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Tag: Edo State

  • Igue Festival: Obaseki congratulates Benin Monarch

    …prays for Edo’s progress

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has congratulated the Benin Monarch, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, on the celebration of the annual Igue Festival.

    In a statement issued in Benin City on Friday, Obaseki said: “On behalf of the Government of Edo State, I congratulate the Omo N’ Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, and all Benin people and our friends on the annual Igue Festival celebration.

    “It is my prayer that the new year brings forth more blessings and a stronger bond between the Royal House and the Government of Edo State to build on our achievements across all sectors of the state.”

    The governor wished the Benin Monarch “a glorious celebration, excellent health and the divine wisdom to continue to lead our people to greatness.”

    This year’s Igue Festival began on Friday, as all chiefs were at the palace of the Oba of Benin to pay homage.

    The high profile festival will be rounded off on December 31st.

  • Edo Govt to invest N5bn in Agric sector – Obaseki

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has said that his administration will invest over N5 billion in the agricultural sector to create more jobs and guarantee food security in the state.

    Obaseki said this while speaking to beneficiaries of the federal government’s social investment programme, N-Power, in Edo South Senatorial District of the state, at an event tagged “Better Future” which held in Benin City.

    According to the governor, over 10,000 people are expected to benefit from the investment in the state.

    “From January next year, we are preparing over N5billion to be invested in agriculture and we expect that it will attract many people in the state.

    “We are setting up agricultural clusters where farmers can sell their produce. We are also getting farmers to bring their produce to the cluster for processing,” he added.

    He described the N-Power programme as a world-class programme and urged beneficiaries to see it as an opportunity to gain skills and work experience, they could use to build a future for themselves.

    Read Also: Obaseki offers space for local drug production

    “We applaud the federal government for introducing the programme, we believe in the programme and have keyed into it, like no other state.

    “We want you to see N-Power as a stepping stone to your achievements in life hill you look for more opportunities in the state where your skills can be fully harnessed.

    “For instance, my administration is looking for health personnel to train to manage the Primary Health Centres in the state. N-Power beneficiaries stand a better chance to be trained as they already have the basic technical skills. So don’t wait for the programme to end before you seek better opportunities,” he advised the beneficiaries.

  • Obaseki inaugurates APC Campaign Council in Edo North

    …urges grassroots mobilisation for 2019 elections, party’s triumph

    Edo State Governor, Mr.  Godwin Obaseki, has called on chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo North Senatorial District of the state, to mobilise voters in the area to vote for the party’s candidates in the 2019 general elections.

    Obaseki made the call while inaugurating the Edo North APC Campaign Council in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

    Commending members of the APC for their commitment to the vision of the party and for voting for the APC in past elections; the 2015 general elections and the gubernatorial election in 2016, he urged them to campaign vigorously for the party to ensure victory for all APC candidates in the 2019 general elections.

    The governor said his administration’s approach to both governance and politics would be bottom-to-top, and charged the campaign council to take the campaigns to every nook and cranny of the district.

    Read Also: Obaseki offers space for local drug production

    “Our target is that for every four APC votes we should have one opposition vote; to achieve this target, we need to embark on house-to-house campaign. We will ensure that the party wins at least 80 per cent of the total number of votes in the 2019 general elections.

    The governor explained that his administration has already started executing projects in all the wards of the state, and called on party leaders to avail his office of areas that need urgent attention for prompt response.

    Speaking on behalf of the campaign council, the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, promised that the team would deliver on the target set by the governor and reaffirmed that Edo North has always been for the APC.

    Obaseki later met with party supporters who gathered at the residence of the deputy governor where he promised more development for the area.

  • Yuletide: Obaseki celebrates Edo market women

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has celebrated with market women in Edo State in the spirit of the Yuletide season, thanking them for their support for the state government and his policies.

    The governor expressed his appreciation during an end-of-the-year party organised by the Edo State Market Women Association in Benin City, on Wednesday, December 12, 2018.

