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Tag: Governor Godwin Obaseki

  • Economy boost: Edo strengthens synergy with cooperative societies

    Efforts by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration to transform individual business ventures and scale them up to become part of the emerging private sector-led Edo economy through formalisation of their processes and coming together as cooperative societies have begun yielding result.

    At a Tax Summit held by the Ministry of Wealth Creation, Cooperatives and Employment in conjunction with Edo State Cooperative Federation (ECF) and the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) held in Benin City, the state government restated her commitment to mainstreaming small and medium scale enterprises in the economy of the state.

    Read Also:Edo uncovers 39,000 fake Cooperative Societies

    Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Cooperatives and Employment, Mr. Emmanuel Usoh, explained that the summit was conceived to build capacity of cooperative societies and empower them to play a major role in the growth plan for the state’s economy.

    “We see cooperatives in the state as partners in progress and we are working together to build and develop the local economy of the state.

    “We need to work together to build data, access funding and understand that cooperative societies are a veritable tool for growing the economy. Usoh told the summit participants that the state government is open to engagement on taxation matters such as tax laws, amongst others.

    Secretary to the Board of Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), Efe Edamwen Iserhienrhien, said the tax summit would educate the participants on the need to comply with the relevant tax laws in the state.

    “Our aim is to make every citizen of the state to be tax compliant. We have engaged cooperative societies,tomorrow it will be farmers and the next professionals may be teachers. We will continue with the engagement until all the stakeholders know the importance of tax and comply with the laws,” he added.

    A representative of Bendel Newspaper Multi-purpose cooperative society, Mr Matthew Okagha, commended the organisers of the summit for bringing cooperative societies together and described cooperatives as a critical sector to economic growth.

    Another participant, Mrs. Ike Charity, who represented NIFOR Multi-purpose Cooperative Society, said the training gave members of her group insights into how to build a strong cooperative society.

     

     

  • FAAC: Obaseki gives local councils loan to pay salaries

    Succor came the way of teachers and local government employees in Edo State as Governor Godwin Obaseki doled out soft loan to local councils in the state to pay June salaries.

    Obaseki’s intervention was due to the non-release of funds to state and local governments following the indefinite suspension of the Federal Account and Allocation Committee meeting.

    It was gathered that seven local government councils paid workers June salary without waiting for allocation from the federation account while the remaining 11 councils were assisted by Governor Obaseki.

    Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Jimoh Ijegbai, who confirmed the development, said the introduction of e-ticketing made it possible for seven local governments to pay June salaries.

    Barr. Ijegbai said plans were on to fish out ghost workers in local government because of reports that many local government staff were based in abroad and still collecting salaries.

    Ijegbai stated that the staff verification would be carried out in all the 18 local government councils.

    He said local councils in Edo were already having financial autonomy because their allocations are not tampered with.

    His words: “The 18 local government councils are doing well. For two months now, there is this hiccup from Abuja that is delaying release of funds from the federation account but seven local councils were able to pay salaries without waiting for allocation to be shared.

    “On Monday, Obaseki gave us soft loan to be able to pay primary school teachers before the allocation will be shared. He also paid out the remaining 11 councils salaries that didn’t have any savings to pay. All local councils have paid their salaries now.”

    “We are fishing out ghost workers by first making sure that we migrated the payment of salaries to technology platform and stopped payment by hand. Inspite of that, we still get pockets of complaints of some workers that have travelled abroad and yet they are on the payroll.

    “We will not give specific date but very soon we will go round the 18 local government to ensure we fish out those that are not on ground and get them out of the system.

    “We have financial autonomy for local government in Edo State because there is a template that follows the monthly allocation from Abuja. In Edo, nobody tampers with the local government fund. The issue is that they should be allowed administrative autonomy in terms of allowing them to do whatever they want to do without supervision”.

     

  • Edo Poly Usen strikes deal with Huawei on Tech Hub

    …As students jostle for spots in Huawei’s Seed for the Future Programme

     

    Committed to Governor Godwin Obaseki’s vision to build the capacity of youths to drive the Edo State’s fledging technology ecosystem, Edo State Polytechnic Usen, has sealed a deal with leading global Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions provider, Huawei, to set up a Huawei Authorised Information Network Academy (HAINA) at the school.

