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Tag: Godwin Obaseki

  • Benin Tanker fire: Obaseki commends rescue team

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has commended the gallantry of the rescue team that responded to the tanker fire caused by a collision involving a diesel-laden tanker and an Audi car in the University of Benin (UNIBEN) axis of the Benin-Lagos Expressway.

    In a statement, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, quoted the governor as saying that “the incident was regrettable.”

    According to him, “the governor is deeply saddened by the incident. He expressed his condolences with the families of the dead and prayed for the quick recovery of those who are hospitalised.

    “Worthy of mention is the gallantry of the rescue team comprising fire service officials from the Army School of Supply and Transport Barracks, the University of Benin and the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC). They showed bravery, which must be commended.”

    Osagie said the preliminary reports on the incident showed that one of the vehicles involved in the incident was driving against traffic, calling on road users to abide by traffic rules.

    Noting that the state government was particularly concerned about the fire incident and the attendant impact on other road users, he said, “the governor proposes that highly flammable products be moved by rail transportation, pipeline or at night when there is light vehicular traffic.”

    The governor’s aide extended the state government’s condolences with the families of the affected victims, and wished those still receiving treatment, quick recovery.

  • Obaseki promises world-class NAFEST

     

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured of the state’s readiness to host a world-class National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) later in the year, to raise the profile of the cultural expo.

     

    Obaseki gave the assurance when he received a delegation of management of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), led by its Director General, Otunba Segun Runsewe, in Government House, Benin City, the state capital.

     

    According to the governor, Edo State has huge cultural assets to showcase to the world at the festival, and noted that the agitation for the repatriation of the over 6000 artefacts looted during the Benin Expedition of 1897 was ongoing. 

     

    He commended the Runsewe-led NCAC for repackaging the National Festival for Arts and Culture, with new offerings that were on display last year in Port Harcourt and charged the council to explore the huge potential in the state’s eco-tourism sector.

     

    He tasked the council to lead the way in the development of a  world-class tourism master plan that would drive tourist traffic to sites and destinations across the country.

     

    Obaseki told his guests that his administration was committed to developing the culture and tourism sector in the state, with ongoing work on implementable plans to reposition the sector to maximise its potential.

     

    In his response, the NCAC DG said the essence of his team’s visit was to convey a proposal of innovative components billed to be introduced in the 2019 edition of NAFEST as well as the timeline for the various cultural events. 

     

    Runsewe congratulated the Obaseki-led administration for winning the hosting right of the festival, and promised that the event would provide the state the opportunity to reinforce her place on the world’s culture map.   

     

    He explained that one of the additions to the festival is the Royalty Day, when all the states’ delegates will pay homage to the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II.

     

    He lauded Obaseki’s introduction of culture club in schools as well as the culture information desk at the Benin Airport, which he said would help sell the state’s culture and tourist sites to visitors.

  • Obaseki orders investigation into kidnap of APC candidate for Edo Assembly

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has called for calm following the reported kidnap of Mr. Ohio Ezomon, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) contesting to represent Owan West Constituency at the Edo State House of Assembly.

    The governor has also directed the Edo State Police Command to immediately launch a rescue operation, even as the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Olusegun Odumosun is leading the investigation.

    In a statement, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, said a rescue operation commenced immediately the incident was brought to the attention of security agencies in the state and the Police Commissioner, Mr. Odumosun has arrived the area to provide support to the team.

    According to him, “Governor Godwin Obaseki is on top of the incident and calls on the people to remain calm. He has ordered the Police Command to ensure that the kidnap victim is rescued. The Commissioner of Police has arrived Owan West. He is championing the investigation.”

    Noting that the state government frowns at such incidents, especially during the campaign season, the governor’s aide said Governor Obaseki has cautioned political actors not to heat up the polity, but maintain a peaceful atmosphere as the elections draw closer.

    He said the governor has ensured that the police get all the necessary support to track down the kidnappers and fast track the safe rescue of the victim, adding, “The governor is calling for calm and has assured the people that those who are responsible will be brought to book.”

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Obaseki approves N843m for payment of local govt pensioners

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

  • Joy as 20,000 traders get tradermoni in Edo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Edo: Over 200 MSMEs see prospects for competitiveness, wealth creation

    Not less than 200 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have said that the Edo Production Centre promoted by Governor Godwin Obaseki to support small scale businesses and provide opportunities for them to scale their operations, will boost productivity and wealth creation in the state.

    The small-scale business operators belonging to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and National Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), indicated interests to site their businesses at the centre with the intention of taking advantage of the business support opportunities and conducive shared working space it provides.

