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Tag: Godwin Obaseki

  • EdoJobs, SLOT Foundation to commence 3-month IT training for Edo youths

    Determined to co-opt more youths to actively participate in the state’s burgeoning tech space, Governor Godwin Obaseki’s skills development platform, EdoJobs has partnered with SLOT Foundation to train youths in Esan West Local Government Area of the state on GSM and laptop maintenance.

    Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Job Creation and Skills Development, Mrs Ukinebo Dare, in a chat with journalists at the weekend, said that the training programme is coming after the impressive showing of the last batch of trainees.

    She said that the state government is committed to empowering youths and equipping them with in-demand skills for increased productivity, so they can meaningfully contribute to the state’s economy.

    According to her, “We will be partnering with SLOT Foundation for the training of youths in Esan West LGA. The training would last for three months. Of the three months, one would be for formal training while the other two will be for intensive practical.

    Read Also: EdoJobs, Curators University train more Edo youths on data science

    “They would be taken through the rudiments and would develop expertise in phone and laptop repairs, a skill-set that is widely sought after with the expansion of the tech ecosystem in Nigeria. The trainees will get the opportunity to work with a Slot franchise or go the entrepreneurial route. This would afford them the opportunity to eke out a decent living.”

    She added that the state government is keen on adding more jobs to the over 77000 created in the last two years, noting that EdoJobs role is to work with partners to create a conducive environment for skills development.

    She noted, “At EdoJobs we are confident about meeting the governor’s target of creating 200000 jobs before the end of his first tenure. We have been training people across the state in the past two years. This training at Esan West is to ensure that youths across the state get equal opportunity to lead a better life.”

     

  • Obaseki harps on restoring Edo’s glory in sports development

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has assured that the state would stage a comeback to the limelight in Nigeria’s sporting scene, as ongoing reforms in the state would engender a robust structure for sports development in the state.

    The governor said this in commemoration of the International Day of Sports for Development and Peace, marked every April 6, by the United Nations and its organs.

    According to him, “The International Day of Sports for Development and Peace reflects our strategy to deploy sports to drive development in urban and rural areas. As a state with immense sports potential, we have laid out a plan to tap from the talent of our people to drive sustainable development and foster peace. We are going to do this by putting the right structures in place for grooming talent and providing youths with the opportunity to showcase their talent.

    “This is why we decided to bid for the hosting rights of the National Sports Festival, which we have now gotten. With the festival, we intend to rally talent from the nooks and crannies of Edo State and bring them to national limelight.”

    Noting that some of the structures to drive development are already in place, he said, “We are a committed to the holistic development of the sporting scene in the state as shown with the setting up of the Edo State Sports Commission, which brings stability and focus to sports administration.”

    The governor added that ongoing renovation of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium will be completed in time for the National Sports Festival, and that other venues for the annual sports festival will be ready for the games, as work have commenced at the sites.

    According to the United Nations, “Due to its vast reach, unparalleled popularity and foundation of positive values, sport is ideally positioned to contribute towards the United Nations’ objectives for development and peace.

    “To raise awareness of this potential, 6 April was declared as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) by the UN General Assembly. The adoption of this Day signifies the increasing recognition by the UN of the positive influence that sport can have on the advancement of human rights, and social and economic development.”

     

  • Flooding: Shaibu assures of conducive resettlement camps for Edo residents

    The Edo State Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, has assured of conducive resettlement camps for residents of the state in flood-prone areas, as part of proactive measures to mitigate the impact of flash floods as predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

    Shaibu gave the assurance when he visited the Internally Displaced Persons’ camp at Ekperi in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, Edo State.

    NiMet predicted the possibility of isolated flash floods due to high-intensity rainfall at the peak of the season, especially in places that are naturally prone to flooding.

    The acting governor said the visit to the camp was part of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration’s proactive measures to prevent a reoccurrence of last year’s experience when residents in some part of the state were displaced by flooding.

    He noted, “As the rainy season approaches, there is a need for the Edo State Government to put modalities  in place in order to safeguard the life and property in Edo State.”

    Shaibu assured that adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure a conducive environment for persons who will be camped at the facility when the need arises as the state government anticipates heavy downpour.

    He urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to collaborate with the state government in sustaining the proactive measures and work to ensure that the impact of the floods is limited.