    The partnership resulted in the hosting of a workshop for students of the polytechnic to bring them up to speed with latest technologies in the tech sector.

    Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Abiodun Falodun, who disclosed this in a chat with journalists, noted that students of the school now have access to top-of-the-range resources to acquire marketable skills and contribute to the state’s tech revolution.

    He added that the partnership will see the students participate in Huawei’s ‘Seeds for the future’ programme, noting “The programme seeks to develop local Information and Communication Technology (ICT) talent, enhance knowledge transfer, promote a greater understanding of and interest in the ICT sector, and improve and encourage regional building and participation in the digital community.”

    He explained that through the programme, selected top university and polytechnic students will take a study trip to China.

    “Over the course of the programme, Huawei shares its ICT expertise and experience in managing a multinational corporation with young ICT professionals, and helps fuel the development of local ICT industries,” he added.

    He said HAINA is non-profit that provides institutions with resources and tools to up-skill students with up-to-date skills relevant in the Information Technology (IT) industry.

    According to him, “the Academy will train our students and make them more marketable in the ICT industry. Huawei Academy does not only offer network courses, but also offers in-demand courses such as HCNA-Storage or HCS field server to students.”

    Explaining that the ICT sector holds a lot of opportunities for skilled graduates and offers one of the quickest means for securing decent jobs, he said, “The Polytechnic believes ICT is absolutely important. The programme is part of Governor Obaseki’s initiatives to empower and create jobs for the youths, especially graduates of the polytechnic and equip them to be job creators. The programme will support the existing ICT facilities in the institution and create ICT hubs called Huawei Academy in Edo Poly, Usen.”

  • Tourism Reform: Edo lists more tourist sites for upgrade

    The Edo State government has pencilled down more tourist sites and destinations for revamp, following the positive disposition of private developers to invest in the sector.

    Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Mr. Osazee Osemwingie-Ero, disclosed this to journalists in Benin City, the state capital.

    According to the commissioner, “We have visited several of our prized tourist sites and destinations, some of them have long been abandoned, some need maintenance while some need revamp, which we intend to do through public private partnership (PPP).”

    Read Also:Obaseki condemns killings of policemen in Edo

    He added that his team has also “visited the Crocodile Lake in Lampese, the Somorika and Ososo Hills. About a year ago, we identified 56 of these sites and work is ongoing on some of them.

    “We have identified some of the monuments around Ring Road in Benin City, the state capital, which led to our meeting with the local government chairmen, in line with the directive of Governor Godwin Obaseki to reclaim and beautify them, which we are working on.”

    He further said that “at Egbine on Ekenhuan Road, we have identified and secured the grave site of the late Captain Philip, who was among the Europeans that were at the center of events that led to the 1897 Benin massacre by the British.

    “We have cleared the site, erected a big sign post there to identify the exact location. There is someone there who ensures the place is maintained daily.

    “Also close to the grave, down Gelegele, is the Oba Ovonramwen stop-over place before he was moved to Calabar through the Gelegele waterways. These places are sites where tourists can visit, and we are working round the clock to reposition them for domestic and foreign tourists,” he said.

    The commissioner added: “We have three investors who are ready with their proposals to develop the Sokponba Blue Water Resort. It will increase the economic activities in the area, create jobs, and generate revenue for the state government.

    “In Edo Central Senatorial Zone, we have the Udo Resort in Igueben, we have visited the site, there is a lot of work to be done there. We have the Amao Water Fall in Igueben, where the water from Orhionmwon River meet the clean water in Igueben without mixing.”

     

     

  • Adult learners hail Obaseki’s sustenance of adult literacy programme

    Adults enrolled in literacy programmes in Edo State have lauded the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration for sustaining the adult literacy and non-formal education schemes in the state, noting that the programme has afforded hitherto disadvantaged adults opportunity for a second chance at life.

    They disclosed this during the monthly monitoring and supervisory routine of the Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education (AANFE) at Adult Literacy and Skills Acquisition Centres in the state.

    Mrs. Esosa Imaraibe, an adult student at the Fabiyi Akpata Centre, one of the adult literacy facilities, applauded the governor for the decision to sustain the programme, noting that she can now read and write after enrolling at the center.

    Read Also:Flooding: Obaseki provides relief materials for victims in eight LGAs

    “We are grateful to the governor for this initiative. This has given people like me hope so that we can get another chance at learning how to read and write and contribute to the development of the society,” she said.

