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Tag: Godwin Obaseki

  • JAMB begins construction of 500-seat CBT centre in Benin

    JAMB begins construction of 500-seat CBT centre in Benin

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Friday laid the foundation stone for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board ( JAMB ) 500-seat Computer-Based Test ( CBT ) Centre in Benin.

    The governor said at the event that centre would add to the state’s education industry.

    He said that the state had been known for hosting Federal Government institutions and, thus, its decision to partner with JAMB to have the centre in the state.

    “We saw it as our responsibility to our people and the Federal Government to have a South-South Zonal Office and a CBT Centre in the state and we had to do all within our means to get a land for the project,” he said.

    The governor gave assurance of power supply to the centre and construction of access roads to the centre in 2018.

    He commended the Federal Government for releasing funds for the project, and hailed JAMB for introducing CBT which, he said, had helped to reduce examination malpractice.

    Responding, the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, commended Obaseki for promptly securing a parcel of land for the centre.

    Oloyede said that JAMB decided to have a CBT centre in Benin in view of the growing number of candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination in the state capital.

    “Benin is the seventh in terms of JAMB examination enrolment and 22nd in terms of facilities available for candidates to sit for the examination.

    “To solve the facilities need in the state, the Federal Government, is building this CBT Centre in the state,” he said.

    The registrar gave assurance of more working ties with the governor who, he said, had much zeal to meet the education needs of Edo people.

    Other dignitaries at the event include the Registrar of NABTEB, Prof. Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanihe; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) of the University of Benin, Prof, Pius Iribhogbe, and the state Commissioner for Education, Dr Christopher Adesotu.

    NAN

  • Obaseki to commission Otuo general hospital, reconstruct sobe-sabongida road

    Obaseki to commission Otuo general hospital, reconstruct sobe-sabongida road

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, said his administration would commission the State’s General Hospital in Otuo before December 25, 2017.

    He stated this in Afuze during his state-wide thank-you-tour of Owan East and West local government areas of the state.

    Earlier in Owan West local council, the governor expressed his readiness to reconstruct the Sobe – Sabongida Road and disclosed that the state government has received approval from the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to reconstruct the road.

    He assured that the contractor handling the Okpoji Road project will be mobilised to commence work on the Sobe-Sabongida Road after completing work on the former.

    “Owan West is the only local government council that is disconnected from the state capital. We will ensure the people are re-connected,” he said.

    He promised that work will commence early next year on the Federal Institute of Vocational Training, Uzzeba, to equip youths from the area with skills that will make them employable, while 500 hectares of land will be added to Sobe Farm to provide jobs for the youths.

    Chairman of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in the local council, West Tunde Omoruwa, commended the governor for translating his victory at the polls and the tribunal to better life for Edo people.

    He commended the governor for the agricultural revolution in the state and thanked him for setting up Sobe Farm. “We appeal that the Sobe Primary Health Care Center be upgraded to a hospital with a resident doctor,” he said.

    Obaseki further said that Afuze-Erah-Ekpoma road has been awarded for re-construction and noted that the priority of his administration is to create jobs for Edo people and make life better for them.

    He maintained that Afuze Technical College is top priority for his administration and said that work will commence in January 2018.

    “Owan East has a lot of potential in mining and we have a consultant recommended by the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, that will work with us. We will also explore the potential of Owan East for the production of cashew nuts.”

    Chairman of the APC in Owan East LGA, Chief Edeki Roland, appealed to the governor to re-construct Afuze-Erah-Ekpoma Road; Uokha-Ohanmi-Arokho; Ihievbe-Ihievbe Ogbe and Ivbiaro-Warrake-Egeunu roads.

  • Jide Tinubu’s death, huge loss to Nigeria – Obaseki

    Jide Tinubu’s death, huge loss to Nigeria – Obaseki

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has commiserated with the national leader of the All Progressives Congress and former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the loss of his eldest son, Jide Tinubu.

    Obaseki, who expressed shock at the sad news, said Jide’s death is a huge loss to the country and prayed for the repose of his soul.

