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Tag: Mr Godwin Obaseki

  • Edo Poly, Usen Opens Central Lab for industrial research

    In line with on-going tertiary education reforms by Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the Edo State Institute of Technology and Management (ESTIM), Usen, also known as Edo State Polytechnic, has opened a Central Laboratory for industrial research and capacity building.

    Speaking with journalists in Benin City, the Rector of Edo State Polytechnic, Professor Abiodun Falodun, said, “We opened the laboratory as part of ongoing effort to reposition the Institute to improve academia-industry collaboration, boost entrepreneurship and skill acquisition, and prepare our students for work in the industries.”

    Read Also:85 killed in Edo auto accidents – FRSC

    According to Falodun, “with the opening of the Central Laboratory, we are positioning this institution to become a one-stop-shop for industrial and biomedical analysis, among others. The academic staff of the institution will get the chance to improve their skills in line with global trends in the use of industrial equipment.”

    He added that the Central Laboratory will offer services to indigenous industries, tertiary institutions including Universities and Polytechnics and strengthen the relationship between the academia and industries.

    “The facilities at the Central Laboratory include: Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (ASS), Infrared Spectrophotometer, UV-Visible Spectrophotometer, Flame Photometer, freeze dryers, Gas Chromatography (GC), FTIR, pH meters, Colorimeter, Polarimeter, Rotary evaporatorsete,” he said.

    Prof Falodun explained that the laboratory provides a range of services, which includes testing of products such as plant tissues (herbals/extracts), soil samples, water, and industrial raw materials and foods.

    According to him, “Phytochemical screening at the lab covers quantification of secondary metabolites and antioxidants; toxicological Assays. We also offer training services, undergraduate/ post-graduate training; and pharmacological screening.”

    He said industries that require the services at the laboratory include oil palm companies such as Okomo Oil, Presco; food and beverage companies such as Guinness Nigeria; Government agencies in-charge of water analysis, pharmaceutical companies, water factories and chemical industries.

    He said the idea of the laboratory is to have all testing at the Polytechnic at a centralized site, which helps to harmonise research, increase multi-disciplinary collaboration and ensure sustainability.

  • INEC seeks support of Obaseki in voters’ mobilization

    …Collection of 514,638 PVCs

     

    The Edo State Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) Commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Alex Hart, on Thursday sought the support of the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki in mobilising Edo people and residents to participate in the programmes of the electoral body in the state.

    The new INEC Commissioner in the state made the request during a courtesy visit to the governor, in Government House, Benin City.

    “I am here to solicit your collaboration as an influential stakeholder to mobilise the entire citizenry of the state to participate and be more active in all the activities of the Commission, including Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR), collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) among others,” Mr. Hart said.

    According to Hart, “the Commission in Edo State is still having in its custody a total 445, 301 PVCs from the 2011 to 2016 registration stock.

    Read Also:We’ll deploy enhanced smart card readers for Ekiti poll – INEC

    “Out of the 78, 398 new PVCs supplied to the state for 2017, only 9, 061 have been distributed, with 69, 337 PVCs yet to be collected, bringing the total number of registrants for the second quarter as at July 3, 2018 to 53, 271.

    “The total transfer request for the second quarter as at July 3, 2018 is 5, 239, and the total transfer applications in 2017 till date is 18, 517. The total registration for 2017 till date is 184, 717, while the total number of uncollected PVCs (old and new) as at July 3, 2018 is 514, 638.

    In his remark, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, assured the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of his administration’s readiness to support the electoral body in reducing the number of uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in the state.

    “We will assist you to do your work. I urge you to let us know and understand the scope of the challenges to enable us deal with the problem,” the governor said, adding that support would be extended to INEC in its voters’ education programme as well as the sensitisation on the collection of PVCs in the state.

    “We will set up a response team that will work with your Information and Communication Technology (ICT) staff to carry out analysis of the areas with high incidence either at the ward or community level, so as to know where we can step-up action to locate those who are still residing in the locality for them to collect their PVCs,” Obaseki assured.

     

  • Rainy Season: Obaseki cautions on indiscriminate waste disposal

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has cautioned residents of the state against indiscriminate waste disposal, calling on stakeholders to join in government’s efforts to rid the state of waste, especially during the rainy season.

    In a statement, Obaseki said it was pertinent to draw attention to the role of private citizens and civil society organisations as well as other interest groups in ensuring a clean, serene environment for human habitation and doing business.