    At Izevbigie Learning Centre, Mrs Ruth Onozie, another student, said enrolling in the programme has afforded her opportunity to learn new things, as she is now better positioned to articulate her thoughts in English language. “I could hardly recognize the alphabets when I started, but now I can read and write, even two-letter words,” she said.

    A Director in AANFE, Alhaji L.I Momoh, said the department has a mandate to eradicate illiteracy and expose Edo people to adult education through the state-owned adult literacy centres, which are in every local government area in the state.

    “The centres have facilitators, who take the learners through the rudiments of basic education with the aim of ensuring the ability of reading and writing,” he said.

    At some of the centres visited, the teachers were seen teaching the adult learners who were listening with rapt attention.

    The AANFE came into existence in 1988 with the mandate to eradicate illiteracy from Edo State and is a department in the State’s Ministry of Education.

     

  • Obaseki: The technocrat on the saddle in Edo adds another year

    Governor Godwin Obaseki’s emergence as the new political leader in Edo State, was the product of a deliberate and intense search for someone who is conversant with the issues of development; inclusive socio-economic growth anchored on industrialisation, and someone who can enthrone a sturdy and sane political order; people-centred and reforms-oriented governance propelled by the Rule of Law.

    Rare as the combination seemed, the lot fell on the investment banker cum politician given his flair for clear-cut strategies in delivering on assigned tasks and a knack for best practice.

    With an illustrious career built in boardrooms and solidified in shopping for Nigeria-bound investments across the globe, Obaseki comes off as the result-focused industrialist, who goes into investment negotiations with clinical finesse, armed to the teeth with raw data and guarantees as well as a deep understanding of the sanctity of contracts.

    A team player

    On assumption of duty, the governor assembled a team of mainly technocrats with clear tasks and performance evaluation framework that will measure periodically, input, output and outcomes.

    Obaseki’s solutions ecosystem

    His close aides attest to his systems approach and orientation to issues and problems, which begins with defining a problem, designing and developing system solutions, with attendant models for evaluation.

    The designed and tested solutions are set in legislation templates and transmitted as bills for enduring laws, to the legislature.

    Development experts contend that the lack of depth and policy short-termism account in part, for policy failures in developing countries.

    Governor Obaseki would rather create a network of related issues to a problem and proffer myriad of sustainable solution options for tackling the problems.

    Creating an ecosystem of sustainable solution options to problems cannot happen in one day, which explains his disposition to engagement with experts and other stakeholders, to ensure everyone is on the same page.

    Alaghodaro investment summit

    Obaseki’s predisposition to development models anchored on well researched ideas gave birth to the first edition of the Alaghodaro Investment Summit, which brought together subject matter experts who converged on Benin City from November 10-12, 2017, to chart a better future for Edo people and residents in the state, with the theme, “Envisioning the Future.”

    The three-day investment summit took the place of a one-year anniversary funfair that would have cost the state millions of naira, at a time the country was struggling to come out of a recession.

    The governor assembled local and international investors and business leaders, bankers, policymakers, lawyers, the academia, industry experts and members of the diplomatic community for a three-day idea incubation session, covering agriculture, manufacturing, culture and tourism, civil service reforms, forest regeneration, education and healthcare.

    A prudent manager of men and resources

    Governor Obaseki took over the reins of power at a time the Nigerian economy was neck-deep in the worst recession the nation has witnessed in decades.

    His expertise in the frugal application of scarce resources was called to task. At a time most states in the country, including the supposed rich states, were owing salaries, the Edo State government under his watch was up to date in salary payment. Civil servants received their salaries regularly before the end of each month.

    From the early days as the Chairman, State Economic Team, under former governor Adams Oshiomhole, Obaseki had developed an acute understanding of the developmental needs of Edo State, perfected which holes to plug for the state’s economic resurgence and when duty called, he wasted no time in providing a clear direction for his team.

    He sounded a note of warning to all government officials, including civil servants, that there would be no room for frivolous spending of the state’s resources.

    Specifically, the governor migrated revenue collection from analogue to digital platform to ensure transparency in the revenue collection process, embarked on the reform of the education, health, sports, justice sectors and began the retooling and retraining of civil servants.