    He said, “I don’t know where to start because our mothers, our aunts, all of you have been my backbone. You are our greatest supporters. You are the ones on the streets and in markets who come to tell us daily what is going on. You are the ones who come to advise us in government on what to do. Without you, we will not succeed.

    “We are here to thank you all. From Aduwawa Market in Benin to markets in Akoko-Edo, Esan land and Orhionmwon, thank you for supporting our government. We appreciate all of you. We know your challenges.

    “You cried to us about the activities of touts, which was not good for our state, and asked us to assist you. That was what made us ban the activities of touts from our roads and in markets. By God’s grace, touts will not return to Edo State again.”

    He continued, “You told us how teachers don’t attend classes and how our children don’t learn in schools, that we should assist you. That is why we implemented the Edo Basic Education Transformation (EdoBEST) programme.

    Read Also: Technical education: Obaseki seeks partnership with FG

    “Thank God, one of you is on the State Universal Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs. Ighodalo. Help me express my appreciation to her. Do you know what SUBEB is doing? They are in all our schools, training our teachers to teach our children. All of you who have children in primary schools should go to the schools and see what we are trying to do for the children to learn.”

    Obaseki noted, “It is you who told us that roads are not good and the quality of roads we need to construct, that made us reconstruct the roads in Uselu in Benin. Moving from Ugbor to Ugbowo now doesn’t take you more than 30 minutes. We still have many projects to carry out in Edo State. We are just starting. We know that some things are still hard but by God’s grace and with the help of the Federal Government, we are investing in agriculture.”

    He said, “From 2019, when we will be preparing for Christmas, the Food and Agric Fair will have food everywhere because we are assisting farmers with funds to grow crops.

    Noting that the state government has intensified efforts at road construction, he said “We know we don’t have enough roads, we will construct more roads. Today, during our EXCO meeting, we awarded the largest road contract in the history of Edo State, from Upper Sokponba to Abraka has been awarded, totalling 106km of road. All of you in Orhionmwon and other areas in that axis will have road to bring your food to the city.”

    On construction of toilets and water facilities, Obaseki said, “Through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) programme, we will commence the construction of toilets and water facilities in 18 markets in Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba-Okha local government areas. Before January, all the toilets in these markets will be constructed with water facilities.”

    On the provision of smart off-grid electricity to the markets, he said, “In 2019, all the markets across Edo State will have functioning toilets and water facilities. Solar power will be provided in all the markets in the state, just like the one we have in Edaeken Market commissioned by the Vice President. This will assist you to reduce the cost of running generator sets.”

    He announced that 20,000 traders in the state will benefit from the Trader-moni loans, noting, “the Vice President has asked me to give 20,000 traders the Trader-moni loan in Edo State. In the next one month, people will go around markets to collect names and phone numbers of traders. They will give you the loans for your trade.”

    Earlier, President of the Edo Market Women Association, Mrs. Blacky Omoregie, said market women have fared well under Governor Obaseki’s administration owing to the various policies, which have improved their ease of doing businesses.

    She commended the governor for the ongoing reforms in all sectors of the state’s economy, especially the road infrastructure, sports, education and health care.

  • Obaseki gifts outstanding Headteacher housing unit in Emotan Gardens

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has gifted the Headteacher of Emotan Primary School, Mrs. Noragbon Osaru, who emerged the second-best school administrator in Nigeria and best teacher in the state, a housing unit in Emotan Gardens.

    Emotan Gardens is an over 70-hectare hectare estate being developed by the Edo State Government through the Edo Development and Property Agency (EDPA) and a private real estate developer, Mixta Nigeria.

    The first phase of the over 1800-unit estate will be delivered in December to subscribers, as work intensifies on the estate, which is expected to feature an artificial lake, shopping malls, schools and a police station among others.

    Speaking at the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) appreciation banquet organised for EdoBEST field workers in Benin City, the State capital, the governor said that the headteacher will be among those who will get a housing unit in the estate before the end of the year.