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

    According to him, “With the coming of the rainy season, it is important to stress the role of the people in ensuring a clean environment and that they properly dispose of waste so as not to clog waterways, streets and other parts of major cities and towns in the state.”

    He noted that several government agencies have been leading the campaign against indiscriminate waste disposal, and it behooves on residents in the state to play their role.

    “The Waste Management Board and officials of the Project Clean Up Edo have been on the campaign trail, calling on Edo people to properly dispose of their waste as provision has been made for onward disposal through appropriate channels,” he said.

    He continued, “With increased rainfall, it is important for market leaders, opinion leaders and other influencers to impress on their people to comply with the arrangements put in place by the state government, to minimise incident of flooding and other such man-made problems.”

    Noting that changes in the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability and the Waste Management Board are intended to put a lease of life in waste management in the state, he said that the state government will not relent until the state is rid of debris and other forms of waste, and would not hesitate to punish erring residents who flout extant laws and policies on waste disposal.

     

  • Flooding: Obaseki provides relief materials for victims in eight LGAs

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has reassured of his administration’s commitment to provide for emergency needs and relief materials to flood victims in the state, noting that adequate provision has been made to provide succour to ameliorate the effects of natural disasters.

    Obaseki, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Hon. Yakubu Gowon, in Benin City, disclosed this during the presentation of relief materials to persons affected by flooding in eight local councils in the state.

    The distribution of relief materials was monitored by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), which carried out on the spot assessment of victims.

    The affected local councils include: Igueben, Orhionmwon, Uhunmwode, Ovia North East, Esan Central, Etsako Central, Etsako West and Owan East.

    The donated materials include: 100 bundles of zinc; 140 bags of cements; 14 bags of 3 inches zinc nails; 14 bags of 4 inches zinc nails; and 140 ceiling board; cash gifts, among other materials.

    The governor noted that the Office of the Special Adviser on Special Duties would supervise the entire distribution process in all the affected council areas, while the committees at the local councils, headed by the heads of the councils with members drawn from the Social Welfare Department, counsellors, heads of departments and special assistants in the local government areas, would ensure the relief materials get to the affected persons.

    Chairman, Uhunwonde Local Government Area, Hon. Napoleon Agbama, who received the relief materials on behalf of his council, expressed appreciation to the governor for the prompt response, adding, “Governor Obaseki has continued to demonstrate that he is a true leader, who matches action with words.”

    Mr Silvester Okoro, Chairman of Orhionmwon local council and Scott Ogbemudia of Ovia North East local council were at the event.

  • Obaseki condemns Plateau Killings, commiserates with victims

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has condemned killings in Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas in Plateau State and commiserated with victims of attacks, urging for urgent action to end the spate of killings in different parts of the country.

    In a statement, the governor, who said that it was regrettable that such wanton attack could be meted on fellow countrymen, stressed the imperative for peaceful coexistence and tolerance in curbing conflict among different groups.

    The governor commiserated with the families of the deceased, noting, “It is with a heavy heart that I received the news of the death of about 86 persons in a conflict that erupted in Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas of Plateau State.

    Read Also:Plateau killings: PDP knocks Presidency for kicking against call for mourning

    I reiterate without equivocation that these deaths are not only needless, they must be put to a stop and those behind them should be made to face the full wrath of the law.”

    He said the government and people of Edo State join in mourning the loss of lives on the Plateau, assuring that they are not alone in their moment of grief.

    “The recent killings would weigh on the conscience of any Nigerian, who values human life and stands for peace and progress of our country. I stand with the people of the affected families and local government areas in this sad moment of our history as a people,” he stressed.

    Calling for urgent action to stem the spate of violence, he said, “The killings, once again, put a question on the internal security architecture of the country. Urgent steps must be taken to protect Nigerians, which is one of the primary duties of government. It is not out of place to, at this juncture, call for a review of the security architecture to respond to the peculiar needs of the Nigerian people.”

  • Obaseki banks on Technology, synergy with private sector

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state government will drive agribusiness investments in the state with the deployment of new technologies and strong participation of private investors.

    Obaseki said this in a chat with journalists after a meeting with the Director General (DG) of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, on the sidelines of the International Workshop Water-Energy-Food Systems in Sub-Sahara, held at the IITA campus in Ibadan, Oyo State.

    He said, “The most important of the challenges is trying to reenact and reestablish the culture of agriculture, to take out the drudgery of the past and bring in science and technology. We want to look at agriculture as a business with its value chain. People don’t grow crops for its own sake, it is because it has several uses aside food, such as agro-processing and as industrial goods.