    He has been nicknamed the ‘Wake and See Governor’ by Edo people and residents in the state, who are overwhelmed by the ease with which developmental projects spring up in their neighbourhoods.

    Investment/ industrialisation drive

    From his close study of the state, he understands that the state possessed several strategic assets that make it an investor’s delight.

    He had deployed this skill in brokering for investment for the globally-acclaimed, record-setting 450MW capacity Edo Azura Independent Power Project (IPP), among others.

    More so, the industrialisation plan pursued by the Edo State Government is quite grand and encompasses a wide range of strategically connected projects, namely; the Benin Industrial Park project that will host over 1000 companies; the 1800 housing-unit Emotan Garden project; the Benin River Port in Gelegele, which will serve as the gateway for  evacuating products manufactured in the industrial park; an auto assembly plant; a modular refinery and pockets of innovation hubs that will be scattered across the state, amongst other projects. On completion, these projects will not only see to the rise of the state as an economic hub, but as a cynosure of all those seeking to make an industrial city from what used to be a largely civil servants’ state.

    The most intriguing part of Obaseki’s numerous conceptions, is the nexus between one project and the other. Edo State currently has a community of related projects, in which the main or bye product of one project is useful to the other project (s).

    To illustrate, the 1800 housing-unit Emotan Garden project will source cement, sand, steel, tiles from companies that are located in Edo State. The demand for these building materials will impact positively on the scale of these companies whose managers will hire more Edo youths to produce to scale and meet the demand of the housing estate.

    This interconnection has also been factored into the ongoing repositioning of the colleges of agriculture in the state, which will train young graduates for the numerous large scale farms in the state.

    In same way, the Benin River Port is the link to the international market for companies that will operate from the Benin Industrial Park.

     Education

    The governor’s penchant for technology-driven systems has also found expression in the state’s education sector, where tech-based teaching method has been adopted in public schools.

    The reigning Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST) initiative, is winning hearts and minds of Edo people, most of whom have begun withdrawing their wards and pupils from private schools and moving them to public schools where information and communication technology tools such as minicomputers are now being used for teaching.

    Edo-BEST is a basic education reform blueprint that prioritises the deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools in teaching, as well as harmonises teaching and learning outcomes across locations and promotes interactive classroom management model, among others.

    Barely 18 months in office as the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has demonstrated that governance is about deep and strategic thinking, as well as the execution of people-centred projects that will enhance their wellbeing.

    Keen watchers of developments in Edo would agree that Governor Obaseki deserves accolades for the clearheaded leadership he has provided in Edo State, amid a very turbulent economy, particularly, as he adds another year today.

    Even though in his modesty, he is the last person to pay attention to accolades and praises, it would almost be a crime against nature to allow this day pass without wishing him a  very happy birthday.

    • Osagie is the Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy to the Edo State Governor.

     

  • Edo assures of speedy completion of Ugboha Water project

    The Edo State Government has assured the people of Ugboha in Esan South-East Local Government Area of the completion of reticulation work for the Esan North Water Project.

    The Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources, Hon. Yekini Idiaye, gave the assurance in Benin City, during a meeting between the state government and leaders of Ugboha community.

    Hon. Idiaye noted that the Governor Godwin Obaseki led-administration was determined to provide clean and safe water for people in the state, noting that steps are being taken to address the grievance of the people of Ugboha with regard to the reticulation of the water project in Ugboha, as deadline for completion has been set for December 2018.

    Read Also:Obaseki condemns Plateau Killings, commiserates with victims

    This, according to him, would enable the state government provide clean water to people living in Ugboha and its environs, noting, “After official transfer of its facilities to the Edo State government, the Esan Northern Water project is no longer a Federal Government project. The state government will handle all grievances of Ugboha people.”

    While responding to demand for change of name of the project by the community, the commissioner noted that the issue will be presented to the governor. He added that issues bothering on compensation will be discussed with the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority, which will liaise with the Federal Government on the payment of compensation to farmers, whose crops were damaged in the course of the project.

    “The design of the road to the dam has been done and hopefully, the contract will be awarded soon for the construction work to begin,” he added.

    A member of the delegation and former Chairman, Esan South East, Hon. Andrew Ojiebhekele, expressed appreciation to the governor, who initiated the meeting, noting, “From the discussion we had today, we are hopeful that the needful will be done. We believe in the promise made and anticipate the outcome.”