    Speaking to journalists, a member of MAN, Comrade Valentine Asuen, said the incentives which the Edo Production Centre offers will enable businesses run at minimal cost, as the centre provides a one-stop-shop for them to enjoy economies of scale as well as low cost of production

    He said what discourages small business operators in most cases is the cost of rent and power, which stifles their growth, noting “We are confident that when the centre starts taking in people in the next few weeks, things will turn for the better for entrepreneurs in the state. The centre will run on power that is independent of the national grid. The stable power will spur expansion of businesses.”

    An entrepreneur, Mr. John Idemudia, on his part, said “At the last meeting we held with the representatives of the state government, we were assured that the centre will host different businesses such as furniture makers, cobblers, welders, bakers, polythene makers and a number of other interested small business owners. In a matter of weeks, it will become easier for customers to have access to different products to be manufactured at the centre.”

    He said the plans to provide adequate security and make the centre environment-friendly are what small business operators need, adding, “such guarantees are incentives for anyone into small business operations to expand.”

  • Obaseki charges appointees on Lassa Fever campaign

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Obaseki set to receive President Buhari

     

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki will on Thursday, receive President Muhammadu Buhari, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Presidential elections scheduled for February 16.

    The President’s campaign train will berth at Garrick Memorial School in Benin City, as the APC intensifies its campaign for the general elections.

    In a statement, the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said all is set to receive the President, who has supported the state immensely, ensuring that the governor’s initiatives scaled through with ease at the federal level.

    According to him, “We are prepared to receive the President who will be in the state on Thursday for the state’s leg of the presidential campaign tagged ‘Next Level’. The governor, as chairman of the campaign council, will receive the president at Garrick Memorial School, in Ekehuan Road, Benin City.

    “Popular hip-hop musician, Flavour, will be on ground to thrill the audience and provide ample entertainment for the crowd, which is expected at the expansive grounds of Garrick Memorial School. As a youth-centric government, we want Edo youths to grace the event. Other indigenous musicians will also perform at the event.

    “We have commenced grassroots campaign with the inauguration of the presidential campaign council in the state. This will ensure that all nook and cranny of the state are well-covered, and the people mobilized to vote for the president and all APC candidates in the forthcoming general elections. We assure that we will return the president in Edo State.”

    The governor’s aide noted that one of the major thrusts of the campaign for the president in the state is the fact that the president has shown tremendous interest in and support for the development of the state, throwing his weight behind a number of the projects being implemented by Governor Obaseki.

    According to him, “The president was instrumental in helping to secure investment from China for the development of the Benin River Port. He also influenced the location of the Marine Police post at the site of the port. The Benin Industrial Park and Free Trade Zone is a part of the Chinese Belt and Road initiative, thanks to the input of the President. These are in addition to the release of the Paris Fund, which was used to clear workers’ salary and pensioners’ arrears.”

    Osagie called on Edo people to come out en-masse to welcome the president and avail themselves of the opportunity to learn how President Buhari intends to take them to the next level and consolidate on the gains being made across several sectors of the nation’s economy.

     

  • Obaseki chairs APC Presidential campaign council in Edo

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released the list of members of the Edo State Presidential Campaign Council, with the governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki leading the charge.

    In a statement to  announce the constitution of the presidential campaign council in the state, the party also released the list of members for the state-wide campaign.

    The Council has “Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki as Chairman; Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu as Deputy Chairman; while Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie Esq. is the Director General.”

    Other members of the Council are, “Barr. Anselm Ojezua; Lawrence Okah (JP); Chief Osaro Idah; Chief Taiwo Akerele; Senator Obende; Theophilus Okoh and Hon. Charles Idahosa.”

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    The leaders of the campaign in the three senatorial districts include, “Hon. Felix Akhabue, Director General (DG), Edo Central Senatorial District; Samson Abu, DG, Edo South Senatorial District and Gen. Aluende, DG, Edo North Senatorial District.”

    The Edo Central Campaign Coordinators, according to the statement, are, “Barr. Festus Ehiemuan, Esan West; Hon. Henshaw Oligbi, Esan Central; Mr. McDonald Okojie, Esan North East; Percy Okojie, Esan South East and Emmanuel Aigbokhan, Igueben”

    For Edo South, the campaign coordinators are “Pastor Blessed Ighiwiyisi, Ikpoba Okha; Hon. Monday Aigbobayi, Ovia South West; Hon. Osamuyi Atu, Orhionmwon, I. K. Ebomoyi, Oredo; Frank Guobadia, Ovia North East; J. B. Asemota, Uhunmwode and Daniel Ighile, Egor”

    In Edo North, the campaign coordinators are, “Hon. Sumania Aliu, Etsako West; Barr. Imiaku, Etsako Central; Abudurama Dirisu Afeghus, Etsako East; Hon. Akin Agbaje, Akoko Edo; Blessing Aigbebaku, Owan East and Rev. Andrew Uadia, Owan West.”