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Tag: Mrs. Betsy Obaseki

  • Edo inaugurates 3rd Children’s Parliament

    …as Richard Asen emerges Speaker

     

    The Edo State Government has inaugurated the 3rd Assembly of the state Children’s Parliament with a representative from each of the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

    The inauguration was conducted by the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, and Office of the Wife of the Governor, at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State.

    Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, urged the parliamentarians to perfect the act of parliamentary engagement as legislature remains the bedrock of democracy.

    Read Also:Obaseki mulls Security Trust Fund for Edo

    Represented by Senior Special Assistant on Administration in the Office of the Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Chattie Anakhu, Mrs. Obaseki, noted, “As you carry out your assignment, bear in mind that you are one of the fortunate children in the state and let this fill your hearts with humility and inspire you to conduct yourself with dignity throughout your tenure.”

    She said the parliamentarians should learn from their predecessors, adding that a fully furnished office in her office had been provided to enable them carry out their legislative engagements.

    At the inauguration, Master Richard Asen, a 13-year-old Junior Secondary School 3 student from Spring Leaders Secondary School in Estako West Local Government Area was elected as Speaker of the Parliament, while Miss Nittabeatrice Otasowie,  a Senior Secondary School 2 student from Asoro Grammar School, in Oredo Local Government Area was elected Deputy Speaker of the Parliament.

    The highlight of the event was the presentation of the new members of the Children’s Parliament to members of the Edo State Executive Council led by Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    Speaker of the Parliament expressed appreciation to the governor for giving him and members of the Parliament the privilege to pilot the affairs of children in the state, noting that they would ensure that the rights of every Edo Child are protected.

  • Edo First Lady to engage girls in farming

    Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, has said arrangement has been concluded to engage young girls in the state in maize farming.

    Mrs. Obaseki said plans have been concluded  to partner the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) to organize monthly farmers’ market to serve at least 3000 female farmers.

    Speaking when members of the Action Aid and the Ideal Development and Resource Center (IDRC) paid her a courtesy visit, Mrs. Obaseki said the female farmers would be encouraged to cultivate pumpkin leaf for export.

    Read Also:Edo First Lady launches Child Protection Policy

    Mrs. Obaseki noted that the farmers’ market is to facilitate market access for female farmers, who are engaged in large scale cultivation of cassava and pumpkin leaves.

    She commended Action Aid and IDRC for ensuring that the Child Rights Law was passed into law.

    According to her, “We plan to work with a set of 3000 to 5000 female farmers who are into farming of pumpkin leaf for export, and a set of more than 300 young women who grow specialised maize species.

    “You have done a lot of work for our children. What we need now is support for women to improve production, processing, packaging of farm produce in line with the governor’s reforms in agriculture.”

    Earlier, Country Director, Action Aid, Mrs. Ene Obi, said the organisation would continue to collaborate with the state government in providing youths with skills for wealth creation to curb irregular migration.

    Ene noted that 2000 youths have been trained by Action Aid and IDRC in auto mechanics, tailoring, cobbling, among others, as a way of encouraging them to shun irregular migration and make the best out of life.

  • Human Trafficking: Edo taskforce takes campaign to Iguemokhua town

    Human Trafficking: Edo taskforce takes campaign to Iguemokhua town

    To penetrate the hinterlands with the campaign against human trafficking and illegal migration, the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking has stormed Iguemokhua town with messages of the dangers posed by the menace.

    Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, represented by the chairperson, Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe led the campaign train to Iguemokhua town in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state, impressing on the people that it was dangerous to expose their children to the hazards of illegal migration to Europe by land.

    Officials of the taskforce distributed information materials and spoke to different categories of persons, including teenagers, parents and traditional rulers, among others on the dangers of human trafficking.

    Mrs. Obaseki also commissioned market stalls at Iguemokhua, which were renovated by the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Osaze Osemwegie-Ero, who hails from the town.

    Mrs. Obaseki lauded the initiative and said that “It would provide decent environment for the people to carry out their trading.”

    Hon. Osemwegie-Ero, said, “I will do more to attract projects to the town. I embarked on the building of the market to fulfil my promise to assist traders with decent place to carry out their trading.”

    The Odionwere of Iguemokhua Town, Mr Omozuwa Ekhorutomwen expressed appreciation to the commissioner for his effort to attract projects to the town.

    Read Also: Human trafficking: Edo to partner Peace Corps on returnees’ re-integration

  • Violence against children: Edo moves against culprits, launches Priority Response Plan

    Violence against children: Edo moves against culprits, launches Priority Response Plan

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured that the state’s ‘Priority Response Plan to End Violence Against Children,’ will strengthen measures to check violence against children and protect them from abuse.

    Obaseki who was represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, at the launching of the “Edo State Priority Response Plan to End Violence Against Children (E-VAC),’ in Benin City, noted that such structures were necessary to guarantee children the opportunity to contribute to national development.