    “On behalf of my family, the Government and the good people of Edo State, I express our heartfelt sympathy to the Tinubu family and pray that God grant you the strength beyond normal, to bear this irreparable loss,” Obaseki said.

    He assured that he has joined “other friends and associates of the Tinubu family in prayers as they go through these trying times.”

  • Obaseki to meet Edo pensioners over unpaid pensions

    Obaseki to meet Edo pensioners over unpaid pensions

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo will meet members of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Edo Chapter, with a view to amicably resolving all pension payments-related issues, an official has said.

    Mr Osagiator Ojo, the Head of Administration, Oredo Local Government Council, made the disclosure when he briefed newsmen on the outcome of the Joint Account and Allocation Committee meeting.

    The meeting was chaired by Obaseki at Government House in Benin on Tuesday.

    Ojo said  the meeting, which would be attended by representatives of  local government and state government pensioners, was necessary to correct the misinformation about pension payments by the present administration.

    “Government has observed with dismay the gross misinformation that has characterised the payment of pensions in the state.

    “The governor, therefore, would wish to engage the union leadership or the pensioners both at the local and state levels to ensure that this gross misinformation is dispelled and all issues arising to the controversies bothering on pension payments are amicably resolved,” he said.

    Ojo said that the 18 local governments in the state jointly contributed N212. 88 million in August for the payment of pensions and contributed N244. 09 million in September for the same purpose.

    He said that total allocation accrued to the 18 local governments in September and shared in  October was N2.55 billion out of which N1. 46 billion was mandatory expenditure.

    Ojo said that there was significant increase in internal generated revenue by the local governments from N85. 03 million in September to N115.54 million in October.

    He said the governor had directed that a seven-man committee be set up to keep the state government abreast of the crime situation in the different parts of the state.

    NAN

  • ‘Arrests of kidnappers, Otasowie’s murderers Justify Obaseki’s insistence on new CP’

    ‘Arrests of kidnappers, Otasowie’s murderers Justify Obaseki’s insistence on new CP’

    The Edo State Government has said that the recent arrests by the State Police Command of seven persons in connection with the murder of Prof. Paul Otasowie, a lecturer with the University of Benin, killers of three police officers who also kidnapped Andy Ehanire, the Chief Executive of Ogba Zoological Garden, justify Obaseki’s insistence on a new commissioner of police for the state.

    While commending the new Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, the state government, through the Special Adviser, Media and Communication Strategy to the Edo State Governor, Crusoe Osagie, stated that the security challenges in Edo required a highly experienced operational police officer at the helms of affairs and that it is quite gratifying that CP Kokuma has since hit the ground running, “a result of which is the large hurl of arrests in barely 48 hours of his assumption of duty in Edo State”.

    Otasowie, a senior lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, was on October 4 killed by gunmen in Ekehuan area, in Oredo Local Government Area of the state.

    The deceased, who was the Director of the institution’s Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme, was said to have been shot in front of his residence.

    The police explained that seven out of those principally responsible for the killing have been arrested and each has given useful statement to the police. The police further stated that four suspects in the murder of three police officers and the kidnap of Ehanire of have been arrested.

    The police, through Moses Mkombe, the force public relations officers, said that the command is still on a manhunt for the rest other members of the group.

    “Each of them has spoken on the role he played in the crime and we have been able to extract useful information from them. We are currently on a manhunt for the other members of the gang,” Mkombe said.

  • Edo to revive farm settlements in Esan West LG – Obaseki

    Edo to revive farm settlements in Esan West LG – Obaseki

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo says his administration will revive the farm settlements in Esan West Local Government Area to boost agricultural production in the state.

    Obaseki said this at Ekpoma, headquarters of Esan West Local Government Area, on Tuesday night during his “Thank You Tour’’ of the area.

    The governor who said that land preparation in the farm settlements would start during the next planting season, urged men and women in the neighbourhood to key into the initiative.

    “We want to use the farm settlements for large-scale farming; we will register men and women to work there,’’ he said.

    Besides, Obaseki pledged that his government would establish more primary health centres and complete ongoing road projects in the local government area.

