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Tag: Godwin Obaseki

  • 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.”

  • 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.

  • Judicial reform: Edo intensifies work on Judges’ Quarters

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured that the ongoing construction of judges’ quarters in Benin City, by the state government, is part of plans to re position the state as the judicial hub in the South-South region.

    The governor, who said this while inspecting the houses,  explained that the project is in line with his administration’s promise to build decent and comfortable houses for judges in the state.

    According to him, “Our goal is to ensure that by the end of 2019, we would have enough accommodation for all our judges in the state. It is not only for judges in the State High Court but also judges of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. Judges who are posted to work in the state will also enjoy the accommodation.”

    Read Also: Edo to model oil palm sector after sugar industry – Obaseki

    He said that the first five units will be delivered before April 2019, noting that once they are completed, the state will start work on a 20-unit estate for judges by next year, which will be constructed around the Government Reservation Area (GRA).

    Obaseki said his administration has employed over 4,000 youths who are engaged at the various roads, building construction and other infrastructure sites across the state.

    He noted that the state is gradually fulfilling its electioneering promise to create 200,000 jobs for Edo people and residents.

    Obaseki was accompanied on the inspection tour by his Chief of Staff, Chief Taiwo Akerele, and other top government officials.

  • ‘School-based management committee to monitor renovation of 230 schools’

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) will play a critical role in monitoring the refurbishment of the over 230 primary schools under the Edo Basic Education Transformation (EdoBEST) programme.

    The governor disclosed this at the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) appreciation banquet organised for EdoBEST field workers in Benin City, the State Capital.

    He said plans are underway to ensure that the refurbishment of schools is completed before the end of the holiday season, adding that in 2019, another batch of 230 schools will be renovated.

    “My goal is to refurbish all the schools under EdoBEST before the end of 2019. I will rely on the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) to help the state government monitor all the contractors to ensure good service delivery and, where necessary, draw government’s attention to poor jobs,” he added.

    Obaseki assured: “We will provide furniture in all the schools slated for refurbishment. We will start with schools in deplorable conditions before moving to other schools and we will ensure all our schools in the state have toilet facilities.”

    He explained that ten years ago, the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration focused on the physical infrastructure in schools in Edo State, with the red roof revolution, but maintained that the buildings didn’t solve all the problems.

    “Our administration is now focusing on the people, the system as well as the process. When we get it right, things will fall in place,” he added.

    He commended the field workers under the EdoBEST programme for the success and progress recorded so far in less than one year, adding that his administration will commence the Federal Government’s Home-Grown School Feeding programme next year in the state to encourage enrolment.

    According to him, “I am happy to be in your midst today to celebrate with you as you have made me proud. I thank all the field officers that have driven the process, making it possible to attain this much success in revamping the education sector in the state. Education Marshals shall be introduced into the school system in 2019.”

    Commissioner for Education, Hon. Emmanuel Agbale, said the field workers comprise 106 Social Mobilisation Officers (SMO), 54 Learning and Development Officers (LDO) and five Quality Assurance Officers (QAO).

    Agbale said the 106 SMOs visited 607 EdoBEST schools to sensitize and work with 11,382 SBMC, who were trained in 202 clusters across the three senatorial districts.

    The commissioner said the EdoBEST programme is core in the education reforms of the Obaseki administration, aimed at improving teaching and learning as well as infrastructure.

    The Chairman, SUBEB and Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, thanked the governor for giving them the opportunity to contribute their quota to the development of basic education in the state and commended the field workers for making the programme a success.

  • Obaseki charges contingent to restore Edo’s glory

    …as National Sports Festival begins in Abuja

    …says state has capacity to host 2020 National Sports Festival

     

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has charged athletes representing the state in the ongoing National Sports Festival, to restore the sporting glory for which the state was known, assuring that his administration has the capacity to host the 2020 edition of the festival.

    Obaseki, who gave the charge during the opening ceremony of the 19th National Sports Festival, holding in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, said: “My state is more than ready to host the forthcoming National Sports Festival as it’s high time we regained our lost glory in sports.”

    “Edo State is known for producing great sportsmen and women and I charge you to ensure you do the state proud by winning medals,” he told the contingent.

    In his remark, the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, confirmed that he has received two applications from Edo and one other state to host the festival in 2020.

    Dalung assured that his ministry would look at the ranking of states and assess the infrastructure in the bidding states before giving the hosting right to the most qualified state.

    The minister noted that sports and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme were among the national programmes deepening the unity of the country and called for more attention to the nation’s sports sector.

  • Human Trafficking: Obaseki advocates market linkages for returnees

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has called on non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders working with the state government on returnees’ reintegration to prioritise market linkages for profitable business ventures such that victims of human trafficking will have the right incentives to steer clear of vices.

