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Tag: Edo State

  • Obaseki tasks secondary school teachers on ICT-oriented teaching method

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has charged teachers in secondary schools in the state to embrace his administration’s reforms in the education sector designed to leapfrog them into the Information and Communication Technology ecosystem.

    Obaseki gave the charge in Benin City at the official flag-off ceremony of a 3-month Information Communication Technology (ICT) training organised for public secondary school teachers by the Post-primary Education Board (PPEB) in collaboration with Azeessworld Technology Ltd.

    The governor who was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Emmanuel Agbale, stressed that “the Edo State government will continue to develop the competence and capacity of public-school teachers in the state through training and retraining so as to better position them for the discharge of their duties.”

    He maintained that teachers at all levels in the state remain the primary concern of his administration, and assured that “all policies being implemented in the education sector are designed for the benefit of the students as well as teachers, who are drivers of the ongoing reforms.”

    “This government believes in developing our teachers. We believe that the Edo teacher is the best anywhere in the world and we will continue to train and retrain them on best teaching practises,” he assured.

    Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Post-primary Education Board (PPEB), Rt. Hon. Gabriel Oiboh, said “the three months training will help bridge the gap between teachers trained in an era when ICT was not available and their students born in the digital era driven by ICT.”

    He emphasised that the training aligns with the scientific approach of the current administration to governance, as demonstrated by its adoption of ICT-driven reforms especially in the education sector.

    Hon. Oiboh noted that the training will not only help them to easily comprehend the language of their students via ICT innovations like Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram and others, but would also assist them in preparing their reports and capturing the data of their students.

    He commended the governor for his passion for result-oriented reforms in the education sector, noting that 500 teachers and over 130,000 students of public schools were earlier trained on coding at the ICT centre.

    According to the Post-Primary Education Board, “all public secondary school teachers in the state are expected to benefit from the three months ICT training scheduled to hold from 3pm-6pm daily.”

    In his goodwill message, the representative of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, (ANCOPSS), Comrade Evbayayiro Taye, commended the governor and the board Chairman for their passion for education reforms that have transformed the sector and equipped the Edo teacher to be abreast of best practice in the teaching profession.

  • EdoJobs urges job seekers to look up new vacancies in Nigerian Observer

    The Edo State Government has urged unemployed youths in the state to check for new job vacancies published every week on Tuesday and Thursday, in the state’s newspaper, The Nigerian Observer.

    The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the State Governor on Job Creation and Skills Development, Mrs. Ukinebo Dare, disclosed this in a chat with journalists in Benin City, the state capital.

    Mrs Dare said the publication in the Nigerian Observer is an extension of the information available on its website, noting that the idea of publishing the vacancies is to make it more accessible to unemployed youths in the state.

    “We are delighted to have struck the deal to have these advertisements up in The Nigerian Observer, which is a household name in Edo State. The publication is strategic, as it provides a catalogue of the top jobs from the public and private sectors available in the state every week.”

    Noting that the agency also places huge premium on capacity building, Dare said that the information provided on the special advert pages include the numerous training opportunities offered by EdoJobs, either through the Edo Innovation Hub or its training partners.

    She urged job seekers to scan through The Nigerian Observer Newspaper every Tuesday and Thursday for EdoJobs vacancies and apply on EdoJobs portal:www.edojobs.edostate.gov.ng to make jobs matchmaking easier.

    EdoJobs, the coordinating body for youth empowerment and job creation agency in the state, operates a portal, which houses the database of unemployed youths in the state.

  • Two arrested for killing artisan

    Two persons have been arrested by men of the Edo State Police Command for killing an artisan identified as Monday Obaikan.

    Late Monday was declared missing on December 19, 2018.

    Names of the suspects were given as Ebuka and Godwin.

    The remains of Monday, aged 28, was recovered inside a bush at Uteh community in Ikpoba-Okha local government area.

    It was learnt that the suspects got the victims number and called him that they have a job for him.

    When the victim got to the location, they killed him after torturing him to give them the pin of his ATM card.

    The bush where they killed the suspect was set ablaze after which the suspects withdrew over N1m from the suspects account and fled to Anambra State.

    Ebuka who led policemen to the scene where the remains of the victim was recovered pleaded to be forgiven and said they selected the location for easy operation.

    Edo Police spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, urged the public to be wary of who called them for business transaction.

  • My husband knows Edo problem is health care, security – Atiku’s wife

    Wife of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Dr. Jennifer Atiku Abubakar, has said that her husband has identified problems of Edo State to be health care, security and food economy.

    Mrs. Atiku said her husband is the right man Nigeria needs for the moment.

    She spoke while addressing women at a town hall meeting in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Atiku urged Edo Women to focus on reaching out to youths and women in their locality because they have the highest voting population, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    She noted that the segments with the lowest voting population which are old people are the ones throwing out abuses.

    While urging them to engage civil servants whom she said do not go out to vote on Election Day, Mrs. Atiku told them not to be deceived by name calling and mudslinging against her husband.

    According to her, “There is a lot of name calling and mudslinging to snatch your vote. It is the women and youths that vote the most. That is why Alhaji Atiku has provided certain percentage for youths and women in his cabinet.