    Read Also:How Obaseki leverages World Bank partnership to transform Edo

    “As a governor, I am here to see how I can explore opportunities with the institute, which we are very proud of. In the last 50 years, they have been helping us to understand the crops we grow in the tropics. We are also here to see how we can go into partnerships and work on specific projects.

    Noting that the state is paving the way for private investors to contribute in deepening investment in agribusiness, he said, “In Edo State, for instance, we have shut down all the colleges of agriculture and are restarting them with new curriculum. We are getting the private sector to get involved, even in those schools, to train the required manpower.”

    According to him, “For us as politicians and as a government, I campaigned and promised that I was going to enhance the well-being of my people and that I was going to create jobs. That is from a political perspective, I made a promise and I have to deliver. There are a number of things I need to do to deliver the result.  The first thing is to identify the issues, challenges and problems. But more importantly, you have to get and mobilise resources to make that happen.

    He restated that Edo State is one of the foremost agricultural states in Nigeria, as it has some of the biggest investments in oil palm and rubber plantations in the country, assuring that he was intent on returning the state to its glorious days as an agribusiness hub.

    He said, “Don’t forget that before oil became a fad, we were firstly an agrarian country. Edo State was the largest producer of oil palm and therefore we had the oil palm research institute. We were also a major producer of rubber. When I mean producer, I mean global producer of things like rubber, so we had a rubber research institute 60 years ago in Benin. So, we have had a culture of agriculture and agribusiness.”

     

  • NDSP Water Project: Obaseki extend project to Orhionmwon, Uhunmwode councils

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has released N700 million counterpart fund for the Niger Delta Support Programme (NSDP) water project, to be extended to Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode Local Government Areas of the state.

    Obaseki disclosed this during the inauguration of the Ward Development Committees (WDCs) in Abudu, the administrative headquarters of Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

    He said the WDCs would work with the state government to identify communities, where the water project would be sited based on need and after the establishment of water associations in the communities.

    Read Also:Obaseki converts Ethiope Publishing House to Pension Office

    He noted that the state government has reached an agreement with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the construction of the Benin-Abraka Road.

    “I have reached an agreement with NDDC. In the next few weeks, the contractor will be mobilised to site for the construction work to commence,” he said.

    He added that the state government will introduce the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo -BEST) programme and the Federal Government school feeding programme to all schools in the council.

    On the school feeding programme, he said members of the WDC would drive the process, noting, “The members of these committees will make the decision on what school to be constructed and would sign agreement with the state government before any school is constructed in the area.”

    On provision of electricity in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Obaseki said arrangement has been made to include communities in the council in the Federal Government solar power programme.

    “Since the Federal Government has a programme on the use of solar power for providing power in rural communities, our plan is to see how to include rural communities to benefit from the programme,” he explained.

    “We have so many programmes like the conditional cash transfer for the poor and micro finance loan to assist traders. These are some of the programmes through which the state would assist you,” he said.

    Secretary to State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., said the committees inaugurated would be the eyes of government in their various wards and furnish government with information relating to primary schools, teachers, primary healthcare centres, roads, markets, agriculture, school feeding programme and the N-Power programmes.

    Ogie urged the committees to hold weekly meetings at the ward level and a monthly meeting at the local council level, while report should be submitted to the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Matters.

    Earlier, Chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Hon. Sylvester Okoro, pledged to support the vision of the governor for the council.

  • Obaseki converts Ethiope Publishing House to Pension Office

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that Ethiope Publishing House, located in the heart of the state capital, Benin City, will accommodate the Edo State Pension Bureau as soon as his administration completes the ongoing renovation of the building.

    According to Obaseki, the new pension office will be fitted with modern technology that will enable staff of the pension bureau to respond to pensioners’ enquiries faster.

    Obaseki disclosed this when he inspected ongoing reconstruction work at the Ethiope Publishing House in Benin City, and said that the central location of the building and its proximity to the major bus terminal at Ring Road, will eliminate the troubles pensioners used to experience in accessing the pension office.

    “We are refurbishing the building and relocating the Pension Bureau here. It is going to be a modern office that will be driven by technology so that we can manage our pensioners and issues relating to pension effectively from this location,” the governor said.

    Read Also:Obaseki partners ANAN on capacity building for Edo civil servants

    He explained that the Ethiope building was chosen because of its central location and accessibility and added “We don’t want our pensioners to spend much money to get to the Pension Bureau.”