    During a visit to Illushi, a community on the bank of the River Niger in Esan South East LGA, the acting governor said there is urgent need to prepare ahead of time and watch out for early warnings signs, as the rains approach.

  • EdoJobs, Curators University train more Edo youths on data science

    In an effort to groom programmers and techpreneurs in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki’s skills development platform, EdoJobs, has partnered with Curators University to train more youths in Edo State on data science at the Edo Innovation Hub.

    Senior Special Assistant to Edo State Governor on Job Creation and Skills Development and Head, EdoJobs, Mrs Ukinebo Dare, disclosed this in a chat with journalists, noting that the training is in line with the governor’s pledge to create 200,000 jobs in the state.

    READ ALSO: Edojobs expands training portfolio for rural communities

    The training programme would be for the second batch of trainees, as a batch had earlier been trained to deploy data science and machine learning skills in solving societal problems. Members of that batch participated in the National Breast Cancer Hackathon organised by Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria and Access Bank and clinched the top two spots.

    Speaking on the training for the second batch, Mrs Dare said the state government is confident that the 5-day intensive training programme would groom a new set of innovators who would provide solutions to local problems in the state.

    According to her, “We are partnering with Curators University to train more youths on data science. The training will be for five days. This will give them the opportunity to learn how to deploy data in solving problems. Those expected at the training include university graduates, undergraduates or school leavers, who are interested in data science. The training will hold at the Edo Innovation Hub.”

    She noted that as the world continues to become accustomed to new technologies, the need for data scientists would increase as they help others understand information better.

    She said, “We are excited with the results we are getting from the different training ongoing at the Hub. We want to assure those interested in this training that they will get the best of practical and theoretical training in data science. It is open to those studying any course, aside computer scientists or economists from the universities.”

  • Can Obaseki win the war on cultism?

    Leviticus Okon, a member of Eiye Confraternity, was on his way to kill his third victim, a member of Aiye Confraternity, when policemen accosted their vehicle along Second East Circular road in Bénin City. Other occupants in the Toyota Camry car took to their heels but Leviticus was not lucky. He was apprehended and a locally made pistol was found on him.

    Police interrogators later discovered that Leviticus was responsible for some killings in the ongoing cult war between Eiye and Aiye confraternities. Several persons have been killed in the cult war in different parts of Bénin City and environs.

    The area worst hit by the cult killing is Upper Sokponba where several persons including a police Sergeant, Monday Ehigie and Manager of the hotel owned by Osaze Odewingie, Osato Okunkpolor were killed. Upper Sokponba begins from the popular Third Junction up to Abraka in Delta State. What worsen the situation in Upper Sokponba is that cultists now robbed people of their belongings.

    Residents in Upper Sokponba now rush home before 7pm or it would be difficult for them to get tricycle also known as Keke to take them home. Notorious areas along the Upper Sokponba are Erediauwa, Aifuwa, Three House, Nomayo, Uyiosa amongst others.

    Activities of the cultists and robbers have crippled business activities in the area especially for the beer parlour operators and traders who sell petty things at night to eke a living. Mr. Ogbemudia who owns a chemist near Three House said he now closed his shop by 7:30pm instead of 9pm. Ogbemudia said business was not booming as usual.

    It is now a nightmare for Tricycle operators at Aifuwa, Three House and Avbiama Junction to stay behind till 8pm. Before the recent cult killings, the tricycle operators used to work till 11pm. They said many of them have been robbed and beaten by cultists and robbers.

    One of them who pleaded anonymity said he has been robbed four times.

    “They used to carry bottle, knives and sticks. I have been robbed four times. They would beat us and take our money away.”

    On why they did not report the security situation to the police, he said they have reported severally but the policemen sent to the area only set up road block to extort money from commercial drivers.

    Last month, suspected cultists invaded the Oba Akenzua Secondary school and stabbed two students.

    Speaking to newsmen when he was paraded, Leviticus described the war between Eiye and Aiye confraternities as a generational war that would be difficult to stop.

    Leviticus who claimed to have killed only one person said the other cultist escaped with bullet wound.

    His words, “the first person I shot did not die. The other one died. We were on our way to kill another person when we were arrested.

    “The one we killed is a bus conductor. He is a member of Aiye. The fight is generation fight. The fight does not end.”