    Read Also: Why Atiku cannot be trusted – Presidency

    “We will waste our rights if we do not go out to vote. You need to vote for the right candidate. We need to mobilize and come out in full force. Do not waste your time on frivolous leaders.”

    The lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency, Barr. Omosede Igbinedion, said the forth coming election was about survival of the country.

    Omosede urged the women to mobilise their neighbours and friends to go out and vote as well as encourage others to collect their PVCs.

    State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, urged the women not to accept loan in exchange of their PVCs.

    He said the party is prepared to defend the votes.

  • Obaseki approves N843m for payment of local govt pensioners

    In line with the promise to clear pension arrears inherited by his administration, Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, on Monday approved the release of N843, 324, 509.46 for the payment of arrears owed local government pensioners covering years 2015 to 2018.

    The Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Jimoh Ijegbai, made this known during a press conference with members of Local Government Pensioners Association, Edo State, in Benin City, the state capital.

    Ijegbai said: “You will recall that during the May Day celebration last year, the governor approved N1.5 billion to defray arrears of pensioners of the unified local government system in Edo State.

    “This recent approval of N843, 324, 509.46 is a further demonstration of the commitment of the Obaseki-led administration in Edo State to ensure that all arrears of pension are cleared.”

    He explained that “last year, on a monthly basis, we were using N264 million to pay pensioners and at the close of December, we paid pensioners to the tune of N3.168billion. If you add this to the N1.5 billion that we paid in June last year and this recent approval of N843, 324, 509.46 that we are paying today, it will bring the total amount used in paying pensioners for one year to N5, 511,324, 509.46.

    “That is what we have used to pay pensioners of the unified local government system in one year.”

    The commissioner assured that “Governor Obaseki is determined to clear the little arrears that we will have after now. Between now and June, we will pay another batch of 2009 to 2014 and thereafter, we will pay what is left before the end of the year.”

    He called on pensioners in the state “to continue to support the Obaseki administration to take the state to the next level,” adding, “We are determined to ensure our senior citizens do not suffer unduly after retirement and we have put machinery in place to ensure that as you exit from the service and complete all your papers, we will ensure that payments are effected.”

    In his response, Chairman of Local Government Pensioners Association, Edo State, Mr. Fredrick Akinido, commended the Governor for his efforts at clearing the bulk of arrears he inherited.

    According to him, “The issue of the arrears of the pension that has necessitated this press conference dates back to the year 2000 when many local government workers were unceremoniously retired from the service in their thousands, without the government, as at the time, making adequate arrangement to defray the financial cost.”

    He added: “I want to sincerely say we are happy to attend this press conference. We are happy because we believe this conference has shown that the state government has not forgotten us in the scheme of things as it relates to the welfare of local government pensioners in Edo State.

    “The back log of the pension arrears that your government is clearing now did not manifest during the current administration although it is said that government is a continuum. It is good that this point is made clear for everyone to understand.”

    Akinido appealed to the governor for the harmonisation of their pension in line with the provision of the nation’s constitution, as local government pensioners are finding life difficult.

     

  • Education reform: Expert trains Edo Poly students

    Systems Engineer and Visiting Lecturer to Edo State Polytechnic, Engr. Dr. Marvin Ama-Amadasun, has charged academicians and students in tertiary institutions to prioritize projects on innovative product design and deployment to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic advancement.

    Speaking at the 3rd Eminent Lecture Series held at the Polytechnic complex in Usen, near Benin City, Dr. Ama-Amadasun said that universities and polytechnics can contribute immensely to development if they can make use of available natural materials to innovate new products in building technology, software design, manufacturing, medicine and energy production, among others.

    With the lecture entitled Leveraging ICT Towards Practice in the Digital Age: Software Tools as Catalysts for Innovation, Dr. Ama-Amadasun said that the exploitation of natural resources is indispensable in developing a strong economy, urging various governments to prioritise efforts that stimulate and drive technological advancement and deployment.

    Dr. Ama-amadasun said, “Natural materials like bamboo trees, metals and steel can be used to manufacture items such as furniture, bicycles, keyboards, mouse, monitors for computers as well as building materials for the production of fences, gates and wardrobes.”

    He urged students and participants to take advantage of the advancement in modern technology to deploy software tools to develop new products that drive development.

    At the event, Rector of the Institution, Prof. Abiodun Falodun, said that the Polytechnic has grown in the last year, and explained that the lecturer, Dr. Ama-Amadasun, is one of the numerous Diaspora lecturers who have been engaged to entrench the institution’s internationalisation drive.

    According to him, “With this lecture, we are announcing to the world, the ongoing effort to reposition this institution as a first-rate tertiary institution that fosters intellectual development.

    “We are ensuring that scholars share their thoughts with the host community, the media and the country at large so that they can stimulate debate and entrench the culture of interrogating and questioning backdated ideas.”

     

  • Joy as 20,000 traders get tradermoni in Edo

    There was jubilation among traders in Edo State as they received alert from the TraderMoni, one of the component the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programme (SIP).

    Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was in Benin City, the Edo State capital to distribute the loan.

