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Tag: Edo State

  • Int’l Women’s Day: Commissioner parades Obaseki’s achievements

    The Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. (Mrs.) Magdalene Ohenhen, has commended Governor Godwin Obaseki for bridging gender gaps across different sectors of the state.

    Ohenhen gave the commendation while addressing journalists in Benin City, on Friday, in commemoration of the 2019 International Women’s Day.

    She described the Obaseki-led administration as gender friendly, noting that many women have been given the opportunity to contribute to the economic and political growth of the state.

    “Governor Obaseki and his wife, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki have done a lot for women in the state.  Mrs. Obaseki spearheaded the process which led to the signing of the Violence Against Persons (VAP) Law in the state,” she said.

    According to the commissioner, “For the first time in the state, we have a Special Adviser on Gender Issues and 18 other Special Assistants on Gender Issues, who were selected from the 18 Local Government Areas of the state to bridge the gender gaps in their localities.”

    Read Also: Obaseki mourns death of Prof. Elebute

    The governor, she said, “inaugurated a committee on the implementation of the World Bank-sponsored Nigeria for Women Project to benefit 54,000 women in the state.”

    On the activities lined up to mark the 2019 International Women’s Day, Ohenhen said the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development will organise a-one day advocacy/sensitisation workshop for women across the state to celebrate the gender-friendly policies of the Obaseki-led administration.

    She added that the global theme for the 2019 International Women’s Day, ‘Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change’ was apt as the growing digital divide among genders in innovation and technology needs to be addressed.

  • Obaseki, Oyegun extol legacies of late Ambrose Osawe

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and former National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun have lauded the enduring legacies of late Hon. Ambrose Taiwo Osawe.

    Late Osawe, who died at the age of 73, was once president of Benin Club, a politician, historian, journalist and publisher.

    The governor said late Osawe was a man of honour, who worked for the interest of his people and for the growth of the state.

    In his homily at the funeral mass held in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr. David Ogun, urged Christians to live right and impact lives of people around them.

    Read Also: Obaseki’s EdoFAC excites farmers

    “Life is short, but it can be enjoyed; use it to serve and impact those that come your way. Death is inevitable, as all must die. For this reason, I encourage us all to live right,” the Priest urged.

    Fr. Ogun charged youths not to allow themselves to be used for negative ventures, but should ensure they affect their societies positively, noting, “Live your life well to positively affect your generation, so that the value of the society can’t be questioned.”

    He extolled the leadership qualities of late Osawe while urging the children to emulate their father who has impacted positively on society.

    Hon. Ambrose Taiwo Osawe had his early education at the Holy Cross Catholic School, before proceeding to Eghosa Anglican Grammar School in 1956.

  • 54,000 women benefit from World Bank-backed Project in Edo

    Efforts to bridge gender gap in Edo State has received a boost as 54,000 women from the three senatorial districts are set to benefit from the pilot phase of the Nigeria for Women Project, Governor Godwin Obaseki has said.

    Obaseki who inaugurated the State Steering Committee and State Technical Committee of the Nigeria for Women Projects at Government House in Benin City, said the project is supported by the World Bank in collaboration with the Federal Government and designed to empower women across Edo, Ogun, Niger, Taraba, Abia and Kebbi states.

    Expatiating on the benefits which the programme holds for women, the governor maintained that his administration was committed to bridging the economic and social gaps that exist between men and women in the state.

    “We are addressing all forms of gender gaps which have encouraged extreme poverty in the state.

    “So much is being done to ensure that women and girls are empowered with relevant skills to enable them to become self-reliant and contribute more to the economy,” he said.

    According to Obaseki, “when women are empowered, it has a multiplier effect on the nation’s economy and poverty reduction.”

    He stressed the importance of a robust data base for the committees’ work and charged members to come up with modalities on how the projects will be executed.

    Read Also: Edo Poly eyes grant for research

    “We need to come up with specific action plans and monitoring mechanism so we can measure outcomes,” he urged, and tasked the various Ward Development Committees to be part of the screening of the project beneficiaries, to allow for fair representation, he said.

    In her votes of thanks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Magdalene Ohenhen, said the ministry was passionate about the project and would ensure it succeeds.

    Ohenhen commended the governor’s efforts at mainstreaming women in governance and particularly for ensuring that Edo State is part of the project.

    She assured that the committees would act on the terms of reference given by the governor.

  • Igbo traders in Edo State promise massive votes for APC candidates

    Igbo traders in Edo State have pledged that they will come out en masse and cast their ballots for candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 9, State House of Assembly election.

    According to them, their support for APC candidates in the election will ensure continuity of ongoing economic reforms being implemented by the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    Leader of the Igbo traders, Chief Ejike Enemuo, gave the assurance at a meeting between the traders and Governor Obaseki at Government House, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Read Also: Edo Poly eyes grant for research

    Enemuo said Igbo traders are beneficiaries of several economic reforms initiated by the APC-led government in the state, particularly, the ban on illegal tax collection across markets in the state and the massive cut in revenue paid by them.