    According to him, “Mrs. Noragbon Osaru emerged the second-best school administrator in Nigeria and best Edo State teacher. She will get the key to one of the housing units at the Emotan Gardens Estate courtesy of the Edo State Government.

    “Next Week, a house in the Emotan Garden Estate will be given to Mrs. Noragbon for her commitment to educating our children and for encouraging other teachers in the EdoBEST programme.”

    The Godwin Obaseki-led administration has ramped up support for the EdoBEST programme by deploying a number of measures to motivate pupils and teachers for optimal results in the classroom.

  • Obaseki offers space for local drug production

    …scent leaf, oil palm, senna to be used as raw materials

    As work intensifies on the development of the Benin Industrial Park, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his administration is willing to work with the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and Pas Herbal to produce drugs from scent leaf and Senna at the park, which will house a pharmaceutical industry.

    The governor disclosed this when he received executive members of the NIPRD, who paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, in Benin City, Edo State capital.

    While commending the research institute for identifying the state’s competitive advantage in the production of high-value crops, such as scent leaf, senna and oil palm, he noted that his administration would create the enabling environment for the production of drugs from the crops, which will add value to Nigeria’s economy.

    He said, “We have identified scent leaf and senna as projects of interest. We will like to enter a tripartite collaboration, so we can identify the areas that the plants will do well and the markets for the products.”

    Read Also: Obaseki charges contingent to restore Edo’s glory

    Obaseki noted that the state was collaborating with the Natural Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) to boost local production and processing of oil palm in the state, adding that a section at the Benin Industrial Park would house a pharmaceutical industry to strengthen collaboration with the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development.

    Earlier, Director-General of NIPRD, Dr. Obi Adigwe, said the Institute was seeking collaboration with the Edo State Government to add value to its pharmaceutical company, which is currently not leaving up to expectations.

    Noting that the Institute was seeking collaboration with the state government and relevant stakeholders to produce drugs from natural resources, Adigwe said the NIPRD focuses on drug products, processes and development of drug protocols that will enable the state governments to support local production of drugs from natural resources.

    “One of the areas of interest to the institute is harnessing natural resources that are specific to some states. Three products have been identified in Edo: scent leaf, senna and oil palm. Senna can be used to make drugs that treat constipation and  weight problem. These natural resources could be harnessed by the state government using local people and increasing the value chain of the products for local and international markets.”

  • Police kill suspected robber in Edo

    Men of the Edo State Police Command have shot a suspected armed robber dead during a shoot out.

    The slain robber and his fleeing gang members were robbing residents of Upper Mission when a police patrol team ran into them.

    They were said to have robbed a man of his Honda Pilot Jeep along Akpakpava  Street in Benin City before heading to other areas in the metropolis.

    Read Also: Police arrest 51 suspected IPOB members in Umuahia

    State Police Commissioner, Babatunde Kokumo, said efforts were on to arrest to arrest other members of the gang.

    Kokumo listed items recovered from the robbers to include one AK 47 rifle, one military camouflage, 26 assorted phones, N46,000, two cutlasses and one jack knife.

    He said the police would rid the state of criminal to ensure a crime free Yuletide celebration.

  • Human Rights Day: Obaseki parades efforts at upholding human dignity

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state government has advanced a number of policies and legislations to uphold human rights in the state, noting that the rule of law remains a major cornerstone of his administration’s policy drive.

    The governor said this in commemoration of the Human Rights Day, marked every December 10, by the United Nation. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the day, which observance began in 1948, the year the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

    The governor said that the state government places huge premium on human rights, which is why a number of reforms and policies pushed by government are those that uphold the dignity of man and places no one above the law.

    According to him, “As we mark Human Rights Day, it is instructive that we have to, as a government, demonstrate a commitment to upholding the rights of every Edo resident. From the Child Rights Law; to the Law for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons; and efforts at checking child abuse; as well as reforms in property rights and a number of other such legislation and policies, we are enthroning respect for every citizen’s right as a key aspect of our development efforts.