    The governor made the submission when he received executive members of the British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) Foundation, led by the Executive Director, Abimbola Okoya, on a courtesy visit to Government House, in Benin City, Edo State.

    Obaseki commended the BATN Foundation for their efforts at  alleviating the plight of victims of human trafficking, in collaboration with the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking (ETAHT).

    He expressed optimism that the parent organisation, the British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN), would consider setting up an agricultural research farm in the state, where youths can be engaged and discouraged from engaging in irregular migration.

    He said the state government is not oblivious of the fact that not all those who benefitted from skills training would be successfully engaged in entrepreneurial ventures, stressing that equipping them with the right attitude to business and linking them with profitable ventures also form a key part of keeping them away from vices.

    Read Also: Edo: Obaseki unveils security architecture, trust fund

     “Training someone and giving them a starter kit is not a guarantee that they will not go back to being trafficked. Our emphasis is on linking the returnees with opportunities and a ready market so that the training and equipment will provide a means of sustainable livelihood,” he noted.

    The governor expressed appreciation to the BATN Foundation for taking interest in Edo State and its strategies for curbing irregular migration, urging that only a sustainable approach will guarantee success.

    Earlier, Executive Director of BATN Foundation, Abimbola Okoya, explained that though they  started out with agricultural development programmes, they have taken interest in the returnees’ crisis and are keen on supporting the state government’s efforts to curb the ugly trend.

    Okoya said the foundation is currently engaged in a campaign, tagged, ‘Wealth is Here’ to encourage returnees to realise that they need not go in search of greener pastures abroad.

    She said 100 returnees have been trained and would be empowered with start-up kits.

  • 2019: ‘Atiku must not use restructuring as campaign gimmick’

    Dr. Pedro Obaseki, the President of Midwest Movement, says the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, should not use restructuring as a political gimmick to get votes.

    Obaseki, a cousin to Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday that only a restructured Nigeria would engender peace, progress and prosperity for the country.

    According to him, the country needs a presidential candidate that strongly believes in and committed to restructuring of the nation for Nigeria to join the comity of developed nations of the world.

    He spoke against the backdrop of Abubakar’s promise to commence the processes of Nigeria’s restructuring within six months of his administration if he emerges the winner of the Feb. 16 Presidential Election.

    NAN reports that Abubakar gave the pledge at the PDP rally in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday.

    Obaseki said: “We will take any presidential candidate who promises restructuring to court if he or she reneges.

    “Once you openly commit to restructuring, we will hold you in court if you don’t prosecute it having made an open commitment; an open commitment is a contract whether verbal or written.

    Read Also: 2019: Group backs Atiku

    “Atiku has come with “let’s keep Nigeria working again’’ as slogan, if Atiku is doing it as a gimmick to get campaign votes, he will regret it because we are going to hold them accountable to their promises unlike in the past,” he said.

    Obaseki, who was the gubernatorial candidate of the Accord Party in Edo in 2016,  said the only major drawback for Nigeria as a federal unit was the poor federal system in practice.

    According to him, if Nigeria is properly restructured and properly “federalised”, the country will turn back to the progressive Nigeria of the 1960s.

    He said that fear of the unknown of some people and sections in the country had inhibited the restructuring of the nation, saying Nigeria could not move forward except it was restructured.

    “All the hallmarks of development that we see today are hallmarks that were planted in the 1960s based on the vision of those men who sat on the table and negotiated the interaction among the federating units.

    “Nigeria is the only federation in the world where there is a unitary operation of the federal structure and every state goes to Abuja to collect what they produce ab-initio.

    “There is the need for a re-negotiation of issues on the exclusive and the concurrent lists. Federal Government has no business in many of the burdens it bears.

    ” So many issues on the exclusive list cannot make the country grow,” Obaseki, a veteran movie director and broadcaster, added.

    He said that restructuring would lead to the creation of state police to improve the security situation, saying “It will be a much more difficult job for a man who is not from an environment to police an environment.”

    Obaseki, an academic, who said he helped in the writing the manifesto of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said that the party equally promised to restructure the country.

    “I helped write in the APC manifesto, I feel pained because I know that in the preamble to the manifesto it is stated that “we shall restructure Nigeria right in the first page,” he said.

    Speaking on the forthcoming “Midwest Summit,” Obaseki said that issues of restructuring and security would play a key role in determining the direction for the Midwestern region in 2019.

    He said that the Midwest Summit, convened by Midwestern Movement, would hold on Dec. 12 in Asaba, the home town of the first Premier of the region, Chief Dennis Osadebe.

    According to Obaseki, prominent politicians including presidential candidates of some political parties in the 2019 elections, will participate in the summit.