The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo State

  • Agribusiness: Obaseki mobilizes entrepreneurs, others to processing centres

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has urged small businesses, manufacturers and academics to work together at the 12 processing centers being built in different locations across the state to boost job creation.

    Obaseki gave the charge after inspecting renovation work at the abandoned state government-owned warehouse in Evbuoriaria, along Sapele Road, in Benin City, the state capital.

    Obaseki said the idea behind the centres, is to link entrepreneurs to power, water and other necessary utilities to drive business growth in the state.

    He said the centres were being set up in collaboration with academic institutions, manufacturer associations and private industries, noting, “We have identified six of such facilities within the Benin metropolis and in six other locations in the state to serve as processing centres.

    “We want to encourage artisans to come to these locations and produce. What we have done here is to refurbish government warehouses and are discussing with private power suppliers to provide electricity,” the governor said.

    Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Job Creation and Skills Development, Mrs. Ukinebo Dare, said those to be hosted at the centers are small business owners.

    Read Also: Obaseki unveils Edo security architecture

    Dare said the entrepreneurs would receive training at the centre and also benefit from marketing and legal services to allow their businesses operate better outside the centre.

    “Stay at the centre would be on a temporary basis. The idea is to strengthen businesses so that they can stand on their own,” she said.

    President, Benson Idahosa University, Bishop Feb Idahosa, said the institution would be collaborating with the state government to provide vocational training for artisans at the centre, at no cost.

    He added, “We will be giving training on book keeping and rendering other services. The aim is to help the state flourish.”

  • Edo commences overhaul of state broadcasting outfit

    The Edo State Government has commenced the overhaul of the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS), with the redeployment of some members of staff of the station to the Ministry of Communication and Orientation.

    In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., the state government said the “redeployment is in line with the ongoing restructuring of state-owned media organisations.”

    With the redeployment, Mr. Ransley Abu Osagie, has been appointed Acting General Manager of the station.

    According to Ogie, staff of Edo Broadcasting Service that have been redeployed with immediate effect, to the Ministry of Communication and Orientation include Barr. Friday Okoedion, General Manager; Uche Nwoko, Head Manpower & Training; Oseni Salami, Head Programmes, Television; Godwin Egbe, Head, Presentation; Festus Obasogie Evbuomwan, Head Corporate Affairs; Osagie Asabor, Head News, Television.

    Others are Ndidi Ehikwe, Head News, Radio; Mrs. Bode Okudishu, Head Commercial; Emmanuel Oguns, Commercial Dept; Magdalene Mudasheru, Commercial Dept and Festus Alenkhe, News Department.

    Those to take over from the redeployed staff in acting capacity with immediate effect, according to the statement, are: Ransley Abu Osagie, Acting General Manager; Ivy Adodo, Head News, Television; Benjamin Osagie, Head News, Radio; Mrs. Pat Ebueku, Head Current Affairs; Jennifer Ngozi-Lloyds, Head Corporate Affairs and Mr Emmanuel Omoregie, Head Commercial.

    Others are Comfort Alonge, Head Accounts; Amenze Osagie, Head Engineering; George Osawaru, Head Radio; Franca Olu-Oseh, Head Programmes, Television; Mercy Orukpe, Head Marketing; Charles Ogboghodo, Head Presentation and Benjamin Agbator, Head Audit.

    The statement directed all the redeployed staff to meet with the Honourable Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, for proper briefing.

  • Benin lawyer grants scholarship to two indigent students

    A Benin based lawyer, Barrister Olayiwola Afolabi, has awarded one year scholarship to two indigent students of Saint John Model Secondary School and Fugar Mixed Secondary School, both in Etsako Central  council area of Edo state.

    Both students, Master Elamah Zion-Brown and Miss Izuagie Jennifer emerged best students of their school in their last school examination.

    Barrister Afolabi gave the award at the commissioning of his twin multi-million naira new Signature Law Hub and Legal Resources Center.

    Afolabi said his decision to give yearly award to needy children was because of  God’s grace upon his life.

    He disclosed that he came to Edo state to serve his fatherland as a member of the  NYSC having a “Ghana Must Go Bag,” as all his possession on earth.

    Barrister Afolabi said the edifice would be developed for digital resources center to assist young lawyers and public commentators to engaging in contemporary legal issues and gain valuable knowledge that can be transmitted to the job of building an egalitarian society.

    Read Also: Igue Festival: Obaseki congratulates Benin Monarch

    His words, “This building for me does not represent a show of personal aggrandizement. In this City of Benin I bought my first car, I had my first land. I built my first house.