    But Governor Godwin Obaseki has vowed to tackle cultists and cult related activities in the state because of hundreds of investors willing to invest in the state.

    Governor Obaseki who noted that the investors had to be assured that the state is safe and secure for their businesses to thrive said his priority is to providing security and tracking of cultists and cult related activities.

    Obaseki spoke at an interdenominational church service to celebrate peaceful elections in the state and victory of the All Progressives Congress in the March 9, House of Assembly elections. The APC won all the 24 seats in the Edo State House of Assembly.

    He vowed to invoke the full wrath of the law on cultists adding that plans were on to set up a Special Security Squad on cultism in collaboration with the Nigerian Police.

    According to him, “I am going to go heavily on cultism. We are setting up a special squad on cultists. We must make Edo safe and make people know Edo is safe to do business.

    “I am giving full effect to the law on cultism. I will also not accept thuggery and ‘Agbero’ in this State. If we find anybody collecting revenue illegally. We will take appropriate action to deal with whoever is involved.

    “Security is now my number one priority. We have started investing in security. We have raised the Security Trust Fund and it is the sustainable ways of dealing with security. We will be knocking on your doors to support the Security Trust Fund.

    “We have a lot of economic plans. We have to convince the investors that Edo is save. The issue of cultism is going to be my next agenda. We already have a law in place against cultism. I am going to give full effect to that law. Please if you have any person or relation who is involved in cultism, tell them to desist from it.

    “In the next several months, I am going to go tough on cultism. With the new Commissioner of Police of Edo, we have set up a Special Squad on cultism, to deal with offenders and render it history in the state,” he said

    Read also: Obaseki boosts LG workers’ capacity on budget preparation

    The governor called on parents to urge their children and wards to stay away from cult-related activities as no one will be spared if caught in the act, adding that the necessary laws on cultism which were passed by the state House of Assembly will be effectively used.

    Governor Obaseki however said there was no excuse for non-performance on the part of the APC given the massive support from Edo people to the party’s candidates particularly in the state House of Assembly election.

    “Every achievement made by my administration so far has been divinely directed as God directs my everyday activity.

    “This victory throws up a lot more responsibility as the victory in the election shows the people trust our administration and we can’t afford to fail them.

    “All the 18 local government chairmanship seats in the state are occupied by members of the APC. All the newly elected 24 Edo State House of Assembly members from various parts of the state are APC members.

    “So with our party’s dominance of the political space, we have no excuse not to deliver. I want to rededicate myself and this administration, and reinforce our earlier promise to put Edo people first at all times and to make life more comfortable and better for them.”

    Edo State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Bishop Oriname Oyonnude Kure, had in his statement urged Governor Obaseki to tackle cult activities before it gets too late.

    Kure suggested the setting up of a committee to look into ways of providing lasting solution to stopping cult activities in the state.

    He stated that secondary schools in the state were becoming citadel of cultism instead of learning.

    In 2018, the Edo State House of Assembly repealed the 2004 anti-cultism law and replaced it with a new law which prescribed 21-year jail term for secret cult members and 7-year imprisonment for anyone who harbours a cultist. The Bill also prescribes that all offences under the law shall be by summary trial and empowers the police to arrest suspected cultists without a warrant.

  • Obaseki boosts LG workers’ capacity on budget preparation

    To align local governments’ budgetary processes with Governor Godwin Obaseki’s vision for efficient allocation of resources to engender inclusive growth, the Edo Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning has organised a one-day workshop on Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and budget processes for local government officers in the state.

    Addressing journalists, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs. Vera Obadan, said the workshop will boost the capacity of local councils in preparing their annual budget in line with global best practices.

    Obadan noted, “Gone are the days when different projects are captured in the budget and at the end of the day, they are not implemented. We want to ensure that LGAs’ budgets are activity-based.”

    Read Also: Obaseki commiserates with Ohiwerei over wife’s passing

    She stressed the need for LGAs to synergize with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) office in the state to prevent duplication of projects during budget planning, adding, “LGAs should take over the projects executed by SDGs in their domain and put in their budget maintenance cost for the projects.”

    Chairman, Ovia South West LGA, Hon. Dennis Enabulele, hailed the vision of the state government in organising the workshop, which will give room for interface between the state and local governments.

