₦airaland Forum

Edo indigenes in Europe under the aegis of Great Benin Origins (GBO), have lauded the Governor, Godwin Obaseki, for his leadership style, commitment to attracting investment to the state and initiatives on youth development.

President, Great Benin Origins (GBO) Worldwide, Engr. Isaac Igbinosun, said this during a Townhall Meeting with the Governor, in Brussels, Belgium.

“We are proud of you, we are proud of your achievements since you took over the leadership of governing our state, Edo. We feel safe each time we look at what you are doing. We are solidly behind you and anytime we are called upon, we will be there to contribute our quota back home. It is always said that no matter where you go, home is home. We are very proud of you, we encourage you to continue,” Igbinosun said.

SEE PHOTOS:

..

Human Trafficking: Obaseki At European Parliament, Makes Case For Improved Support, Partnership

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has made a strong case to the European Parliament for improved and sustained support that will strengthen the state government’s efforts to curb human trafficking and illegal migration.

Governor Obaseki, who said this during a session with the European Union Parliament Sub-Committee on Human Rights (DROI), in Brussels, Belgium, noted that the state government has created structures and set up institutions such as the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, to ensure reintegration of victims of human trafficking and illegal migration.

Part of the state government’s delegation is the Chairperson of the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking and the state's Commissioner for Justice/ Attorney General, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe.

The governor said that much as the institutional framework has been firmed up, the state also needs improved support for sustainable implementation of its programmes to curb human trafficking, which will serve to reintegrate returnees and provide teeming youths with on-demand skills to become employable and self-sufficient in the long run.

According to him, “We have a wholistic programme to curb human trafficking and illegal migration. Already, the campaign has gotten the backing of the Oba of Benin, whose support has proved instrumental to curbing the trend.

“Our programmes do not only stop at receiving and reintegrating returnees into society, but also include well laid out plans to rebuild institutions for capacity building and vocational training such that our youths would acquire globally-competitive skills to enable them lead better, fulfilling lives.”

Governor Obaseki earlier met with a member of the European Parliament Sub-Committee on Human Rights, Mr. Josef Weidenholzer, to firm up modalities for the European Union’s engagement with the state government on strategies for enduring solutions to human trafficking.

Governor Godwin Obaseki has led an all-out-war against human trafficking and illegal migration.

Edo state accounts for a considerable share of illegal migrants out of Nigeria to Europe, a good number of who die in the Mediterranean while attempting to cross to Europe. But the Governor Obaseki administration has sustained a campaign against the trend, with the signing of the law against human trafficking last June which has been hailed by experts and analysts as a major milestone in institutionalising the campaign.

The state government’s law prohibiting trafficking in persons signed into law provides an “effective and comprehensive legal and institutional framework for the prohibition, prevention, detection, prosecution and punishment of human trafficking and related offences in Edo State.”

The European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights is responsible for "evaluating the implementation of EU instruments in the field of human rights and democracy, the right to hold the Commission and the Council accountable for their activities in this area and ensuring the continuous dialogue with international agencies working in the field of human rights in order to guarantee consistency between EU and international instruments in this field.

"The committee is also responsible for providing a platform for the analysis of human rights claims related to specific topics and/or regions and using this platform for input on human rights and democracy in reports to the Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs, agreements with third countries included."

PHOTO 1:
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd right); Chairperson, Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe and members of the European Parliament, during a session with the European Union Parliament Sub-Committee on Human Rights (DROI), in Brussels, Belgium.

PHOTO 2:
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (right); and Member, European Parliament, Santiago Fisas, at the European Parliament, in Brussels, Belgium.

PHOTO 3:
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (3rd right); European Parliament, Santiago Fisas; Chairperson, Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe (third left), at the European Parliament, in Brussels, Belgium.

...to train 5000 teachers on tech-based teaching

…to sack, prosecute teachers for child sexual abuse

The Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has said that the state government will introduce the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST) initiative to more public primary schools in September.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic Education and Acting Chairman, Edo SUBEB, Dr. Joan Osa-Oviawe, disclosed this in a chat with journalists in Benin City, the state capital.

Explaining that Edo BEST is an initiative of Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to transform the basic education sub-sector in the state, she said, “Edo BEST is holistic and all-encompassing and has been put in place to look at issues that may negatively impact pupils’ ability to learn, and find ways to ameliorate them.

