₦airaland Forum

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has hailed 17-year-old golf prodigy, Georgia Oboh, on her triumph in the Cote d’Ivoire Open title, her first professional trophy.

The governor, in a statement on Tuesday, congratulated Oboh for showing once again the unwavering Edo spirit and talent, which for years have distinguished Edo people across the globe.

According to the governor, “I am delighted to learn of Oboh’s victory in the Cote d’Ivoire Open title. This brings me much joy, not just because she is an indigene of the state, but because I am an avid golfer and promoter of the sport.

“She has shown once again that Edo people excel exceeding well when given the opportunity to fully express themselves. She serves as a role model to many young people out there, and goes to prove that much can be achieved when one is determined.”

Noting that the state government is committed to sports development, he said, “We are very keen on unleashing the potential in youths in sports. We had our golden years in sports in the past as the old Bendel State. We are committed to reviving this aspect of our state, which is why we are investing in youth development. Already we are making appreciable progress with the promotion of Bendel Insurance to the topflight division."

“With Oboh’s success in sports, and the growing activities at the Golf Section of the Benin Golf Club, we will be grooming more young people in sports. This much we assure her and the teeming youths interested in the game,” he added.

Oboh, who hails from Edo State, finished the tournament with scores of 74, 78, 85, 78, winning the tournament by three shots ahead of Senegal’s Oumy Dieye and Madagascar’s Leslie Grandet of the Sunshine Ladies’ tour.

Eid-El-Maulud: Obaseki Salutes Muslims, Calls For Sustained Peaceful Coexistence, Unity

The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, has extended felicitation to Muslim faithful in Edo State and across the country as they commemorate the birthday of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W).

Obaseki, in a statement, admonished Muslims to uphold the principles of honesty, peace, and dedication to the will of almighty Allah which the prophet exemplified as their supreme guide.

While commending Muslims and people of other faiths in the country for efforts towards sustaining peaceful coexistence, he charged them to hold steadfast to these virtues as they are ingredients for national unity and development.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Edo State, I congratulate our Muslim faithful on the occasion of the celebration of the birth of Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W) as they mark this year’s Eid el-Maulud.

“We join our Muslim brothers and sisters in celebrating this auspicious occasion and urge everyone to use this occasion to reflect on the teachings of peace and togetherness embodied by the Holy Prophet in the Holy Quran,” Obaseki said.

The governor noted that, “the import of the celebration is not lost on us as a government, as we have, in a long while, enjoyed a peaceful atmosphere occasioned by the tolerance espoused by the Holy Prophet and propagated by the Muslim faithful in the state and across the world.”


SOURCE: http://thebellng.com/eid-el-maulud-obaseki-salutes-muslims-calls-for-sustained-peaceful-coexistence-unity/

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…as Gov, civil servants, others celebrate retired Head of Service

Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has thanked civil servants in the state for contributing to the achievements recorded by his administration in the last two years.

Speaking at Thanksgiving Reception in honour of the outgoing Head of Service, Mrs. Gladys Idahor, to celebrate her retirement from the Edo State Civil Service, in Benin City, Obaseki commended civil servants for their loyalty and support.

He said his administration has impacted the lives of Edo people owing to the support and encouragement his administration received from workers and civil servants in the state championed by Mrs. Idahor.

He described the outgoing Head of Service as a fearless and honest civil servant, adding that, "As Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and working for the improvement of the education sector, she embarked on dangerous mission with the then commissioner to shut down miracle centers where examination malpractices were perpetrated."

Obaseki said Mrs. Idahor's cooperation and support helped his administration in no little way to engender reforms in the civil service.

He assured her that the transformation of the civil service which started during her tenure as HoS will be completed despite her retirement from the service, noting, "We inherited a civil service that was second to none but will make it better and a reference point for other states to emulate before I leave office."

"The government is grateful for the services you rendered and we know you are not tired as we will need your wealth of experience, courage and forthrightness as you have more to do for the state," the governor added.

The Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Justice Samson Uwaifo (rtd.), expressed appreciation to guests at the occasion for celebrating Mrs Idahor and her meritorious service to Edo State, adding, "She has done well, contributed her quota for the development of the state and retired without blemish."

He called on civil servants to emulate her outstanding leadership qualities that she brought to bear in the state.

