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Tag: Edo State

  • LG polls: Obaseki lauds Edo people, security agencies, others

    LG polls: Obaseki lauds Edo people, security agencies, others

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obseki, has expressed his appreciation to Edo voters, civil society organisations, the media, security agencies and other stakeholders for the successful conduct of last Saturday’s local council polls in the state.

    In his message of appreciation on the sideline of the swearing-in of the elected officials, Obaseki noted that “the elections will go down in the annals of history as the most peaceful and most organised elections, devoid of chaos and disorderliness, unlike what we have been used to in this part of the world.”

    He said: “As a government, we are extremely proud of Edo voters for changing the narrative of how Nigerians participate in elections. For the first time in our recent political history, voting was done in the most civilised manner.

    He lauded security agencies, traditional rulers, party leaders, members of the civil society and other stakeholders for their roles in setting the stage for the peaceful conduct of the local council polls across the state.

    “Voters took their time, went to their various polling centers, cast their votes and went home without any troubles. The Edo LG Polls have set a new template for future elections in the country and will go down in the annals of Nigeria’s recent electoral history as the most peaceful and orderly elections in the country.

    The governor commended the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) for living up to their word, as “the success of the polls would not have been possible without the effort of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC). I salute EDSIEC for living up to their word.

    “I had charged EDSIEC before the local council polls that we wanted a hitch-free exercise devoid of crisis and they promised to do their best and I am happy to report a successful exercise and we are pleased with the outcome of the polls.

    “I congratulate the elected local government chairmen and councilors who were sworn-in on Monday and urge you to commence work immediately by replicating our ‘Wake and See’ approach to governance at the local councils.”

    He told the elected officials that “Governance is about service delivery. You must feel the pulses of the people; attend to their needs by providing tangible, measurable, verifiable and impactful projects that can improve the lives of our people in the grassroots.”

    Read Also: New council executives will deepen strategic leadership, devt at LGAs – Obaseki

  • FG, Edo synergise to boost youth empowerment

    FG, Edo synergise to boost youth empowerment

    The Federal Government has revealed plans to partner with Edo state to boost youth empowerment in the South-South and South-East geo-political zones, as not less than 121 youths graduated from a capacity building workshop organised for youths in the zones.

    Minister of Youths and Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung, who addressed the beneficiaries trained under the National Youth Empowerment Programme (NYEP) at Okada, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo state, said the programme is intended to encourage entrepreneurship.

    The youths were trained on cosmetology, bead making, aquaculture, piggery, cassava processing and value addition, as well as interior decoration and event management.

    According to Dalung, “The objective of the NYEP is to encourage entrepreneurship among youths as well as provide avenue for youths from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds to bond and collaborate in proffering solutions to issues affecting the country.”

    He added that the NYEP was initiated by the Ministry of Youths and Sports in 2015 to serve as capacity building programme for youths on agro-allied, vocational skills and entrepreneurial skills.

    “The empowerment programme is designed to solve the problem of unemployment among youths as it intends to expose youths to skills and knowledge that will make them entrepreneurs. An empowered youth with a sustainable means of livelihood will not only create jobs but also contribute to peace and security in the country.”

    Edo State Commissioner for Youths and Special Duties, Hon. Mike Amanokha, commended the Federal Government for the empowerment programme, noting “The state looks forward to collaborating with the Federal Government to empower more youths in the state.”

    Amanokha charged the beneficiaries to make good use of the skills acquired as they have displayed commitment during the course of the programme. “I believe you will put to good use the knowledge and skills acquired,” he added.

  • Edo partners SLOT Academy, Oxfam, others

    Edo partners SLOT Academy, Oxfam, others

    …EdoJobs 2.0 March 2

     

    To fast-track employment creation for youths in Edo State, the state government will on March 2, launch EdoJobs 2.0, the second phase of its skills development programme.

    In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Skills Development and Job Creation, Mrs. Ukinebo Dare, the state government said it has sealed partnership agreement with a number of firms, including SLOT Academy, CareerKickstartprogramme, Law Autos, LevantarSoap Factory, to train youths on information and communication technology (ICT) hardware repairs, vehicle maintenance and repairs, among others.