    “This edifice is a testimony to the fact that there is no height that cannot be attained, no milestone that cannot be reached by a determined heart that has God.”

    Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Esohe Frances Ikponmwen, who commissioned the building charged the bar and bench to always imbibe the virtues of hard work, humility and respect for all irrespective of status and callings in the society.

    She described Afolabi as a dynamic, resourceful, humble and respectful gentleman who has never looked back in achieving set goals since his incursion into the wig and gown profession shortly after his youth service in the state in 1991.

    “The only way to success is to love the Lord God and the only success that endures is the type that Afolabi has achieved. It is a good feat for a young man to accomplish this (edifice). As a young lawyer he has grown to join the league of big lawyers. There is nothing like success, nobody wants to associate with failure; we recognize hard work. Hard work pays, humility pays and respect pays,” the Chief Judge said.

  • NSF: Obaseki promises world-class organisation

    …as Edo gets 2020 hosting right

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured athletes and lovers of sports that the state is ready to organise a world-class National Sports Festival, come 2020.

    Obaseki gave the assurance while addressing journalists on the side-lines of the closing ceremony of the just-concluded National Sports Festival in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, after Edo was given the right to host the 2020 edition of the sports fiesta.

    “On behalf of the government and people of Edo State, I assure you that the confidence reposed in us would be justified. I make a solemn promise today that we will give it our all and at the end of the day, everyone would say of the 2020 Games, ‘this is our festival in which we are well pleased,’ the governor pledged.

    He noted that “The sports community will have no cause to regret this momentous decision that has been taken for Edo State to host the next edition of the National Sports Festival.

    “We will take every step necessary, make the needed sacrifice to deliver the best games in the annals of the sports festival.”

    He maintained that though there would be challenges on the way, he stressed, “we are Edo people.  We have the men who can do the job and the facilities that will raise the profile of the festival.”

    According to him, “Whatever challenges there are, we will overcome because Edo people tread where even lions do not. Like our warriors of old, we will slay every foe and surmount every obstacle to succeed.

    “The 2020 Sports Festival will be different from any previous edition and any that will come after it. Perhaps it can only be surpassed in splendour and organisation the next time Edo State hosts it afterwards.

    He added that “The Edo 2020 Sports Festival will be a festival that will be grounded in “strategy, organisation, technical apparatus, science, mechanics, and morale”.

  • Obaseki okays solar solution for rural schools

    …seals deal with youths at Edo Innovation Hub

    In what is best described as a game-changing effort to mainstream innovative youths in community-focused solution to power problems in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki has approved the deployment of a 1.5KVA solar box developed by youths at the Edo Innovation Hub in addressing electricity supply challenge in rural schools across the state.

    Obaseki stated this while delivering his keynote address at the “Power for Edo Hackathon 2018” organised by the state government in collaboration with Siemens’s Impact Hub.

    The governor said his administration is collaborating with Green Fusion Energy Ltd. to provide solar energy installation to power schools in rural areas of the state.

    The innovators, who founded the company, Green Fusion Energy, were groomed at the Edo Innovation Hub, the state government-backed innovation cluster located in Benin City, the state capital.

    According to the governor, “During the 2018 Alaghodaro Youth Summit, we met with Green Fusion Energy Ltd., a team made up of EdoJobbers, who invented a solar box with a 1.5KVA capacity.

    “I have contracted them to provide 100 of such devices to power schools in rural areas in the state in collaboration with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).”

    Read Also: Igue Festival: Obaseki congratulates Benin Monarch

    He said the essence of the hub was to help young people tap into their creative potential to create solutions for problems in the society.

    The governor commended Siemens for its partnership on the Power for Edo Hackathon, urging youths to utilise the opportunity to strive for excellence and horn their creativity.

    “I have confidence in Edo youth because they are aspirational and I know they will come up with brilliant ideas. I look forward to partnering with a crop of you in the programme,” he assured.

    Mr Ibe Etea, Regional compliance Officer and Head of Data Privacy, Siemens, said the sponsorship of the programme was to ensure that young people and entrepreneurs in the state are given the opportunity to use their creativity  to solve problems of power in Edo.

    Former  chairman of Access Bank, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, commended Edo State government for investing in human capital development, noting that countries that have  made transition from less developed to developed status invested in human capital development.

    ‘’Edo is a state where it is happening, seeing this today, it shows that we are taking the right step and at the right time.

    Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Skills Development and Job Creation, Mrs Ukinebo Dare, said the Power for Edo Hackathon programme was being implemented by office of the Edo Jobs and Impact Hubs to identify youths that could create solutions for the power sector.

  • Obaseki unveils Edo security architecture

    …as Imoukhuede heads over N2bn Trust Fund

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Monday in Benin City, the state capital, unveiled the Edo State Security Architecture, a new framework that will boost security in the state.

    The governor also launched the Edo State Security Trust Fund, with the state government committing N2 billion as seed fund.

    The components of the state security architecture include:  50 special security cars fitted with modern communication and security gadgets; 30 Toyota Hilux patrol vans; 30 patrol motor bikes and three Tropicalised Armoured Personnel Carriers; three Ambulances; Integrated Command and Control Centre and five special security check points to be manned at all the entry and exit points in the state.

    Others are Special Patrol Units (land and waterways); Integrated Electronic City Surveillance Unit; Establishment of a Special Force unit/anti-kidnapping squad; establishment of K-9 unit; establishment of paramedics unit; establishment of the Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV) scheme with 3000 trained and kitted workforce and a community police radio network.

    Speaking at the launch of the initiative, the governor explained that security is central to his administration’s reform agenda, noting, “Thanks to the chairman of the Edo State Security Trust Fund, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede for kickstarting and donating N200 million to the fund. I call on all Edo State citizens to contribute to the Security Trust Fund.”

    Stressing that the new security architecture is a comprehensive programme, he said, “Apart from the police, Military, Department of State Security and other security agencies, we are recruiting 100 young men and women from each ward across Edo State. The first 1,000 of them have been recruited and trained by the Nigeria Police, as they will help in intelligence gathering, and monitoring of government assets across the state. We believe by involving the community, we would be able to obtain enough information as to what is going on in the state. The effectiveness of our new strategy is based on community participation.”

    The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Idris, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel Inyang, applauded the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government for embarking on the ambitious project and urged the private sector to support the fund to bolster policing across the state.

    “We are very happy to witness this wonderful gesture. I want to call on all on other private and public enterprises to support this initiative so that what succeeded in Lagos will also succeed in Edo State. Gone are the days that people left policing for the police alone. I also want to thank the Chairman of the Trust Fund for deeming it fit to come and assist the state.

    “With the launch of this security architecture, Edo people and residents will now sleep with their eyes closed. I am also aware that gun boats have been procured in addition to the vehicles and other equipment we are launching today.

    “This means we will be able to cover activities on land and sea which will be augmented with aerial surveillance using the Police helicopter. With all these efforts, Edo will become very safe for everyone. The security architecture will ginger security agencies to collaborate more, and where there is collaboration there will be coordination among us.”

    Chairman of the Edo State Security Trust Fund and Chairman, Coronation Capital, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, commended governor Obaseki for his foresight and his commitment to building a strong and peaceful state with initiatives such as the Edo State Security Trust Fund and Edo State Security Architecture, codenamed “WABAIZIGAN”.

    He assured that he would join efforts with other Edo sons and daughters at home and in the diaspora to replicate the success story of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, in Edo State.

    The former Managing Director of Access Bank, donated N200 million naira to the Security Trust Fund, and explained that he was instrumental to the establishment and success of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund and.

     “I and the companies I represent donate the sum of N200 million to the fund. I call on citizens of Edo State to join hands with the Edo State government and all the security agencies to make the state safe and peaceful for all.”

    “This process is not for the government alone but also for the private sector, companies and individuals to join hands with the state government in pushing the agenda for a peaceful Edo State.”

    Edo State Police Commissioner of Police Johnson Kokumo commended the governor for the support he has extended to the police command, which he said has made the state safer for residents.

  • Edo CJ warns lawyers against perpetuating injustice

    Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Esohe Frances Ikponmwen, has warned lawyers against perpetuating injustice by being oppressive in the way the processes of court are used.

    Justice Ikponmwen said it was wrong for lawyers to deliberately delay case of their client when they know that there is no truth in the claim.

    Speaking on Saturday at the annual Nigeria Bar Association, Benin Branch dinner, Justice Ikponmwen reminded lawyers that their duty was not only to the court or client but also to the greater cause of justice.

    Ikponmwen stated that lawyers have to abide by the rules of court and appealed to them to embrace the services of the multi-door court house for the purpose of achieving quick dispensation of justice.

    According to her, “I am glad that legal practitioners in Edo State are rising up to the challenge for the improvement of our justice delivery system which informed the new Civil Procedure Rules for Edo State.