    He noted that the workshop is a timely intervention as the local government councils prepare their 2019 budget, noting, “The workshop has exposed us to some of the rudiments of budget planning. It has broadened our knowledge, which will make us accountable for every kobo that comes to our councils.”

     

  • Immunisation: Edo residents commend action against erring health workers

    Sequel to the order for relevant authorities to sanction health workers, who demand for money in exchange for immunisation in public hospitals across the state, residents in the state have hailed Governor Godwin Obaseki for moving against the erring workers.

    The residents said though the habit has festered for some time, the governor’s intervention will check the excesses of the exploitative health workers and ensure that services in public hospitals are efficient to attain the goal of the immunisation exercise.

    A cross-section of the residents, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Thursday, disclosed that the practise was rife among some health workers, as they  had converted the hospitals into a marketplace.

    Mr. Eghosa Osato, who said that the directive against the health workers was long overdue, said that he felt defrauded when he was made to pay for immunisation which he had later learnt was free.

    According to him, “The governor’s directive is a masterstroke, especially against the health workers who had turned the hospitals to trading spots. Immunisation is supposed to be public service and free of charge, so I was surprised when I was asked to pay when I went to get my son immunised in a hospital in Oredo Local Government.”

    Read Also: Fed Govt rallies northern monarchs to boost immunisation

    He lauded the governor for the move, as health workers who are caught will now be made to face the music, adding, “I am certain that this would serve as a deterrent to other workers, who see the service they offer the public as an avenue to enrich themselves.”

    Mrs. Blessing Igbinoba, a mother of two, said that the practice among health workers was condemnable, thanking the state government for stepping in to ensure that those who engage in the disgraceful practice are identified and disciplined.

    She said, “I have had to part with money when I went to get my two children immunised in one of the public hospitals in Egor Local Government Area. It is either they are asking us to pay for paracetamol before the children are immunised or they outrightly demand money. I knew it was bad, but what could I have done at the time. With the directive now, I know there would be a change in the way immunisation is administered. I want those who tarnish government image sanctioned to serve as a deterrent to others.”

     

  • Edo, NIRSAL, Sterling Bank partner on mechanised farming

    Building on the strides made in the agricultural sector in the state, the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration has concluded plans on a partnership with the Nigeria Incentive Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and Sterling Bank on the development of at least 1500 hectares of farmland in different locations across the state.

    Edo State Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, who disclosed this when a team from NIRSAL paid a courtesy visit to the Government House in Benin City, assured farmers in the state of adequate incentives to boost productivity.

    He said the state government is committed to the partnership which ensures that farmers get necessary financial support to fast track the introduction of mechanised farming in the state.

    According to him, “I commend the banking sector for coming to the rescue of the agricultural sector. They are making the process of introducing farmers to new techniques and technologies easy. This will help in boosting productivity.”

    He added that the state government designed an entrepreneur programme for youths, which will help in grooming them for profitable agribusiness.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security Programme, Hon. Joe Okojie, reiterated that agriculture remains the easiest and fastest way to create wealth, noting “People don’t pay much attention to agriculture in this country, but this system seems different in the sense that it is going to be strictly mechanised. We aggregate all the farmers, link them to funding, inputs and markets.”

    He said there are off takers for whatever the farmers produce, which is going to boost their confidence in developing large expanse of farmland.

    READ ALSO: Immunisation: Edo reads riot act against exploitative health workers

    According to him, “For instance, we have a rice belt in Iguoriakhi, where we are doing above 500 hectares of rice. We aggregated all the farmers that have been traditionally farming rice and helped in developing the land. We brought in the NIRSAL, to take it from mechanisation to harvesting.

    “In Illushi, we are doing about 1000 hectares of rice farming. That is also in our rice belt. We would aggregate the farmers in that area and improve their productivity.”

    Head, Agricultural Field Services, NIRSAL, Ibrahim Abdullahi said that the collaboration between the organisation and the Edo state government would improve the fortune of farmers in Edo State.

    According to him, “We have already identified about seven locations. The farmers engaged in subsistence agriculture, and did not approach it as a business. The governor has given us the mandate to work with the farmers to train them to create wealth and ensure that they take farming as a business. We have been having technical meetings. We are going to deploy our full team to the field so they can commence delineation.”