    Ojiebhekele pledged that the people of Ugboha would contribute to the success of the Obaseki led-administration in the state.

    He appealed that the project be renamed to reflect the project site, noting that Ugboha is in Esan South East, while the project bears, Esan Northern Water project.

    The Chairman of Esan South East, Hon. Victor Emuakhagbon, expressed satisfaction over the deliberation at the meeting, assuring that the people of Ugboha would continue to support the vision of Governor Obaseki to transform the state.

  • Obaseki’s Education reform gains ground

    ….As Parents move wards from private to public schools

     

    Few weeks into the implementation of the Edo State Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST) initiative by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration, parents and guardians in the state have begun withdrawing their children and wards from private schools and moving them to public schools.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic Education and Acting Chairman, Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, said parents and guardians are impressed with the improved technology-based teaching method in the pilot public schools across the state, and are withdrawing their children from private to public schools.

    She also said that parents and guardians who visited their wards and children during the Open Day programme, the first of its kind in public schools, shared their excitements about the initiative.

    Read Also:Obaseki orders closure of all dilapidated schools

    According to Dr Osa Oviawe, “The Open Day is part of the Edo BEST initiative to connect the curriculum, classroom and community.”

    The Acting SUBEB Chairman disclosed that “Edo SUBEB Staff from Quality Assurance, School Support Services and Social Mobilisation departments and their counterparts in the 18 Local Government Education Authorities (LGEA) went round Edo BEST pilot schools in the state to monitor the implementation of the initiative.

    “Parents and guardians of pupils in public primary schools all over the state expressed gratitude to Governor Obaseki for the transformative Edo-BEST initiative, saying that they are impressed with the new development as it informs them of their child’s progress thereby creating an opportunity for them to assist the child to succeed academically.”

    Osa Oviawe said that “a parent who gave his name as Mr. Ohenhen, told government officials that when he discovered that teachers  now use technology to deliver lessons in public primary schools, he withdrew his children from private school and registered them in Oba Ewuare Primary School,  Ugbowo, in Egor Local Government Area of the state.

    “He further stated that he was highly impressed with the State Government’s Basic Education Sector Transformation initiative, because his children’s literacy skills have improved over the short period of Edo BEST launch.”

    On the Open Day, Dr Osa Oviawe said: “Mrs. Alice, a guardian of a pupil in Eguare Primary School, Ewohimi, in Esan South East Local Government Area,  said the open day exercise is first of its kind in the history of the state noting that Edo BEST Programme keeps introducing modern initiatives into the school system, and that her ward have become zealous in all aspects of life as she can now communicate verbally with spoken English.”

    Osa Oviawe also shared the experience of Mr. Akhimie, the father of a pupil at Obe Primary School Sabongidda-Ora, Owan West LGA.

    She quoted Mr Akhimien as saying, “the open day exercise has brought back hope as he sees his child becoming a future leader because of his positive attitude towards doing school assignments at home. My child can now identify letters and their sounds.”

    According to a teacher, Mrs. Elizabeth Anozie, “the open day was a huge success, parents came to inspect their wards’ books. They were happy, they asked me questions and I responded.

    “They were pleased, even the pupils were filled with joy when they saw their parents trooping in.”

    The Acting SUBEB Chairman assured that “Edo SUBEB is gearing up to add more schools to the Edo BEST programme in the next academic year, starting in September 2018.”

     

  • Outrage over state of Edo school

    There was outrage Thursday over the inhuman condition pupils of Holy Aruosa Primary school attend classes.

    The school is located along Akpakpava road at the city centre where the Holy Aruosa Cathedral (Oba of Bénin church) is located.

    What caused the outrage was a video that went viral which showed the pupils being beaten by Wednesday’s rains that lasted several hours.

    The roofs were leaking on the children inside the only two ‘functional’ classes in the school.

    Some of the pupils as shown in the video were packed to one corner of the class room while their books were on the tables during the rain.

    The pupils said the two classrooms were used by all of them from primary one to primary six.

    There are no doors to what was supposed to be the head teacher’s office.

    Read Also:Edo monarchs at war over land

    A visit to the school on Thursday showed that the pupils have been relocated and there was no teacher on ground to talk to journalists.

    Many persons including parents of the pupils were on Thursday seen in the school taking pictures.

