t wait for them anymore because the communities cannot wait any longer. They want to see the road constructed. We need to do something for the people to see.”

    Chairman of the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC), Pastor Osifo Kennedy, said the people should be happy with Governor Obaseki for constructing the road.

    He said engineers were already working to resolve the issue and debunked allegations by the firm that non-provision of access point was causing delay in the project.

     

  • Edo ready to pay N30,000 minimum wage, says Shaibu

    Edo State Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu has assured of the state government’s commitment to pay the N30,000 minimum wage recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, as part of deliberate effort to improve the welfare of civil servants in the state.

    Shaibu gave the assurance at the 2019 state’s delegate conference organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in Benin City, the state capital.

    The acting governor said, “As a government, payment of 30,000 minimum wage is not an issue. We are putting a lot of reforms in place that will make the new minimum wage take you home and as well have savings. I want to use this medium to assure workers that their welfare is our priority. We are ready to pay the newly approved N30,000 minimum wage signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    The acting governor also assured that the state government would not sack any of its worker, but would rather re-train them for efficient service delivery to tax payers, noting, “When we say we want to train you, the training is not meant to sack you, but rather to enhance your productivity to enable you create wealth for the people.”

    Shaibu urged delegates attending the conference holding in Benin City to elect credible leaders with proven character, adding that the state government would collaborate with elected leaders in piloting affairs of the state in the next four years.

    Read Also: Shaibu calls for increased funding of army

    Representative of the National President, NLC, Dr. Comfort Okoh, called on the delegates to elect leaders that would be serve their cause and advised to rejig their finances to enable them implement the new minimum wage of N30,000.

    Outgoing Chairman of Edo State chapter of the NLC, Comrade Emmanuel Ademokun expressed appreciation to the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration for construction of the new Labour House complex which he said is 80 per cent complete.

  • Edo intensifies clean-up of Benin metropolis

    In an effort to restore sanity and order in public spaces across the state, the Edo State Government has intensified its clean up exercise, starting from the Benin metropolis with a campaign to rid the streets and parks of debris and dirt.

    The campaign, led by the Clean and Green Edo Committee headed by Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, Esq., is being carried out by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability and the Edo State Waste Management Board.

    Officials of the Ministry and the Board in the past few weeks have been sighted taking down illegally erected billboards, especially at the Kings Square, with waste managers clearing dirt on major roads across the state capital.

    A cross-section of residents in the state said that the renewed effort to clean up the state is commendable and marks one of the highlights of the Governor Obaseki-led administration, which has ensured a clean capital city.

    Ogie said the state government has given a directive to relevant agencies to ensure that public spaces, including roads, parks and other parts of the state are cleaned and properly maintained, so as to restore order to these places.

    Read Also: Police in Edo arrest 346 suspects in 3 months

    General Manager, Edo State Waste Management Board, Mr. Charles Imariagbe, said the team is out to execute government’s directive on ridding streets of dirt, noting, “We have been on the campaign for a couple of weeks now.  We have cleared Upper Sakponba, Ugbowo, Airport Road, Sapele Road and Ekehuan Road.

    “If you go to Ring Road, you would observe that a number of the billboards at Kings Square have been removed. The place is wearing a new look as well. So we are cleaning and sanitizing the city center.”

    Mrs. Eki Igbinoba, a trader, said that the state government has been living up to its duties in its sustained drive to keep the state clean. “At the markets, we had issues with waste when the waste management board was stopped from working. But since they resumed work, our markets are clear. They come down to pick the dirt,” she said.

    A businessman, Mr. Francis Chigozie, said that there has been a breath of fresh air in the state since the embargo on the state waste management board was lifted and that the efforts by the Committee to ensure a clean capital city are commendable.

  • Edo to marketers: Don’t divert PMS, AGO to other states

    The Edo State Government has warned petroleum marketers in the state to desist from diverting petroleum products allocated to Edo State to neighboring states, thereby causing artificial scarcity of the products.

    In a statement, Commissioner for Minerals, Oil and Gas, Hon. Joseph Ugheoke said as part of effort to ensure consistent and increased supply of petroleum products, particularly Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automated Gasoline Oil (AGO) in Edo State, the state government is reaching out to oil marketers and other stakeholders in the downstream sector with a view to addressing irregularities and illegalities in the sector.

    Ugheoke noted that the state government is also offering solutions to prevent artificial scarcity of petroleum products across the state in the interest of all stakeholders and the general public.

    Read Also: How Obaseki averted doom for Edo APC

    According to him, “members of the public are advised not to engage in panic buying as the state government assures of adequate supply and distribution of petroleum products across the state.”