    The governor also visited Irrua, the headquarters of Esan Central Local Government Area, where Mr Anselm Ojezua, the State Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) hails from.

    Obaseki thanked APC supporters in the local government area for their support during the 2016 governorship polls and assured them of more development projects in the area.

    “We have done some road projects here and we intend to do more.

    “We will also continue the agricultural initiative at Usogbenu, which will be a large-scale farm,’’ he said.

    In his remarks, Ojezua called on the people to support the Obaseki-administration, saying it would continue to provide good governance.

    The state APC chairman urged the people to attend the party’s weekly meetings and partake in APC members’ biometric registration programme which would soon begin in the state.

    NAN

  • Ambode, Udom, Fayose seek more support for women

    Ambode, Udom, Fayose seek more support for women

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Tuesday called for deliberate and articulate policies to support female entrepreneurs in the country.

    Ambode made the call at the 17th National Women’s Conference organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials ( COWLSO ) with theme “She creates, She Transforms: Creativity and Skill Acquisition.”

    He spoke as the first female mechanic in Nigeria, Mrs Sandra Aguebor, was presented with the inspirational woman of the year award at the conference.

    “With the female population in our country today, it is clear that our women have the capacity to positively affect the Nigerian economy and are already doing so.

    “Supporting women businesses should no longer be seen as a social support or empowerment, but as a necessary step to revive and improve the economy,” Ambode said.

    He said that so far, N2.1 billion had been disbursed to 6,613 women under the state’s Employment Trust Fund (ETF), which represented 42 per cent of the total loans disbursed.

    According to him, the target is to ensure that at least 60 per cent of the loans are given to women.

    He restated the commitment of his government to the course of women, encouraging more women to approach the ETF and take advantage of other initiatives to support their businesses.

    Also, Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom commended the committee for keeping the vision envisioned for over 17 years.

    Emmanuel condemned racial, tribal and gender inequality, saying that the country needed to open more doors for women.

    He encouraged women not to look at the limiting lines drawn by history or politics, but rather live their lives creating and transforming.

    In a goodwill message, Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State said that efforts must be made to constantly develop women.

    “A life without women will be full of crisis, it will be hopeless,” Fayose said.

    He advised men to stop seeing women as second fiddle.

    The Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo were also present at the event.

    NAN

  • Edo plans Alaghodaro Investment Summit

    Edo plans Alaghodaro Investment Summit

    …Set to boost State’s Economy

     

    In a bid to re-engineer the economy of Edo State towards a better future for its citizens, the Godwin Obaseki-led government is set to host the maiden Edo State Investment Summit with the theme “Envisioning the Future” from November 10 – 12, 2017 at Edo Hotels, Okada Avenue, Benin City.

    Christened ‘Alaghodaro’ meaning ‘progress’, the three-day summit will bring together local and international business leaders and investors, bankers, financiers, industry experts, policymakers, the diplomatic community and the academia to explore Edo’s rich potential across various sectors.

    Speaking on the importance of the summit, Asue Ighodalo, Chairman of Alaghodaro 2017 said: “The world over, governments are looking beyond oil to alternative revenue sources in order to ensure sustainable development, and we must also get creative and take action today for our future and the future of our children.”

    “Alaghodaro is part of the response of the Edo State Government to the imminent threat of an oil-dependent economy. It seeks to explore opportunities for local and foreign direct investment in the state by highlighting the state’s competitive advantage across various sectors.”

    Ighodalo also disclosed that the key areas of focus at the three-day event would include Law and Order, Civil Service Reform, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Transportation, Forest Regeneration and Conservation, Education, Healthcare, Arts, Culture, Tourism and Hospitality.

    The Edo State Investment Summit is in line with the vision of the Obaseki administration to build “a modern and progressive Edo state where every citizen is empowered with opportunity to live life in its fullness.”

    Alaghodaro 2017 is designed to foster knowledge sharing, build relationships, spark innovation and inspire commitment to strategic deployment of capital for greater socio-economic and environmental impact.