    “It is no longer news that the political season is here once again and we are here to pledge our unflinching loyalty and support to you and your government. We have started sensitizing and mobilising our co-traders and their families to come out en masse to vote for the continuity of your enviable policies,” Enemuo said.

    In his response, Obaseki expressed his gratitude to the traders for supporting his administration, adding that he was committed to building on the business-friendly environment in the state so that traders will continue to do their businesses with ease.

    He noted that his administration was concerned about poor power supply in the state and assured that an Independent Power Plant (IPP) would become operational in the state by June this year.

    “We are working to ensure business activities blossom in the state on a daily basis. By the time we have the Independent Power Plant working, you will not need to buy power generating sets to power your businesses again.

    “We have also made sure that illegal taxes are no longer collected from you so that you can record appreciable profit,” the governor said.

    He urged the traders to vote for APC candidates in the House of Assembly election to enable sustain the tempo of development in the state.

     

  • Obaseki urges support for APC Assembly candidates

    …to sustain ban on thuggery in markets, parks

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has urged electorates in the state to vote for candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) vying for seats in the March 9 State Assembly election, to sustain the sanity and best practice in revenue collection at markets and motor parks across the state.

    Obaseki who called on electorates across the state to come out in their numbers to vote for APC candidates in the election, added that an APC-controlled House of Assembly will ensure that touts and hooligans do not return to lay siege to markets and motor parks for revenue collection.

    He explained that the reforms which have transformed revenue collection in the state, were made possible with the full support of members of the outgoing assembly, adding, “as a result of these reforms, traders in markets and transport operators across the state are no longer subjected to harassment by revenue collectors who in the past hassled traders and commercial transport operators, and in some instances, confiscated their goods.”

    “By sustaining these reforms, Edo State will continue to take the lead in the ease of doing business in South-south Nigeria, as more investors are being attracted to the state, a development that  has created more job opportunities and decent means of livelihoods for Edo people,” he said.

    Read Also: Obaseki mourns death of Prof. Elebute

    Underscoring the impact of healthy relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government, Obaseki stressed the need to sustain the level of cooperation between both arms of government, by voting for all APC candidates across the 24 state constituencies.

    The governor said that his administration has sustained interventions in the health, educational, agricultural as well as several other sectors of the state, through sound reform programmes. 

    “I need the support of the House of Assembly to ensure that we do more to boost investor confidence and create more wealth for our people.

    “With the transparent system we have created for revenue generation, we are ensuring that tax payers benefit from government programmes and policies, such as road construction and reconstruction, remodelling of Primary Health Care Centres and schools across the state. We need a House of Assembly that will not pull us back by projecting their own interests,” Obaseki said.

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  • Obaseki inspects road projects in Amagba Community

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday, inspected ongoing road projects in Amagba Community, Oredo Local Government Area of the state, with an assurance to provide more infrastructural projects in the area.

    Obaseki, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, expressed satisfaction with the progress of work, noting that the state government was fulfilling its promise of infrastructural development of the state.

    “I am impressed with the work. When we came to inspect the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) Computer-Based-Test Centre in this community, the governor promised to support the host community with road projects to give easy access to the center.

    “This is a government that does not fail in keeping to its promise; in the next two years, the quality of life of people in this area will have improved.”

    The governor urged people of the community to cast a vote of confidence on his administration by voting for Osaro Obaze and Chris Okaeben, both candidates of the APC in the March 9 election in the area.

    Enogie of Amagba Community, Chief Frank Igbinenikaro, noted that the community had been deprived of good roads in the past, and commended the Governor Obaseki-led administration for putting smiles on their faces with the construction of link roads in the locality.

    Read Also: Obaseki threatens to deal with APC leaders

    “We are seeing the handwork of Governor Obaseki in our community. We are pledging continued support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and we will vote the party’s candidates in the March 9, House of Assembly election.

    Meanwhile, the Site Engineer for the WAEC CBT Road, Paul Nwankolo, said about 10 inter-connecting roads measuring 5km were being constructed. He said the WAEC CBT Road would be delivered in April.

    The entourage visited the Odionwere of Amagba and held a meeting with different communities in Amagba, Ugbor, Irhirhi, Aruogba, where assurance was given on the timely completion of road projects in the communities.

  • Obaseki mourns death of Prof. Elebute

    …extols his contribution to medicine

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has expressed sadness over the passing of Late Prof. Emmanuel Elebute, founder of Lagoon Hospitals and celebrated physician.

    In a letter addressed to the deceased’s son and Chairman, KPMG Africa, Mr. Kunle Elebute, the governor said that he was deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Prof. Elebute and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the family.

    According to him, “The outpouring of goodwill, by those who knew your father since his passing, attests to the impactful and decent life he lived, rare qualities that he bequeathed to you and your siblings.