    EdoJobs is an initiative of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration to tackle youth unemployment by creating a minimum of 200,000 jobs by the year 2020. The programme is expected to increase private sector involvement and investment in the state’s economy, to be achieved by employability trainings and skills acquisition, providing support for business growth and exposing youths to employment opportunities.

    According to Dare, “Since its inception EdoJobs has created jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities in various roles including agriculture, traffic management, accounting, administration, ICT, estate management, sales and many others.

    “As a result of this, the Skills Development Programme has relaunched EdoJobs 2.0. The mission of the Skill Development Programme is to implement a coordinated and effective approach to skills development and job creation in the state. This they intend to achieve through three major initiatives.”

    She said the programmes are open to Edo youths from the three the senatorial districts in the state, adding “Some of the trainees will be pooled from Libya returnees in Edo State. There are also job vacancies available on the portal.

    She said the expanded skill development programme includes EdoJobs, EdoStartups and Skillup initiatives, stressing, “EdoJobs is targeted at training participants for hire into various industries and also matching qualified applicants to available job openings and internship slots within the state. EdoStartups will support aspiring and existing entrepreneurs registered on EdoJobs with skills and support to aid and grow their businesses, while the Skill Up Initiative is to revamp institutions in the state with a view to upgrading them to world-class skill delivery standards.”

    Dare charged job seekers to check the portal regularly and apply online for opportunities under the EdoJobs and EdoStartUps initiatives.

    According to her, “A partnership with Slot Academy to train participants on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Phone and computer repairs, with internship opportunities for deserving participants. Successful participants would be assisted in starting up their own businesses.

    “For Automobile companies, we have Law Auto, IFES and Leana Garage, which will train young men and ladies on vehicle maintenance and repairs. After the training, they are eligible for internship and a start-up packages to support these participants.”

    She continued, “There is a partnership with LevantarSoap factory to train residents on production, employ some as staff in the factory and empower others with support to start small scale production. There is another partnership with the CareerKickstartprogramme to train individuals and connect them to employers, which is also supported by Oxfam.”

    “EdoJobs2.0 will serve as a hub of opportunities for all Edo residents. We encourage business owners to partner with Edo Jobs by recruiting from our pool of well-trained applicants.”

  • Edo APC receives 10,000 defectors

    Edo APC receives 10,000 defectors

    Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday received a boost by accepting 10,000 defectors from opposition political parties in the state.

    Among the defectors was a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party in Esan West local government area, Mr. Felix Akhabue.

    Akhabue is regarded as the strongman of the PDP in Esan West.

    The defectors announced their membership of the APC at a mega rally to round campaigns ahead of Saturday local elections in the state.

    Minister of Youths and Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung, said the rally was a requiem for the PDP in the state.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki in his speech promised to deliver 1.2million votes for the APC in next year’s general elections.

    Read Also: Edo APC denounces APCYV

    Details later…..

  • Sports reforms to drive job creation, youth development in Edo – Obaseki

    Sports reforms to drive job creation, youth development in Edo – Obaseki

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his administration’s vision to reform sports is aimed at creating jobs and curbing restiveness among youths.

    The governor made the submission during a dinner organised to unveil the new logo, jersey, team bus, technical team as well as manual for the rebranded Bendel Insurance Football Club (FC) in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Obaseki said, “We have a keen interest to reform the sports sector in the state, and this is aimed at providing solutions to youth restiveness and unemployment. For us, sports have the potential to uplift the lives of our people and offer hope to youths who seek a better country.

    “Edo people are sports-loving. We will leverage this as we continue our reforms and give hope to our teeming youths. The steps made in reforming the Bendel Insurance FC will serve as reference point to drive more reforms in the sector.”

    He added the reforms will focus on grassroots sports development, noting, “Design and contracts for the construction of mini stadium in each local government area across the state have been completed. Local government chairmen will be mandated to ensure that the project is completed to encourage young men and women at the grassroots to tap into sports.”

    Obaseki called on investors in the state to support the present administration’s efforts to restore the state to its pride of place in sports in the country.

    Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, hailed “the achievements of the club, which has a reputation of producing contenders in the national team. These include, Peter Osazee Odemwingie, Austin Eguavoen, amongst others. These great players have represented the state at national and international assignments.”

