BENIN CITY – Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has called on the management of the National Defense College to share its vital research information with the state in order to help to shape government policies and enhance the growth of the economy.
Speaking while receiving the Commandant of the National Defense College, Rear Admiral Samuel Ilesanmi Alade, at the Government House, Benin City, Tuesday, Governor Obaseki said, “As you know, data and information is key for survival in the modern economy. We will hopefully like to see the outcome of your report because we also strategically want to dominate in the production of certain cash crops like oil palm and rubber. It is not an accident that NIFOR(Nigerian Institute For Oil Palm Research) is located here, and the oil palm research institute and the rubber research institute. These are two crops that can prosper the economy of Nigeria. We will give all the support, we can possibly give to ensure that we re-establish ourselves as global players in these two crops and others we have comparative advantage in. We hope we can share more information. We would like to have further interaction with you and make sure we get the full benefit of these trips that you are making. So, we will hopefully want to be in a situation in this country where we can have the privilege of gaining or sharing some of this information particularly classified information which you have because that information will go a long way in helping to shape our policies for us.”
The Governor said, “I want to put on record that particularly during the last election and the one that was done on Saturday, the role of the military has not been acknowledged as it should be. For the first time in several years, if you can recollect, there was not one incident of loss of life during the election. And that thing was repeated again last week. It might not be obvious but we know that it is as a result of the diligence and the amount of work that went behind the scene from the military. And so, we want to thank you for it. This sort of initiative can only help us to stabilize our democracy much better which is essentially what we need.”
He added, “For us, and for me in particular, this institution, the Defense College is so critical in the defense arrangement, not only for Nigeria but for the entire sub-region.”
Speaking earlier, the Commandant, National Defense College, Rear Admiral Samuel Ilesanmi Alade said, “We are here in Edo State on tour of strategic installations or strategic establishments. And we consider those institutions we are visiting in Edo State as strategic because of what it holds in terms of contribution to national development. This time around, we are visiting two of these strategic establishments. One of them is Okomu Oil which is a private concern and the second is NIFOR which is semi-private. The aim is to visit those two establishments, trying to learn what they do. At the end of the day, we will write a report that could be useful to them and also could be useful to Nigeria as a whole.”
He congratulated Governor Obaseki on his victory in the recent governorship election in the State. He said, “I want to sincerely congratulate you for winning the election decisively and also getting to work very quickly. We are very proud of you and I want to wish you a very successful and fruitful tenure as the executive governor of the very great and wonderful state.”
Rear Admiral Alade also commended Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for participating in their previous programmes. He said, “I want you to extend our gratitude and best wishes to the former Governor, that’s Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.”
Among those present during the courtesy visit were the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu, Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq, Edo State Head of Service, Mrs. Gladys Idahor, Chief of Staff, Edo State, Mr. Taiwo Akerele and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. John Mayaki.