She said, “Starting in September, parents and guardians will be arrested for not sending their children to school. Our goal is to ensure that up to 50 per cent of public primary schools from Kindergarten to primary six are added to the programme.”

On the package for teachers in the programme, she said, “We are going to train approximately 5000 teachers. We are in the process of finalising the modalities for the training.”

According to her, “One of the key areas we are adding to the training curriculum is prevention of child sexual abuse. Our pupils need to be trained on how to avoid child predators.”

She noted that teachers will be trained on how to look out for signs indicating if a child is being abused, and how to engage in a rescue routine, adding, “Teachers have been duly informed that anyone of them caught sexually abusing their pupils will be dismissed from service and prosecuted.

She explained that “Within a one-week span, we have reported cases of child sexual abuse from Akoko Edo, Owan East and Uhunmwode Local Government Areas.

“SUBEB will ensure that the girls’ education is not truncated. We commend teachers and school heads that are the heroes in this move, for their roles in discovering pupils that are being abused,” she added.

She said SUBEB is putting a structure in place to address the problem, adding, “We have a Rapid Response Team comprising representatives of our Guidance and Counseling Unit, Legal, Social Mobilisation and Quality Assurance units.”

Watch video at this link:

https://www.facebook.com/odion.akghigbe.1/videos/246348449509074/?t=70

..

...

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.

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.


PHOTO 1:
Speaker, Edo State Children’s Parliament, Master Richard Asen (5th right), with other Principal members and other members of the Parliament during their inauguration at the Government House in Benin City.

.

...

..

MORE PHOTOS:

PHOTO 2:
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd right); His Deputy, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu (right); Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte Africa, Lwazi Bam (2nd left) and the Operations Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, Jaguar Land Rover, Nigel Clark (left) at the Automotive Investment Forum, at the Banquet Hall, Government House, in Benin City, on Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Benin Auto Park: Obaseki Hosts Global Automotive Industry Players, Assures On Incentives

...as global brands commit to partnership with Edo govt

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured global automotive industry players, including BMW, Bosch, Toyota, Volkswagen, Ford, Uber, among others, of the state's readiness to provide mouthwatering incentives and other business-friendly policies to enable them set up at the proposed Benin Auto Park, opposite the Benin Industrial Park (BIP).

Obaseki gave the assurance at the Edo Automotive Investment Forum, which hosted members of the Africa Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM), at the Government House in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

He urged the delegation of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Africa Operations of global automotive industry players to explore investment opportunities in the state, with focus on investments to boost the automotive sector in Benin City, one of the most vibrant auto sales and services hubs in the country.

READ ALSO: https://www.nairaland.com/4594615/edo-automotive-sector-receives-boost

Governor Obaseki said Edo State is strategically located to become one of the largest automotive hubs in West Africa and maintained that the state has a robust automotive sales and services sector, which guarantees impressive Return on Investment (RoI).

Noting that the state's thriving automotive industry services the Niger Delta market, parts of the North and even South Western Nigeria, he said, "Benin City boasts of a stock of not less than half a million cars. We want the companies to work within and even go beyond what the national automotive council provides to explore the market."

He said the Benin Auto Park will transform Nigeria's automotive industry and help upgrade the used car market, such that more Nigerians would start buying new cars at affordable prices and be assured of top-of-the-range after-sales services.

Making a case for the park, he said, “We want you to work with car dealership to create the largest single market location in Benin City, where people can buy cars. We want to properly organise the auto dealers in Benin City, transform the car components sector and attract investment to the state.”

He said the investment strategy in the first instance will be to attract companies to formalise the auto sales market and thereafter the emphasis will be to assemble cars.

Other companies in attendance include Graffiti SA, Nissan, Toyota, Deloitte, Gauteng Infrastructure Financing Agency (GIFA), Automotive Industry Development Center, DataDot Technology, Standard Bank of South Africa, International Finance Corporation, Afropulse Group, component sellers in Uwellu, Evgbareke, James Wyatt markets, and Service Providers.

During a visit to auto dealers along Benin- Sapele Road, a dealer with Idris and Sons Motors, Salihu Abdulahi, told the delegation that the corridor hosts at least 100 dealers and the vehicles in their inventory stretch to thousands.