Representative of serving and retired Permanent Secretaries and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, Mr. Emoedume Brai, commended Mrs Idahor for her support in repositioning and reforming the civil service to make them effective in delivering services to tax payers.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Gender, Efosa Uyigbe, who spoke on behalf of Baptist Old Students' Association (BOSA) said Mrs Idahor has made them proud as an ambassador of the association.

Responding, Mrs Gladys Idahor expressed gratitude to God for successfully retiring from service without blemish, adding, "I want to also thank my husband for all the support and love as his encouragement helped me in a great way to perform well."

She thanked the governor for believing in her as it brought the best out of her.

PHOTO 1:
L-R: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; outgoing Head of Service, Mrs. Gladys Idahor; her husband, Mr. Johnson Idahor; and Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Justice Samson Uwaifo (Rtd.), at a reception held in honour of the outgoing Head of Service, Mrs Gladys Idahor to celebrate her retirement from the Edo State Civil Service.

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Obaseki's Reform: Edo Govt Tours Forest Reserves, Decries Degradation, Partners Proforest On Sustainability

The Edo State government has decried the conversion of forest covers in the state to farmlands, noting that government has taken inventory of its forest reserves with a view to design a roadmap that will ensure sustainability of the existing forest resources.

Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security Programme, Prince Joe Okojie, said this after the two-day assessment of the forest reserves alongside experts from Germany and Proforest Africa.

Okojie expressed regret that much of the forest covers have been degraded and turned into farmlands, adding that it was worthwhile to assess forest covers still standing in the state, as government intensifies plans to set up a Forestry Commission.

“The governor wants to set up a Forestry Commission that will be responsible for managing our forest. So, we decided to take a physical inventory of what we have left and design a roadmap for their efficient management. Climate change is one of the greatest threats to mankind and preserving our forests can help stabilise the climatic effects. The forest regulates the ecosystem and promotes biodiversity. That is why we are doing this,” he said.

Some of the forest reserves visited were Iguobazuwa Forest Reserve, Okomu Forest Reserve and the National Park in Ovia South West Local Government Area as well as Odighi Forest Reserve in Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state.

He said actions would be taken to regenerate the reserves as well as decide on the fate of the farmers, who have converted parts of the forest to cocoa and cassava farms.

According to him, “It has been quite an interesting experience seeing the different forest reserves in some parts of the state. There are still heavy forest trees in some parts of Okomu reserve, but the forest covers in some parts of Iguobazuwa and Odighi are badly degraded.

“What we are looking at is what we can do with the portions that have been deforested. We have brought in experts to see if we can reforest some parts of the degraded forests.”

Africa Regional Director, Proforest, Mr. Abraham Baffoe, said that about 35 to 40 per cent of the forest covers are still left in the forest reserves assessed, and could still be preserved and maintained.

He said the state government would need to come up with implementable laws to protect the existing forest and adopt reforestation strategy.

"There is hope for reviving our forests. People have been doing the wrong thing for the past couple of years. We need to stop people from converting the forests into farmlands. When we have people, who have settled in the forest reserves and we cannot drive them away, we need to work with them to help us protect the forests,” he said.


PHOTO 1:
L-R (front row): ForestFinest Senior Consultant, Land Use and Forestry, Andreas Schnall; Regional Director, Proforest, Abraham Baffoe; Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security Programme, Prince Joe Okojie; and Member, Edo State Advisory Committee on Forestry, Dr. Festus Onogholo, during an assessment tour of forest reserves in Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State

NOTE:
Mustafa Chike Obi is the former CEO of the Federal Government owned AMCON - Asset Management Company of Nigeria

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The Edo People's Summit is still ON.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole just delivered the Keynote Address

The Commissioner of Health speaks on Governor Obaseki's health reforms

Watch live here:

https://www.facebook.com/godwinobasekiofficial/videos/251854779015782/


#EdoAlaghodaroSummit

Our attention has been drawn to a catalogue of falsehoods attributed to the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, being circulated on various social media platforms.

The faceless promoters of the comment mentioned that the governor, among other things said: “The huge debt I met on ground was so alarming and I think is best for us to see how we can reduce it. This we eventually did.”