    Some of the parents said they were not aware that their children were studying in a leaking classroom.

    They said they were not told that the school has been shut down and the pupils relocated to Agbado Primary school.

    On the social media, the Edo State Government was lambasted for not taking steps to renovate the school and allowing the pupils to remain in such school.

    Following the outcry that traced the video, the state government on Thursday ordered closure of all schools with dilapidated structures across the state.

    Secretary to the Edo State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, announced the government decision when he paid a visit to the Holy Aruosa Primary school to ensure that the pupils were relocated.

    Reacting to the development, Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said the state government had earlier ordered the shutdown of all primary and secondary schools with dilapidated structures across the state to pave way for reconstruction work.

    Osagie said pupils and teachers of Holy Aruosa Primary School in Benin City were relocated to nearby Agbado Primary School.

    He stated that teachers in Holy Aruosa Primary School ignored the order and went about their activities in dilapidated structures.

    According to him, “All such schools, with dilapidated structures have been shut down with immediate effect. Students and pupils in the affected schools are hereby relocated to other schools that will be announced soon.

    “The state government has ordered an investigation to ascertain why the initial relocation order of the pupils with their teachers was not enforced.

    “One of the allegations being investigated is the suspicion that some teachers, who are refusing to be transferred out of the school, selfishly kept those kids in the school under unsafe condition.

    Osagie further explained that schools in the state were categorised into grades after an inventory of facilities and enumeration of primary and secondary schools in the state were carried out.

    “After the census, the schools were categorised into three: those in grade A are in good condition; those in B need little intervention and schools in grade C require total renovation.

    “It is obvious that Holy Aruosa Primary School and Osula Primary School, among others, fell in the third category and require urgent attention. The worst of them like Holy Aruosa were shut down.

    “As is the culture of this administration, groundwork has already begun for this renovation process to commence, as only few months ago bid rounds were held for the rehabilitation of some of these schools.

    “The renovation work is expected to cover 1,200 public schools in the state, with the first batch of 230 schools captured in the pilot phase of the exercise.

    “The state government will expedite action on the renovation work to ensure that our pupils learn in conducive environment, even as we roll out the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo BEST) programme to some of these schools in coming weeks” Osagie added.

  • China awards scholarships to 47 Edo students

    The People’s Republic of China has awarded scholarships to 47 indigenous of Edo studying in universities in the state.

    It said the scholarships was to commemorate the number of years China and Nigeria has enjoyed good diplomatic relations.

    This is just as Governor Godwin Obaseki promised to revive the State Scholarship board for the purpose of awarding scholarships and payment of bursaries to indigent students.

    Institutions that benefitted from the award are Edo University, Iyamho, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma and the University of Benin.

    Best students were selected from some departments.

    Ambassador of China to Nigeria, Dr. Zhou Pingjian, who presented the awards to the students, said it was a clear demonstration that China and Nigeria can achieve many things together.

    Read Also:NDDC Resumes Post-Graduate Foreign Scholarship Programme

    Dr. Pingjian described Nigeria and China as a community of a shared future.

    Pingjian stated that there has been a rise in areas of cooperation between both countries since the establishment of diplomatic ties.

    He noted that both countries have achieved remarkable progress which he said was demonstrated during the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari in April 2016

    The Chinese Ambassador said both countries have reached consensus to deepen China-Nigeria strategic partnership across board adding that the relationship entered herald a new stage of raid development.

    According to him, “Nigeria and China enjoys a lot of similarities and I couldn’t agree more when people say Nigeria and China share similarities. You can imagine how great it will be if we work more together and take advantage of the population we both have as a country.

    “China diplomatic ties with Nigeria are that of brotherliness especially since the establishment of ties between the two countries in 1971.

    “Again, China diplomatic ties with Africa countries have seen a steady rise, also since the setting up of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), in 2000.

    “In 2000, China trade with Africa was only $10 billion, but today, it is 17 times larger than that figure; similarly, China investment in Africa was only $500 million, but today, it is more than $10 billion investment.

    “FOCAC has become a model in South South Cooperation; we can build a better future and make the difference through a win-win Cooperation.”

    Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor, of the University of Benin, Prof Faraday Orumwense, represented by the Deputy Vice chancellor, (administration), Prof Jacob Ehiorobo, urged the students to study hard.

    He told the students they were selected based on their academic performance.