Dr. Jelani Aliyu, the Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, said that the council is excited with the proposal of the Edo State Government, and sees at least two scenarios for growth.

According to him, “with this support by the state government, I see the state becoming a hotbed for automobile sales. The first instance will see the state grow from supplying used cars to brand new cars. Also, we see the influx of automobile component makers, who are also here.”

Chief Executive Officer, Volkswagen South Africa, Thomas Schaefer, said that the delegation is keenly interested in the Nigerian market, its growth and deepening investments, especially with the increased drive for the Automotive policy.

According to him, “the automotive industry is quite critical in South Africa. It generates 350,000 jobs. The market boasts of 600,000 new cars. There is zero importation. We hope to replicate this in Nigeria and are interested in the Nigerian market.

“We are interested in Nigeria and Edo State and impressed with the proposal for the Benin Auto Park. We hope to deepen the partnership,” he said.

PHOTO 1:
L-R: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Chief Executive Officer, Volkswagen South Africa, Thomas Schaefer; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Business Bureau and Private Property Protection, Ikponmwosa Osayande; and the Director, Sales/Operations, Nissan South Africa, Jim Dando, during a tour of the Benin Industrial Park, along Sapele Road, Benin City, on Wednesday, July 4, 2018

MORE..

PHOTO 2:
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and President Muhammadu Buhari at the 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of Government of the African Union (AU), held in Mauritania.

​AU Heads Of Govt Meeting: Obaseki, Okonjo-Iweala Mobilise Support For Anti-Corruption Fight

… as Edo gov enlists AU for state’s industrialisation drive

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the former Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, have made a strong case for Nigerians to support the effort of President Muhammadu Buhari to stamp out corruption from the country.

In separate interviews on the sideline of the just-concluded 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of Government of the African Union in Mauritania, with the theme: ‘Winning the Fight against Corruption, A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation,’ Governor Obaseki and the former Minister of Finance urged Nigerians to back President Muhammadu Buhari's anti-corruption fight for a prosperous Nigeria.

According to Obaseki, "the African continent has not given up hope on us because they see in our leader someone who has the willingness to tackle this problem, which we have as a country and so I urge Nigerians to understand that it is not a personal battle.”

He emphasised that the fight against corruption "should not be a solo effort. It is about us, as we have one more opportunity as a country to deal with this cancer, this cankerworm that has held us down.”

Okonjo-Iweala said: “We are here at the African Union because the AU is very concerned about corruption on the African continent. Obviously, the body has asked our President to lead the fight against corruption. What that means to me is that in Nigeria we also need to strengthen our effort, work very strongly to make sure that we set an example.

“I think all of us should be involved. I want to repeat that fighting corruption is a task for every Nigerian. I believe that majority of Nigerians are honest, hardworking people who just want to get on with their lives. So we must not allow the majority to be overtaken by the minority of people. We must fight them, we must put in place the systems and these should be done by all of us.”

However, Governor Obaseki enlisted the support of the AU in the state’s industrialisation drive, in a spirited effort to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the state.

The governor, who was part of Nigeria’s delegation to the 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government AU, stressed the friendly investment climate in the state and the support structures put in place by the state government to promote and protect investments.

The governor brought his experience as an investment banker to bear in sessions on business as well as other discussions relating to doing business in Nigeria at the AU summit.

PHOTO 1:
L-R: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, President Muhammadu Buhari and Nassarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura at the 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of Government of the African Union (AU), held in Mauritania.

Edo Automotive Sector Receives Boost As Obaseki Hosts CEOs Of BMW, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen, Others On Assembly Plant Deal

…36 CEOs of leading global auto brands arrive Benin Wednesday

Efforts by the Godwin Obaseki-led administration to harness the vast economic opportunities in the global auto industry through the state’s economic diversification strategy have begun yielding result as 36 chief executive officers of leading global auto brands and component suppliers, arrive Benin City on Wednesday.

The high-profile meeting between the Edo State government and chief executives of German, Japanese, American, British and other European top-range car manufacturers, will focus on the emerging investor-friendly climate in Edo State and how the companies can leverage the socio-economic offerings in the Benin Industrial Park by locating their assembly plants in the facility.