We are aware that we are in the season of politics, in which desperate politicians resort to unconventional and desperate measures to raise their ratings and pay cheques through the concoction and fabrication of falsehood, moonlighting, image bashing and the likes.

We advise the masked promoters of the comment to check elsewhere for their target(s), as Governor Godwin Obaseki is not one to be swayed or distracted by such attention-seeking schemes.

As we move closer to the 2019 general elections, we wish to guide administrators of various groups on social media platforms to insist on the basic parameters for gauging the credibility of sources, to retain the confidence of their teeming members.

_Osagie is Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy_

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PHOTO 5:
L-R: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; his wife, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu; and Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., (receiving offerings) at the 2018 Alaghodaro Thanksgiving Service at Church of God Mission International (CGMi), on Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Benin City, Edo State.

PHOTO 4:
R-L: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu; and Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq. at the 2018 Alaghodaro Thanksgiving Service held at Church of God Mission International (CGMi), on Sunday November 11, 2018, in Benin City, Edo State.

PHOTO 3:
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd right, front row); his wife, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki (right); Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu (3rd right); and Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq. (4th right); and the Archbishop of Church of God Mission International (CGMi), Dr. Mrs. Margaret Idahosa (left), at the 2018 Alaghodaro Thanksgiving Service held at CGMi, Faith Arena, on Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Benin City, Edo State.

PHOTO 2:
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd right); his wife, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki (right); Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu (2nd left); and Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., at the 2018 Alaghodaro Thanksgiving Service at Church of God Mission International (CGMi), on Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Benin City, Edo State.

…CAN Chair, PFN president, Archbishop Idahosa back reforms

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that he is running a government that will ensure maximum benefit for a larger number of Edo people and residents than distribute the funds to a few cronies, noting that his commitment to development will not wane.

The governor said this during the Alaghodaro Thanksgiving Service held at the Church of God Mission International (CGMi), Faith Arena, in Benin City, adding that his emergence as a governor was God’s wish.

His statement follows the endorsements by senior clergies in the state, of the various reforms initiated by the obaseki-led administration in critical sectors such as education, health care, employment creation amongst others.

The endorsements came from the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Edo State chapter, Bishop Oriname Oyonnude Kure; President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Rev. Felix Omobude and the Archbishop of Church of God Mission International (CGMi), Dr. Mrs Margaret Idahosa.

“I am here today because He (God) made a way. God made it possible for me to be the governor of Edo State and he has guided my every step along the way and in everything we have done since assumption of office,” Obaseki said.

The church ceremony is part of activities marking the second-year anniversary of his administration.

"At the start of my administration, I made a promise before God to set aside one Sunday every year to offer thanksgiving to God for what he has achieved for us in Edo State," said Obaseki.

Going down memory lane, the governor recalled that he resolved a long time ago to put people of Edo State ahead in his policy formulation and governance.

"We wanted to take governance to the people. We wanted to leave a legacy to Edo people where they will see governance as not exclusive to a few people.

Restating his commitment to a government that prioritises the people above any other interest, he said, “As a government, we want to take government to our people; we don’t want to keep government in Government House, anymore. The government truly belongs to the people, whether churches, schools or social gatherings. We want to integrate the people more into what happens in government.

“So, when you talk about government, some people think it is just a few people who are on the protocol list. Thanks to Archbishop Dr. Margaret Idahosa for recognising that everyone here is part of our cabinet.”

“We decided before now that we have come to change Edo State. We came up with the mantra, “let the people lead,” and when I was campaigning across the state, I assured that we would continue to put the people first. Whatever we do as a government, it must influence and impact the majority of our people.

He expressed appreciation to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for being a pillar of support in terms of prayers and admonition and drawing his administration's attention to things that needed urgent attention.

He said the choice of Church of God Mission as the venue for the thanksgiving was informed by the contributions made by the founder of the church, late Archbishop Benson Idahosa to the Pentecostal movement in the country.

Obaseki took the first bible reading from Psalms 31:21, the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, handled the second Bible reading from Psalm 104: 1, while Mrs Betsy Obaseki took the third reading.



PHOTO 1:
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd right, front row); his wife, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki (right); Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu (2nd left); and Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., at the 2018 Alaghodaro Thanksgiving Service at Church of God Mission International (CGMi), on Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Benin City, Edo State.

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