    He warned “All petroleum marketers are to desist from hoarding and diverting petroleum products to neighboring state as the Ministry of Minerals, Oil and Gas is working hand-in-hand with the security agencies, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and other relevant stakeholders to sanction defaulting marketers.”

    Recall that the state government had read a riot act to marketers not to cause artificial scarcity in the state by hoarding petroleum products, during a meeting between the Commissioner for Minerals, Oil and Gas and executives of petroleum marketers’ associations in the state.

  • Senate rejects motion on oil producing status for Kogi

    The Senate on Wednesday rejected a motion seeking recognition for Kogi State as an oil producing state.

    The motion was rejected following observations by senators at plenary that the Senate lacked the powers to declare any state as oil producing entity through a mere motion.

    Senator Isaac Alfa who moved the motion, however refused to withdraw it despite persuasion from his colleagues to do so, saying, “I have moved the motion and I am not ready to withdraw it”.

    Senator Alfa moved the motion following what he described as restiveness in border communities contiguous to Kogi, Enugu and Edo states.

    Read Also: Senate leadership: APC governors step in

    The Senate urged governors of the three states and other stakeholders to resolve the communal crises in their various communities.

    It also called on the Federal Government urged to direct the National Boundary Commission to its report on the determination of the boundaries contiguous to OPLs 915 & 916.

    It’s the quest for derivation from oil resources in the OPLs 915/916 that has continued to trigger communal clashes in the communities.

    The lawmakers similarly appealed to the Federal Government and governments in the affected states to ensure that the displaced persons in the communities are allowed to return to their homes and adequate compensation paid to them.

     

  • ‘Adult education centres will curb human trafficking in Edo’

    Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Gender Issues, Ms. Efosa Uyigue, has expressed confidence that the state government’s initiative in re-opening adult education centres across the state will reduce the incidence of girl-child trafficking in the state.

    Uyigue made the submission at the flag-off of sensitisation campaign on girl-child education in Esan North East and Esan West Local Government Areas (LGAs).

    The governor’s aide said, “I am impressed with the turn-out of women for the campaign and their enthusiasm to learn is very encouraging. This shows how eager the women are, as if they have been waiting for the opportunity to get an education.”

    She commended local council chairmen for their commitment to supporting the state government in reactivating adult learning centres in their council areas, adding that the turnout will translate to improved education outcomes.

    Read Also: Edo 2020: PDP, APC in battle royal

    Uyigue said the campaign will encourage more girls from rural areas to enroll freely in the adult education centres where they will also acquire knowledge to guide them against the antics of human traffickers.

    Chairman, Esan West LGA, Hon. Patrick Aguinede, said his administration is committed to supporting objectives of the initiative by improving the standard of the centres in the council area, which will enable more women in the area benefit from the laudable initiative of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration.

     

  • Breaking: Two nabbed for selling three siblings for N.5m

    Men of the Edo State Police Command have arrested two men, Kenneth Ofeke and Stephen Obi, who sold three siblings for N500, 000 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Names of the siblings were given as Wisdom, Kenneth and Sunny.

    They were said to have been taken from Edo State and sold in Port Harcourt to a woman who later resold them to other persons in Lagos State.

    The police are yet to determine whether the children are still alive.

    Kenneth, aged 26, claimed that he led his supposed girlfriend to sell the children because they were unwell and he could not cater for them.

    He told newsmen that he discussed sales of the children with their mother who he claimed.

    According to him, “I hail from Ebonyi State. We are from the same state. I have not paid her bride price. She gave birth to twins. She was not okay after delivery. The children were not well. My parents are not alive so I sought to look for help. I called one aunty in Port Harcourt.

    “We took the children to Port Harcourt. The aunty made some inquiry. I gave her the children to take care of and she gave me N500, 000.

    “We didn’t discuss price. She just gave me the money. I am a Welder. There is no help and the children are not well. Their mother was my girlfriend. She had Wisdom for a man before I met her. She took in after we departed but said the man she had the twins for does not care for her. “

    Stephen, aged 48, said he only provided his Goodness and Mercy Orphanage home for the children to be adopted and not sold.

    He said he collected N50, 000 as logistics per child.

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    His words, “I have not sold any child. I helped to adopt for parents looking for children. I collect N50, 000 registration fee for logistics. It was the police that told me here that Kenneth is not the father of the children. I told the women to demonstrate she is the mother and she breastfed the children. They said they wanted a home that can take care of the children. We followed due process and give them affidavit and consent agreement. The people that adopted the children reside in Lagos State.”

    The police described Kenneth as a serial child trafficker who had earlier sold a yet to be identified baby for N1m in Port Harcourt.

    It said it was mother of the children that complained about her missing children.

    State Police Commissioner, Damallam Abubakar, said the suspects would soon be charged to court.