The 36 chief executive officers overseeing the Africa operations of their companies, include those of BMW, NISSAN, Toyota, Volkswagen, Ford, Bosch, Jaguar, and Deloitte, a consulting company, and Uber, amongst others.

The governor said “the one-day event will discuss our agenda for the auto sector and the opportunities we are creating for investors.”

He added that “during the meeting, we will showcase the Edo State’s auto trading site on Sapele Road and the future trading site at the Industrial Park also on Sapele Road.

“There will be a session to discuss government's blueprint for the automotive sector which includes job creation for Edo people, the local sourcing of car components amid an environment of high exchange rate regime and volatility, which have made local sourcing of components cost-effective.”

The automotive investment forum follows a recent $500 million auto assembly plant deal with Chinese investors.

The growing investor confidence in Edo State stems from market-oriented reform of the Obaseki administration, driving the industrialisation of the state.

Obaseki explained that his administration is vigorously pursuing the goal to turn the state into an industrial hub and a major investment corridor by strengthening the state’s security architecture and reform of critical business-support institutions to improve the ease of doing business.

Happy Birthday to 'a working man'. Blessings...

By Crusoe Osagie

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 neighborhoods.

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!


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


Sources:

http://thenationonlineng.net/obaseki-the-technocrat-on-the-saddle-in-edo-adds-another-year/

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/07/01/obaseki-the-technocrat-in-the-saddle-adds-another-year/

..

.

MORE PHOTOS:

OTHER PHOTOS:

NDSP Water Project: Obaseki Commits N700m To Extend Project To Orhionmwon, Uhunmwode Councils


…charges new Orhionmwon LG ward devt c’ttees on project monitoring

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.

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.

PHOTO 1:
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd left); flanked by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., (left); Secretary, Edo State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), Lawrence Okah (2nd right); and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Taiwo Akerele (right), during the inauguration of Ward Development Committees in Abudu, headquarters of Orhionmwon Local Area.

MORE PHOTOS:

PHOTO 2:
R-L: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Integrated Produce City, Edo State, Prof. Pat Utomi; Chief Executive Officer, AKAY Construction Incorporation, Ertan Olgun, and the Chief Executive Officer, Duran Global, Duran Kikilmis, during their visit to the governor, at the Government House in Benin City, on Wednesday June 27, 2018

...facility to create over 30,000 jobs

The Edo State Governor on Wednesday said his administration would continue to prioritise and support the Integrated Produce City project and other investments in agriculture, in the state.

Obaseki said this when he received the chairman of the Integrated Produce City Project, Prof. Pat Utomi, during a courtesy visit to the governor, at Government House, Benin City.

He noted that area mapping of land for agricultural purpose is ongoing across the state, and said his administration anticipates investments from local and foreign investors.

According to the governor “the mapping of the area where the Integrated Produce City Project is being executed has been completed and the state is in talks with an Asian investor to develop an oil palm plantation development strategy in the location.

"We will support the project, we are anticipating its reality as the state has a lot to benefit from it.”

He urged the project team to kick-start the pilot phase so that farmers do not seek alternative markets.

"Farms are being cultivated across the state and it will be worthwhile if your commodity trading takes off soon," Obaseki advised.
Earlier, Prof. Utomi said that the facility would create more than 30,000 jobs and serve as an agricultural hub.

Prof. Utomi disclosed that the team was working on the development of the infrastructure at the project site and added that the city would serve as commodity exchange centre and provide storage facilities for farm produce from neighbouring states.

"We have cleared more than 100 hectares of land, we have built offices and are creating earth roads” Prof. Utomi said.

He appealed to the governor to help construct a link road to the project site and build a security post at the facility.

PHOTO 1:
R-L: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Integrated Produce City, Edo State, Prof. Pat Utomi; and Chief Executive Officer, AKAY Construction Incorporation, Ertan Olgun, during their visit to the governor, at the Government House in Benin City, on Wednesday June 27, 2018

...

OTHER PHOTOS..

PHOTO 4:
Government officials at the Ethiope Publishing Corporation building, in Benin City, Edo State.

PHOTO 3:
L-R: Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu; Governor Godwin Obaseki; Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., and Commissioner for Infrastructure, Hon. Osahon Amiolemen, during the governor’s inspection of ongoing reconstruction work at Ministry of Infrastructure, in Benin City, Edo State.