    Prof. Osinbajo visited the Oba market and the Ekiosa market where he interacted with traders.

    Many of the traders wore t-shirts with the TraderMoni insígnia and they displayed the 4+4 sign to show their support for the APC.

    Osinbajo took time to explain to the traders on the need to pay back so that they could get loan up to N100,000.

    In a chat with newsmen, Prof. Osinbajo said the traders at the bottom of the pyramid pay back loans than the rich.

    According to him, “We ensure we are able to give micro credit to market women. These petty traders, their inventory are not more than N2000 so we give them N10,000 via their electronic payment. If they pay back we give them N20,000 and up to N100,000.

    “We have to ensure the bottom of the pyramid in Nigeria is supported. If we do not give millions of petty traders loan, how do they get out of poverty.

    “Those at the bottom of pyramid are consistent in paying back loan. They are far more fidelity to the rules than the rich. When they pay back they get more money. It makes sense to pay back. That is the way it is structured.”

    Governor Godwin Obaseki who assured the beneficiaries of more incentives for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), said his administration would continue to work closely with the Federal Government on the several empowerment initiatives designed to enhance the welfare of Nigerians.

    The governor urged market men and women to take advantage of the funding window to scale their businesses and improve their welfare.

  • Osinbajo holds closed door meeting with Edo Christian leaders

    Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on Saturday held closed door meeting with christian leaders in Edo State.

    The meeting lasted over three hours.

    Journalists, caterers and security operatives were asked to walk out of the meeting after the opening prayers were said.

    Read Also: Osinbajo arrives Benin to inaugurate TraderMoni

    In attendance were political leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Reverend Felix Omobude, Edo State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Oyonude Kure, Bishop Feb Idahosa amongst others.

    Prof. Osinbajo declined comments with journalists but Bishop Kure said they prayed for the APC.

    On whether the Vice President requested support of the Christian community for next month’s election, Bishop Kure said their job is to pray for those in authority.

    “Our responsibility is to pray for those in authority.”

     

     

  • Obaseki charges appointees on Lassa Fever campaign

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state government has intensified efforts to curb Lassa Fever in the state and directed all government appointees to sensitise residents in rural and urban centres on measures to prevent the spread of the ailment.

    The governor, who has sustained campaign against Lassa Fever since reports of the resurgence of the ailment in the country, said that the state government is deploying man and materials to ensure that Lassa Fever is kept away from the state.

    According to him, “We are sustaining the campaign against Lassa Fever to ensure that the state is rid of the ailment. The campaign has been taken to the local governments even as a state-wide sensitisation has been ongoing through the media.”

    The governor directed government appointees including Senior Special Assistants (SSAs), Special Assistants, Local Government Chairmen, and councilors, to take the message on how to prevent Lassa fever to their communities across the 18 local government areas of the state, intimating the people on what to do to avoid the ailment, and how to respond when they observe probable symptoms of the viral disease.

    Read Also: Obaseki rejects EFF award

    He said, “Government appointees are mandated to take the message on how to curb Lassa Fever to the people and ensure that they are educated on what to do when they observe symptoms of the illness. The SSAs and SAs, including those on Gender Issues should join the campaign and take the message to women across the 18 local government areas of the state.”

    The governor said that there was need to intensify the campaign because of his desire to reduce chances of outbreak of the viral disease in the state, noting that government was being proactive in sensitising the people on how to guard against the disease.

    “Aside from being cautious, we have also ensured that necessary equipment for the management of the disease is available in the state. At the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, we have provided dialysis machines, ventilator and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), to ensure that the hospital and doctors are well-equipped to respond to emergencies,” he added.

  • PDP begs Buhari to visit Benin Central hospital

    The People’s Democratic Party in Edo State has begged President Muhammadu Buhari to pay a visit to the new five star Benin Central hospitals he (Buhari) commissioned two years ago.

    It urged President Buhari to not only come to Edo to campaign for votes but to see if the Central Hospital projects he was made to commission by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole is actually working.

    State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, in a press statement said the “5 star hospital” has neither recorded any out-patient, nor admitted any in-patient.

    Chief Orbih said the building hosts only rodents and reptiles.

    Orbih states that former Governor Oshiomole ‘cleverly executed the project as a scam to defraud the state and deny the people access to good health facilities.

    Read Also: PDP sets agenda for new IGP

    He urged President Buhari to prevail on Edo State government to avail Edo people the dividends of democracy, particularly in the health sector.

    According to him, “Our concern over this despicable act, Mr. President, is not just that billions of taxpayers’ money was sunk into this phoney project, but you were persuaded to commission a non-existent hospital that makes it look like you were party to the deceit and fraud.

    “Mr. President we urge you to pay a second visit to the central Hospital to enable you appreciate the disappointment of the people over this central Hospital scandal of fraud and deceit. We call on you to use your office to direct relevant government agencies to commence immediate investigation and necessary action to bring the principal actors to book.

    A top government official who pleaded anonymity said Chief Orbih was not well informed about the current state of the hospital.

    The official said the hospital has been fully equipped but that the state government is looking at the best way to run the hospital before it is open to the public.