    Shaibu added, “The decision to rebrand the Bendel Insurance FC’s logo with the image of Queen Idia was to project the club members as warriors, out to win battles. I am optimistic that the rebranded Bendel Insurance FC will emerge as a force to contend with.”

    On his part, President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, commended the state government for its initiatives in repositioning Bendel Insurance FC, and urged “The state government to partner corporate bodies for sponsorship to achieve self-funding and ensure the club is not dependent on government grants.”

    “It is important for football clubs to run independent of government interference to ensure consistency. The club can develop its cards; Silver and Premium cards and VIP stand to serve as means for generating funds,” he added.

    Read Also: Obaseki lauds FG on welfare package for IDPs in Edo

  • Edo LG Polls: Civil Society scores EDSIEC high on preparedness

    Edo LG Polls: Civil Society scores EDSIEC high on preparedness

    With less than four days to the local council polls in Edo State, civil society organisations that are in the state to assess the readiness of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) for the polls, the dispositions of the electorates and political parties towards the elections and other variables crucial to a hitch-free exercise, have scored EDSIEC high on its preparedness.

    Addressing journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital on Tuesday, Team Leader, Forum of Civil Society Organisation in Nigeria, Comrade Fidelis Nweke, said that after his team’s pre-election observation exercise, they “observed that the Edo State government has provided the necessary logistics for EDSIEC to organise and conduct credible elections in the state without the state government’s interference.”

    Nweke said his team “gathered that some political parties will not participate in this Saturday, 3rd March, 2018 Local Government Election in Edo State.”

    He maintained that “boycott of elections is not healthy for our democracy,” and  recommended “that such political parties should be sanctioned and stopped from participating in any elections for a period of five (5) years.”

    He explained that in the course of their work, “we met with various stakeholders in the electoral process, including Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), the political parties, security agencies and the electorates. This was aimed at determining the level of preparedness of all the relevant stakeholders, as part of the critical component of election observation in the state.”

    Nweke said they observed that EDSIEC is committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections in the state, by providing a level playing ground for all political parties in the state to participate in the elections.

    “Our team observed the distribution of electoral materials by EDSIEC officials to various local government areas of the state; we observed that the electorates in Edo State are ready and willing to come out en-mass on Saturday, March 3, 2018 to exercise their franchise and also vote for candidates of their choice; EDSIEC accredited some reputable Civil Society Organisations and journalists to observe the election and to report accordingly without being biased.”

    The team commended the state government and the governor for what they described as “taking the bull by the horn to conduct a local government election when some state governors are complaining of poor allocation of funds from the federal government,” and described Governor Obaseki as a “true democrat for ending the use of caretaker chairmen in the state and making sure that democratically local government chairmen and councillors are elected in the state come March 3, 2018.”

    They further recommended that the electoral umpire in conjunction with civil society organisations engage in massive voter education and sensitisation before the next election and advised the Edo State government to declare Friday, March 2,2018 as public holiday to enable civil servants and other stakeholders travel back to their communities and wards to exercise their rights.

    Read Also: Edo LG Polls: APC wraps campaign as 10,000 PDP decampees set to join ruling party

  • NSCDC arrests self-confessed Boko Haram suspect in Edo

    NSCDC arrests self-confessed Boko Haram suspect in Edo

    The Edo Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) confirmed the arrest of of a self-confessed Boko Haram suspect.

    According to the Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Makinde Ayinla, the suspect who gave his name as Sani was arrested in the early hours of Saturday.Ayi

    “Our men deployed to guard the premises of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), arrested suspect after he was spotted twice loitering between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.

    “Nobody knew how he gained entry into the premises,” he said.

    He said that during interrogation, Sani claimed to be a member of the boko haram group.

    Ayinla also said that Sani confessed to being in a group that speacilises in robbery, kidnapping, murder and selling of human parts.

    The commandant said that Sani confessed that his group operate with sophisticated weapons.

    Ayinla said that when asked if Sani can lead men of the corps to his group’s hideout, he said the suspect said: “ only God can lead any person there”.

    The commandant said the suspect had been handed over to the State Command of the Directorate of State Services (DSS).