    “There is no need for apprehension as it is my view that once quick dispensation of justice is achieved, many persons will be willing to approach courts to redress wrongs which are prevalent in this society but overload because of lack of trust in our justice system.”

    Among those conferred with the NAB awards were Justice Ikpomwen, Justice Ada Ehigiamusoe, Ken E. Mozia, Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, Senator Mathew Uroghide, Hon Patrick Obahiagbon amongst others.

  • Xmas Carol: CAN, PFN, others laud strong synergy with Obaseki

    The Edo State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and other Christian groups have commended the strong synergy between the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration and religious groups in the socio-economic development of the state.

    In his goodwill message at the 2018 Christmas Carol Concert, organised by the state government at Government House in Benin City, Chairman, Edo State chapter  of CAN, Reverend Oyonnude Kure, commended Governor Godwin Obaseki for his sustained collaboration with the church since assuming office.

    “Governor Obaseki is ‘God’s servant governor’ and a man of action and vision. We thank God for his life and for piloting the affairs of the state with focus on the wellbeing of the people,” he said.

    President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rev. Felix Omobude, urged Christians in the state to be patient as the best of Obaseki’s leadership style was on the way.

    Omobude who was represented by his wife, Mrs. Abiola Omobude, expressed thanks to God for his mercy upon the governor, other members of his government and all Christians in the state.

    Commending Obaseki’s achievements in the area of security, the Vision Bearer of Family Intercessory Ministry, Evangelist Margaret Agbonifo, noted that churches now organise crusades and other outdoor activities without apprehension.

    The event was attended by Christian faithful from various denominations who were treated to a night of gospel music by various church choirs, including the Edo Philharmonic Orchestra, St. Joseph Catholic Choir amongst others.

    In his vote of thanks, Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, expressed appreciation to the Christian faithful and government officials for gracing the occasion.

  • Edo HoS warns against indecent dressing, merchandising in govt offices

    …seeks support of pensioners

    Head of Service in Edo State, Mr. Isaac Ehiozuwa, has warned against indecent dressing and merchandising among civil servants.

    Ehiozuwa gave the warning during a meeting with Permanent Secretaries and Directors of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) at Government House, in Benin City, the state capital.

    The new HoS, further tasked Directors of Administration and Supplies in the respective MDAs to support their Permanent Secretaries in ensuring issues relating to indiscipline; lateness to work, insubordination, closure before time, non-challant attitude to work, indecent dressing and merchandising in government offices, are taken seriously.

    He decried how work ethics and attitude which were religiously observed in the past in the civil service have been eroded, urging Permanent Secretaries and Directors to ensure that rules and regulations of the Civil Service are strictly adhered to by civil servants.

    Ehiozuwa said that the Civil Service is reputed for transparency, discipline honesty, efficiency, proficiency and accountability.

    At a separate meeting with members of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, led by the Chairman, Comrade Pullen Noruwa, Ehiozuwa expressed his appreciation to members of the union for their co-operation with the state government.

    He assured that the Obaseki led-administration will not fail in its responsibility towards ensuring prompt attention is given to pension matters.

    He sued for the co-operation and support of the pensioners, in reforming the State Civil Service, adding, “We will do our best to ensure that pensioners in the state are happy.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the Union, Comarde Pullen Noruwa, congratulated Ehiozuwa on his appointment as HoS, which he described as well-deserved.

  • Edo pays workers’ December salary

    …Obaseki urges peaceful celebrations

    The Edo State Government on Friday paid salaries of workers for the month of December, following the directive of the Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, said “the governor’s decision to pay workers, mid-way into the month, was informed by the need to make money available for workers to do early shopping for the yuletide and avoid the artificial inflation caused by commodity distributors.”

    He added: “Governor Obaseki wants workers to get value for their money before all the players in the commodity distribution chain cash in on the season and hike food prices.

    Read Also: Police kill suspected robber in Edo

    “The governor does not want Edo workers to be caught in the middle of such manipulative tendency of middlemen and has urged workers to go about their celebrations peacefully. 

    “Edo workers can storm the market from today and shop for the season. 2019 promises to be a better year for workers in the state.”

    The governor’s aide further said that governor Obaseki is committed to the welfare of workers in the state through innovative ways.

    “ Several reforms have been carried out in the Edo State civil service, including world-class trainings for the workers, revamp of their work environment, timely payment of salary and the migration of work culture from analogue to digital platform for efficiency,” Osagie added.