    “He was a great lover of peace and exuded uncommon love for hard work and the good of society, through his vast knowledge of medicine which he dedicated to caring for the sick and saving of lives in Nigeria and beyond, for decades.”

    Obaseki added that Prof. Elebute’s immense contributions to the broad spectrum of the nation’s health sector, particularly, the establishment of Hygeia Nigeria Limited, which he co-founded, aided access to affordable health care in the country.

    The governor said Late Prof. Elebute will be greatly missed by all and prayed that the family “finds the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss until we meet to part no more.”

  • Edo JAAC declares N2.77bn allocation for LGAs

    The Edo State Joint Account and Allocation Committee (JAAC) has declared N2,769,964,452 as total allocation that accrued to the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state from the Federation Account for the month of February, shared in March 2019.

    Chairman, Oredo Local Government Area, Hon. Jenkins Osunde, disclosed this at the end of the monthly JAAC meeting presided over by Governor Godwin Obaseki, at Government House, in Benin City, Edo State.

    Osunde, who is also Chairman, Edo State Chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), noted that teachers’ and non-teachers’ salaries gulped N1,143,184,336, while Local Government contributions for pension is N276,144,513.

    “Total deduction from LGAs is N1,740,183,728 and net allocation to LGAs is put at N1,029,780,723. Total amount transferred to LGAs stands at N1,015,930,901,” he added.

    According to him, “February Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is N175, 843,666. Net IGR paid to LGAs is put at N131, 678, 251.”

    Osunde explained that there was decline in the allocation for February as well as IGR, which is expected to increase in the month of March, as the decline was on account of the election period.

  • Obaseki threatens to deal with APC leaders

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has threatened to deal with some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) whose activities led to the defeat of the party in the February 23rd general elections.

    The APC lost the election by polling 267,842 against the 275,691 scored by the to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Government sources said what peeved Governor Obaseki was the wide margin of defeat recorded in Egor, Ikpoba-Okha and Oredo local government areas in Edo South senatorial district.

    Read Also: Edo needs supportive House of Assembly – Obaseki

    Obaseki, who hails from Oredo in Edo South senatorial, was said to have issued the threat at a meeting with APC leaders.

    A source at the meeting, who spoke in a chat with newsmen and pleaded anonymity, said Obaseki challenged the affected leaders to reveal what he gave to them.

    The source said the Governor was almost moved to tears as he expressed his disappointment with some of the leaders especially when it was revealed one of the leaders did not buy generators meant for Ward collation centres.

    According to the source, “We were shocked when Obaseki started talking. He revealed so many things. He said he was shocked how the leaders sabotaged his efforts. Obaseki asked them if it were his re-election, that is how he would have lost.

    “The Governor spoke to a point that he threw away the microphone. None of the leaders utter any word in defense. He has said he would deal with them.

    “We are happy that the Governor set up a 25-man team to work with him for the purpose of the House of Assembly election this Saturday.”

     

     

  • Edo APC begins voter education to avoid void votes

    Ahead of Saturday’s House of Assembly elections in Edo State, the ruling All Progressives Congress has embarked on voter education to enable its supporters vote appropriately.

    Candidate of the APC for Oredo East constituency, Mr Osaro Obazee, who spoke to newsmen in Benin City said the purpose of the voter education was to avert high number of voided votes as recorded in the February 23rd presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

    Obazee stated that the high volume of voided votes was responsible for the defeat of the APC in the presidential and some seats in the National Assembly.

    Insisting that the APC did not lose the election, Obazee said many of the voided votes belonged to the APC.

    He said the long list of political parties in the ballot papers made it difficult for APC supporters to vote properly.

    According to him, “Our party did not lose; we did not lose that election. The agents of our party, some of them were not too experienced, some of them were not too confident. If you look at the void votes, if you add them to the votes they scored, you will see the difference so what we have embarked on is voters education.

    “We have to educate them on how to vote because our party actually won that election but for the number of voided votes. The APC is very much on ground, the governor has performed, it is very evident what the governor has been doing since he assumed office and that alone is enough for us to be convinced of the vote we garnered

    “For my election, I don’t have any fear, I have always been on ground. I have been in constant touch with my people and I think that I will emerge successful in the election come Saturday. I have been chairman of the council which is made up of 12 wards. I have contested elections before and we won.

    Read Also: Edo needs supportive House of Assembly – Obaseki

    “It will be absurd that half of the local government will now be difficult for us. I have reached out to people, I have done the sampling and we are very much on ground so by the grace of God, not by my power come Saturday, I will emerge victorious.”

    Reacting to allegation by the PDP that the APC plot to cause crisis on election day, Obazee said, “That is quite unfair of the opposition. If look at the last election which we consider more important the Senate, House of Representatives and the Presidential Election, we ensured the process was followed so why should they now be making such allegation in a lesser election.

    “I think they are afraid because they know they actually lost the last election going by the number of voided votes that is why they are trying to create this impression. You know the governor, he is a very educated and polished person and would never want such things, such a man will not be planning for violence.”