    Read Also: Obaseki presents two-year score card

    “We have through the law prohibiting trafficking in persons set up the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking (ETAHT), which will ensure the prosecution of persons who debase the dignity of others in form of human trafficking for pecuniary gains. We have recorded tremendous support from the international community in these efforts and we intend to intensify the campaign.”

    Noting that the state government doesn’t take lightly the task to protect children from predatory paedophiles, he said, “We have launched an all-out war against sexual predators in our midst to ensure that the rights of children are protected. This is part of the overall strategy to enforce the Child Rights Law.”

    The governor also noted that the state government is in the process of setting up the office of the public defender for those without access to legal representation and has set up a committee on the prerogative of mercy to help decongest prisons.

    According to the UN, “Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10 – the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year, Human Rights Day marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone document that proclaimed the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. It is the most translated document in the world, available in more than 500 languages.”

  • Technical education: Obaseki seeks partnership with FG

    …as NBTE assures collaboration

    Worried by the dearth of teachers specially trained to teach in science and technical colleges, Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has sought the collaboration of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to train a new crop of teachers for the colleges.

    Obaseki who made the request while receiving the management staff of NBTE, led by Sumaila Tanko, at Government House, Benin City, said the collaboration has become necessary as his administration is grappling with inadequate teachers in technical schools across the state.

    “The biggest challenge we have as a government is inadequate technical and science teachers. NBTE has to work with us, co-invest with us to train science and technical teachers for our technical schools across the state.

    “We have one college of education in the state with three schools. The one in Auchi specialises in training teachers and equipping them with technical skills. We would want to collaborate with you in training these teachers who will in turn train our students in our technical and science schools across the state,” he said.

    Obaseki told his guests that his administration is working with the private sector to create the opportunity for them to be part of the technical training.

    “We are working with the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association on the revamp of Government Science and Technical College, formerly Benin Technical College, and we have got funding from the World Bank to furnish the workshops and laboratory. By the middle of 2019, we will re-open that school”, he added.

    He assured the group that his administration is working round the clock to revamp all the science and technical schools in the state.

    Obaseki also made a case for a more robust curriculum for technical education in line with the present-day realities.

    “Our administration is focusing on technical schools and our goal is to ensure that our students are equipped with the technical or vocational skills in their first 12 years of primary and secondary schools”.

    Earlier, leader of NBTE delegation, Samaila Tanko, said they were in Benin City for an advisory visit to technical and science schools in Benin City, Afuze, Igarra and Irrua.

    Tanko commended the governor for the ongoing revamp of the Government Science and Technical College, formerly Benin Technical College, and appealed to him to extend the huge investment to the other technical and science schools in the state.

  • 2019: Edo PDP tasks leaders on ward campaigns

    The Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State has told its leaders to commence campaigns at various wards and local government areas in the state.
    It said the 2019 election is not about the PDP or the APC but about Nigerians calling for a change so that they could have the dividends of democracy.
    State Chairman of the PDP,  Chief Dan Orbih stated this at the flagging off campaign rally at Afuze, Owan East Local government.
    Orbih said the APC has failed to deliver on the campaign promises made to Edo people and Nigerians.

    Read Also: PDP presents Ogun governorship flag to Adebutu

    He urged the people to campaign for the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
    According to him,  “Let us take seriously the challenge before us,  so that,  as we prepare for the elections,  we must defend  the interest of the people which is the primary obligation of the PDP.
    “It is not only where you vote but where results will be collated and be ready to defend your votes. I here by declare the campaign flagg-off”
    ” It is now for the PDP leaders to take the  campaigns from local government to wards by ward, units by units because we need total grassroots mobilization  to ensure victory for our party,” Orbih said.
    About 2500 members of the APC defected to the PDP at the campaign.