    The governor also inspected ongoing reconstruction work at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and told journalists that his administration embarked on the total overhaul of facilities in the stadium to raise its profile to a world class stadium that will be hosting international sporting events.

    He explained that the construction work is in phases, with the first phase scheduled for completion in December 2018, while the other phases would expand to 2019.

    “We want to build a world class facility that will attract world class events. I am impressed with the quality and pace of ongoing work at the stadium.”

    He also inspected the desilting of the drainage system in Akenzua axis, behind the Benin Airport, which he said was constructed during the late Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia administration.

    Obaseki said his administration has completed the manhole desilting work, cleared the drains, as part of plan to connect the drainage system to 12 streets around the area, affected by flooding and added, “We are also constructing the 12 roads in the area affected by flood.”

    While inspecting the ongoing project at the ministry of infrastructure, the governor assured that his administration is committed to improving the working condition of civil servants in the state for better service delivery.

  • Obaseki partners ANAN on capacity building for Edo civil servants 

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has disclosed his administration’s plan to partner with the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) in the training of accountants in the state civil service to enhance productivity.

    Obaseki disclosed this when the National President of ANAN, Alhaji Shehu Ladan, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Benin City on Monday.

    The governor maintained that the goal of his administration is to expose civil servants in the state to trainings that would increase their productivity.

    “We have upgraded our software packages and have automated the accounting platform for the state. The next step is to train the accounting staff to use the technology to anchor accounting processes and procedures.

    Read Also:Edo Speaker, Deputy clash over Assembly renovation

    “We want to partner with you in building the capacity of a lot of our accounting staff in government,” Obaseki said.

    He noted that the state government has enjoyed a good working relationship with ANAN as its members have continued to add value to accounting procedures in the state.

    Earlier, the president of ANAN, Alhaji Shehu Ladan, commended the governor for the ongoing transformation of Edo  State, and the appointment of ANAN members into key positions in the state.

    Ladan explained that he was in the state for the association’s 3rd session of the 2018 Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme.

    He appealed to the state government to assist the association to complete its secretariat in the state and issue a Certificate of Occupancy for the land on which the ANAN’s building is being erected.

    In his response, the governor promised to look into the issue of upgrading members of ANAN in the state public service, who are still below grade level 10, as approved by the National Council on Establishment.

     

  • Edo defrays LG pension arrears

    …sustains monthly N264m monthly payment

     

    In fulfillment of his promise to defray pension arrears owed pensioners in Edo State, the Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has sustained the monthly N264 million payment to pensioners, to ensure the retirees enjoy their status as senior citizens of the state.

    Permanent Secretary, Edo State Pension Bureau, Mr. I.D.S Juwobor, explained that notices are published regularly for the pensioners to make themselves available for verification, after which their accounts are credited.

    “The payment plan is seamless and hassles-free, in recognition of the status of our pensioners as men and women who have contributed immensely to the development of our state.

    “The pensioners appreciate the efforts of the Obaseki administration to clear the backlog and eliminate the cumbersome and analogue pension arrangement, with the introduction of contributory pension scheme, which the governor initiated,” the Permanent Secretary said.

    Read Also:N-Power: Edo announces pre-selection, schedules physical verification

    He added that “the recent release of the sum of 1.5 billion naira for the payment of their pension arrears by the governor to clear eight months arrears of 4,340 local government pensioners in the state, is worthy of commendation and much of the pension burden on government have been defrayed.”

    State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Jimoh Ijegbai, who assured of the governor’s commitment in clearing all arrears owed pensioners in the state, said “You will recall that on the 1st of May 2018 during the May Day celebration, the governor made a promise to release 1.5 billion naira to clear part of the local government pensioner’s arrears in the state.”

    Ijegbai explained that after the announcement by the governor, a meeting of the pensioners was called and immediately the screening of the pensioners commenced.

    The commissioner said the gesture by the governor is unprecedented in the history of Edo State to release such an amount to pay pension arrears. He noted that since Obaseki assumed office as governor of Edo state, he has not defaulted in the payment of pensioners in the state.

    “As at today, we pay 264 million naira monthly to pay our pensioners in the state and we will continue to pay until we clear the outstanding arrears”.

    The President of Local Government Pensioner Association (Edo State) Frank Akinido thanked the governor for keeping to his promise of paying pensioners and express delight to witness the release of the 1.5 billion to this effect.

    He assured the governor that pensioners of local government in Edo State are peace abiding citizens. He thanked the governor of the state for remembering the pensioners in the scheme of things especially at this crucial hour of financial hardship.