    He said the policy, “will check and strengthen legal framework put in place to end violence against children. I am, however, optimistic that with the E-VAC document, individuals who perpetuate any form of violence against children in the state will be prosecuted for the crime.”

    The governor reiterated, “the state will continue to strengthen all legal apparatus put in place to protect children in the state against abuses. We will also make sure that we build a solid foundation to secure the future of our children.

    “We must all explore these legal apparatus: the Family Court, Child Right Act and other Child Protection documents developed to end violence against children.”

    Speaking at the event, wife of the state governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki said, “ending violence against children requires the collaborative effort of all stakeholders. The state government has demonstrated willingness to curb incidences of violence against children, and requires the support of other concerned stakeholders to protect these children.”

    Mrs. Obaseki however, commended the state government and stakeholders for supporting the development of the state E-VAC document, and urged parents to begin to shun practices that expose children to violence.”

    The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Magdalene Ohenhen, said the E-VAC policy document was developed by the state government in response to findings of a national survey conducted by the National Population Commission in 2014.

    Ohenhen said the document, which has input from children, will assist the ministry in addressing cases of neglect, abandonment and all forms of violence against children from persons they ought to feel safe with.

    Speaker, Edo Children’s Parliament, Miss Jacinta Omoregie, commended the state government for bringing relevant stakeholders together to curb the menace, noting, “The campaign to end violence against children requires global action. The E-VAC document would strengthen child protection and welfare in the state.”

  • Obaseki approves health centers in markets

    Obaseki approves health centers in markets

    …Reaffirms commitment to curb Neonatal deaths

     

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved the establishment of primary health care centres in major markets in the state, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to significantly reduce neonatal mortality.

    Obaseki said this at the 3rd Stakeholders’ Meeting on Implementation of Action Plan on Prevention of Neonatal Deaths in Edo state, organised by the Reduce Neonatal Deaths Initiative, a pet project of his wife, Mrs. Betsy, held at the Government House, Benin City.

    He said, “Neonatal mortality is a serious challenge in the healthcare system due to the loss of life at birth. We must all join hands to address child mortality because it negatively impacts the economy in the long run.

    “We are prioritising reforms in primary healthcare to address the burden of neonatal mortality. Part of our plans is to rehabilitate and reconstruct at least one Primary Healthcare Centre in each ward across the state by next year. I have also instructed that at least a Primary Health Care centre be sited in every major market, particularly those in the urban centres,” he added.

    Obaseki assured the stakeholders of his resolve to efficiently utilise scarce resources to support and improve primary healthcare services, adding, “initiatives which bring stakeholders and experts together to provide solutions to the problem of neonatal death should be assisted to achieve their aims. This will improve the healthcare system of the state.”

    Wife of the governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, commended the stakeholders, who have continued to show commitment to advancing the objectives of her pet project.

    According to her, “efforts to address neonatal mortality in the state will certainly be a success judging by your contributions, zeal, and courage. This will assist the state to reduce neonatal deaths and become a model for other states to emulate.”

    Project Coordinator, Reduce Neonatal Deaths Initiative, Dr. Bridget Okoeguale, said the project will help in addressing the problem of neonatal death as Nigeria records the second largest incidence of neonatal mortality with a rate of 5.1 percent.

    She commended the Federal Government for training health workers drawn from various parts of the country, noting that the plan for the trainees to train others is a welcome development.

    She said 12 health workers, who benefited from the training, are billed to train 96 other health workers to be selected from the state.

  • Obaseki’s wife unveil plans on Neonatal, Maternal health awareness

    Obaseki’s wife unveil plans on Neonatal, Maternal health awareness

    Wife of Edo State Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, has disclosed plans to launch a campaign aimed at improving awareness on neonatal and maternal health care in the state.

    According to Dr. Bridget Okoeguale, Project Coordinator, Reduce Neonatal Deaths Initiative, RNDI, pet project of the Edo First Lady, the aim of the awareness campaign is to complement the state’s efforts at delivering quality maternal and neonatal health care services in the state.

    In a chat with journalists in Benin City recently after a stakeholders’ meeting on the project, Dr. Okoeguale, who represented the First Lady,  said that the pet project will provide life-saving commodities to support maternal and neonatal health care which will assist the state in achieving improved maternal and neonatal health care across the state.

    “The framework for carrying out the awareness campaign has been put in place with a media publicity committee set up to ensure success of the Edo First Lady’s pet project,” the project coordinator said.

    The Chairman of the Research and Training Committee of RNDI, Prof. Angela Okolo, disclosed that a survey of facilities and health personnel in the various health care centers across the state would be carried out.

    According to Prof. Okolo “the survey will provide statistics to indicate the efforts of the state government in delivering quality neonatal and maternal health care services.

    It will also furnish the state with details on available resources in health centers in Edo.