  • Group to SSS, EFCC: Invite Orbih to prove IDP rice allegation

    Group to SSS, EFCC: Invite Orbih to prove IDP rice allegation

    Members of Concerned Citizens of Edo State (CCES), a non-governmental organisation, have called on the Nigeria Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the State Security Service (SSS) to invite Dan Orbih, chairman, Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for proof of his allegation that the Edo State government diverted bags of rice meant for Internally Displaced (Persons IDPs).

    President of the association, Mr Ogbewi Aghedo, said that “There are several dimensions to this allegation. The credibility of the Edo State government has been called to question by the allegation. The Edo State PDP chairman has also by that comment, accused the state government of criminal diversion of the relief materials approved for internally displaced persons and yet another diversion is the indictment of a Senator from Ondo State, whose name was not given by Orbih.

    “You will agree with me that these are weighty allegations and cannot be equated with mere politicking. These alleged crimes fall within the purview of the police, the EFCC and the SSS and the recorded audio interview of Dan Orbih on Independent Radio is sufficient material for preliminary investigation by these security agencies.”

    Aghedo said its members are aware that the state government has petitioned the state commissioner of police. “This a step in the right direction. The allegation is an attack on the integrity of the state government and it is only proper for the state to rise up to the occasion and demand proof.”

    The allegation, according to Aghedo, “is equivalent to whistle blowing and as you are aware, when you have your facts and proof, the federal government will reward you for blowing the whistle, but if you blow a false whistle, we all know the implication.”

    He added that as a stakeholder in the nation’s democracy project, its activities includes identifying actions and inactions that pose threat to the lives of the ordinary Edo people and Nigerians alike, defend them against obnoxious policies and laws and defend pro-people policies and programmes, amongst others.

    Edo PDP chairman alleged on a live radio programme on Thursday in Benin City, that over 300 bags of rice approved for internally displaced persons were diverted by the Edo State government to the house of an Ondo State Senator.

    Orbih was quoted as saying on the Independent Radio pidgin English programme, Man Around Town: “This thing no be matter Edwey them take debate. Them carry this rice go give one Senator for Ondo, that one na Internally displaced person? We get record for how them take share this rice among themselves.

    “Them carry this rice on a Sunday go one house before By-pass. On a Sunday, because make people no see wetin them dey do. We have all these records. We know the movements. We know what they were doing. I was just watching them to see whether these people get heart.”

  • Violence against children: Edo moves against culprits, launches Priority Response Plan

    Violence against children: Edo moves against culprits, launches Priority Response Plan

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured that the state’s ‘Priority Response Plan to End Violence Against Children,’ will strengthen measures to check violence against children and protect them from abuse.

    Obaseki who was represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, at the launching of the “Edo State Priority Response Plan to End Violence Against Children (E-VAC),’ in Benin City, noted that such structures were necessary to guarantee children the opportunity to contribute to national development.

    He said the policy, “will check and strengthen legal framework put in place to end violence against children. I am, however, optimistic that with the E-VAC document, individuals who perpetuate any form of violence against children in the state will be prosecuted for the crime.”

    The governor reiterated, “the state will continue to strengthen all legal apparatus put in place to protect children in the state against abuses. We will also make sure that we build a solid foundation to secure the future of our children.

    “We must all explore these legal apparatus: the Family Court, Child Right Act and other Child Protection documents developed to end violence against children.”

    Speaking at the event, wife of the state governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki said, “ending violence against children requires the collaborative effort of all stakeholders. The state government has demonstrated willingness to curb incidences of violence against children, and requires the support of other concerned stakeholders to protect these children.”

    Mrs. Obaseki however, commended the state government and stakeholders for supporting the development of the state E-VAC document, and urged parents to begin to shun practices that expose children to violence.”

    The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Magdalene Ohenhen, said the E-VAC policy document was developed by the state government in response to findings of a national survey conducted by the National Population Commission in 2014.

    Ohenhen said the document, which has input from children, will assist the ministry in addressing cases of neglect, abandonment and all forms of violence against children from persons they ought to feel safe with.

    Speaker, Edo Children’s Parliament, Miss Jacinta Omoregie, commended the state government for bringing relevant stakeholders together to curb the menace, noting, “The campaign to end violence against children requires global action. The E-VAC document would strengthen child protection and welfare in the state.”