  • Obaseki’s economic reform: IFC assesses Edo’s private sector scene

    Following the far-reaching economic reforms by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration in Edo State, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), an arm of the World Bank, has expressed interest to collaborate with the state in boosting the capacity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to scale their operations and increase productivity in the state.

    This was disclosed by the Senior Economist, IFC, Denny Lewis-Bynoe, who led a delegation of the IFC on a courtesy visit to the Government House, Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Lewis-Bynoe said the delegation was on a two-day visit to the state to assess the private sector scene, especially the operating environment for SMEs, so as to fashion support instruments for their growth.

    According to her, “We want to help businesses and also improve the ease of doing business in Edo State and Nigeria. So, the IFC is in Edo to have a detailed assessment of the private sector and come up with strategies to improve their businesses.”

    Read Also: Gunmen abduct policeman, others in Edo

    She said part of their assignment was to directly engage with the stakeholders in the sector to understand their challenges, assess avenues for building a support structure and ensure that the state puts modalities in place to help them grow.

    She stressed that the report of the team will guide the bank in developing strategies to assist the private sector in Nigeria.

    The Acting Governor, Shaibu called on the World Bank to develop strategies for commercial banks to better support small scale businesses in Nigeria.

    According to him, “We are running a government that is private-sector-driven. We are lucky to have Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is private-sector oriented. Governor Obaseki championed the economic team of the former governor, Adams Oshiomhole. We have had a robust relationship with World Bank in the last few years, and we look forward to strengthening the partnership with you.”

     

  • APC leaders adopt Obaseki as sole candidate for 2020 Edo election

    The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oredo Local Government Area has adopted Governor Godwin Obaseki as their sole candidate in the 2020 gubernatorial election in the state, owing to the governor’s sterling performance and inclusive governance style.

    The decision was reached at an expanded meeting of the leaders of Oredo LGA APC, held on March 31, in Benin City, which was attended by party leaders, who unanimously endorsed Governor Obaseki’s candidature.

    They also congratulated the party’s National Chairman and Leader, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on his effective leadership and victory at the 2019 Presidential election, and passed a vote of implicit confidence on his leadership.

    In a statement signed by the Chairman, Oredo LGA chapter of the APC, Hon. Godwill Alabi and his Secretary, Hon. Magdalene Isekhure, the party leadership said those who attended the meeting and endorsed Governor Obaseki’s candidacy include the Local Government Executive, Councilors, Ward Chairmen and leaders from the twelve (12) wards in the LGA.

    The meeting was attended by over 90 party members and leaders, including the Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Political and Community Matters, Chief Osaro Idah; Secretary, Edo State Chapter of the APC, Mr. Lawrence Okah; Chairman, Oredo LGA, Hon. Jenkins Osunde and Edo APC Youth Leader, Hon. Valentine Asuen, among others.

    According to them, “Considering the pace of development in different sectors of the state from infrastructure to education, industrialization, civil service and judicial reforms, enterprise development, prompt payment of pensioners and civil servants’ emoluments, among others, we are convinced beyond doubt that the only way to sustain the current rapid growth trajectory is to ensure that Governor Obaseki continues as governor of the state after the expiration of his first four-year term.

    “We, therefore, with full sense of responsibility, call on him to run for 2nd term and hereby adopt Governor Godwin Obaseki as our sole candidate in the coming 2020 governorship election in the state.”

    The leaders said Governor Obaseki has made them proud as Edo people, noting “At the moment, among states in the Federation, Edo State stands out in all development spheres, heads and shoulders above states that are far more privileged than us in terms of federal allocation and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    “As the saying goes, the reward for hard work is more work, we, therefore, urge Governor Obaseki to heed our call to take on the responsibility of governing the state for another four years, beginning from 2020.”

    They added, “We also assure, as leaders of the party in Oredo, of our readiness to pull all our resources together to ensure that Governor Obaseki not only fly the flag of the party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election, but also emerge as governor for a second term.”

    Other party members at the meeting include Barr (Mrs) Faith I. Osaze, Otabor Vincent, Inneh Bright, Prince Enikaro Eweka, Mr. Ojo Oni, Kingsley Erhunwunse, Dr. Sam Osato Igbinoba, Hon. Johnson Osemwengie Elema, Hon. Efosa Ogiamien and Hon. Enabulele Eweka, among others.