  • Pensioners’ protest: Edo govt calls for calm, restraint

    Pensioners’ protest: Edo govt calls for calm, restraint

    The Edo State Government has called on local government pensioners in the state to exercise patience as it addresses the backlog of pension arrears using a ‘phased approach,’ nothing that “N2.1 billion has been disbursed to offset the bills from January to September, and that they would get more when economic indicators improve.”

    The state government in a statement in response to renewed protests by pensioners, who obstructed vehicular and human traffic at Ring Road, in Benin City, the Edo state capital, on Monday, said that much as it was concerned and sympathetic to the plight of the pensioners, government is doing all within its power to ensure that the backlog owed by previous administrations has not extended into the current dispensation.

    “From January till date, since this administration settled into power, it has paid pension emoluments to all arms of government promptly and has promised to clear the arrears owed by previous administrations when the economic environment improves” the government said in the statement.

    According to the state government, “We are using a phased approach to tackle the pension arrears issue. It is unfortunate that these bills built up for over two decades. We have already disbursed N2.1 billion between January and September. We are confident that the approach we have adopted would gradually ease the burden of pension arrears in the state, as it would, over time, help in offsetting all outstanding issues.”

    Edo state government faulted allegations that the state governor misapplied the Paris Club refund, stressing “the state judiciously used the fund to offset salaries, emoluments and gratuities, which was why it wasn’t owing workers’ salaries, which is a common trend in many states across the country.”

    Reacting to protest by the pensioners, the statement said: “We are pained to see these protesters. But we want them to understand the times, as well. We have just survived a recession, and things are picking up. But in all these, we have been consistent and faithful to our commitments to workers in the state. It is only unfortunate that the pension arrears built up for over two decades.

  • Obaseki receives PDP decampees

    Obaseki receives PDP decampees

    • Oluku, Utoka wards agog over appointments, projects

     The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, accompanied by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu and other top government functionaries, commenced a state-wide tour on Monday, to thank Edo people for voting him as governor in the last gubernatorial election.

    A visibly elated Obaseki who received Mr Andrew Uzamere, formerly of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) with his followers into the All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed his appreciation to members of the APC in the 13 wards that make Ovia North-East Local Government Area, for their overwhelming support for him before, during and after the election.

    Speaking at Okada, headquarters of Ovia North-East Local Government Area, Obaseki said his administration has embarked on several road construction projects in the rural and peri-urban areas to open up the communities and link farmers to markets.

    He added that plans have reached an advanced stage to partner with ready investors from Asia to establish an oil palm estate in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.

    “In the last two months, we have approached investors to come to Edo State, to do large-scale oil plantation business, starting with Ovia. The jobs we promised will be generated through this means, with focus on mechanised farming and a ready market for the products,” the governor said.

    He added that in the next months, his administration will be launching an industrial park at Ologbo, in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state, while another will be launched in Ovia later.

    “We are working with the World Bank to provide potable water for the people of several Edo communities,” he added.

    The Edo State Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr. Anslem Ojezua, commended the governor for keeping to his electioneering promises to the people of the area.

    “Before the primary election, the governor promised that he would work with the party and respect party leadership. He has kept to his promises,” Ojezua said and hinted that the party will commence the digital registration of members from next month, which will be handled by party officials from the various wards of the state.

    The Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ovia North-East Local Government Area, Mr. Benson Edosowman, who could not hide his excitements about the governor’s visit, thanked him for appointing people from the local government area into the state executive council.

    Specifically, he expressed his delight at the appointment of three Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and thirteen Special Assistants (SAs) from the local government area by the governor and described it as a step in the right direction towards addressing the age-long agitations for equitable distribution of political appointments in the state.

    “The agricultural initiatives of Obaseki’s administration are visible and impacting lives in the local government area through the Public-Private Partnership project with Saro Farm in Iguobo, Okada East Ward and the Gelegele Sea Port project in Oduna Ward being developed will boost the economy of Ovia North- East Local Government Area when completed.

    To show appreciation for their unalloyed support, the governor awarded cash prizes to the wards with the highest numbers of votes during the governorship election and Oluku came out first and got one million Naira while Utoka got a promise of road construction and a cash gift of five hundred thousand Naira with the highest percentage win over the opposition at the last election.