Mrs. Idele Benedicta, is a proud teacher with Government School. She is a Biology tutor with Asoro Grammar School, Benin City, Edo State. She is a recipient of an award for Housing Unit at EMOTAN Gardens, Benin City.
She recently made Edo State proud in both State and National Competitions and promised never to let the state down.
She expressed her joy and gratitude to Governor Godwin Obaseki for awarding her a House at the EMOTAN Gardens, successfully developed by the Edo State Development Agency (EDPA).
Mrs. Idele thanked the Governor for rewarding excellence, dedication and hard work just as she promised to always put in her best to support the realization of His Excellency’s inputs in the development of education in Edo State. She spoke with OBOH SYLVESTER, Media Officer, EDPA.
Excerpts-
My name is Mrs. Idele Benedicta. Biology teacher in Asoro Grammar School, Senior.
I am a beneficiary and awardee of Edo State EDPA Housing at EMOTAN Gardens.
In fact, as I am standing right now, everything I met here (in my house), my income is not there or part of it. The House was actually given to me by His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki. I am so happy, am overwhelmed. Words cannot even express my joy.
Today, I am a landlady due to the recognition of hard work and dedication by the Governor of Edo State. And one thing I so cherish from His Excellency is that he rewards excellence.
He rewards competence and hard work. In fact, I have come to believe the saying that “Hard work Pays”!
From my teaching experience for the past twenty years now, I have been teaching with the whole of my system; that is my soul, my body and my spirit – Because, I know that teaching is not just a noble experience but also a mission for the good hearted.
What are those specific things you did for the Governor to have given you this housing award.
In fact as a science teacher, in spite of the challenges we face, I do not look at it. I do not allow the challenges to deter me or distract me. If you have a vision, you will know what you are doing and remain focused. So I do my job, prepare my students, not knowing that I was equally upgrading myself.
So why preparing the students for competitions, I equally keyed into competitions. That is, competing with Educators both at the State and at the National. The Mathematics Teacher of the Year Award is an award organised by the Ministry of Education, Nigeria, in conjunction with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT). I keyed into the competition alongside with other one thousand others from Edo State. I emerged as the State Winner.
So as the State winner, you are then to represent your State. That was precisely 2020.
From the 36 States including Abuja FCT, the States champions went to Eko Hotel Lagos, for the National competition.
Twenty 20 Champion was selected and I was included. From then onwards, they started calling my name Edo State. The State Level was now my name. At this point, I told myself that I have to now put on the clothes of Edo State. And I have to make the State and the Governor proud, because, it was just 2019 that the Governor won the Best Governor in Education, awarded to him by the National Union of Teachers (NUT). The award was given to him by Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajuba at the National level.
So, I told myself that at this point, I cannot afford to fail. I had to put on more courage and work very hard at the National Competition. So Edo State came out among the best ten (10) and at that point, I stood out to be the only Government School among the Best 10. This was exactly where I said I was going to the National. And to God be the Glory, I came out to be the 2020 2nd Runner-Up (second in position), the First from Edo State and the First Female from Edo State. Because, often times, we always stop at the State level. I am the First to bring the National Cup to Edo State, the first female and surprisingly, from a Government/Public Schools.
As an Educator, you do not need to rest, you keep on upgrading. So I keyed into another competition, organised by Okonofua Foundation. I actually went to that completion as the Best Science Teacher. Surprisingly to me, I won the Best Science Teacher; I won the Best Public School Teacher and I won the Overall Best Teacher in Edo State. As if that was not enough, MTN (MPlus) made me their Educator 2020.
After that, I was scheduled to see the Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.
Honestly, I was not expecting it at all. During the meeting, the Governor said “I will give you a House and some money”. I was pleasantly surprise and overwhelmed.
So when we came out of the Governors office, which was precisely on the December 8, 2021, people started saying it was a political statement. Those statements did not deter me. I remained focus with my vision. I said since the statement came from His Excellency, he will surely do it. And today August 26, 2022, here I am, a Landlady. And I must say my 10 Kobo is not in this house. I did not contribute anything towards the building of this house. In fact, I did not know how the land came, the cements and other building materials.
All I have to say is to tell His Excellency that I am grateful. In fact, my family members are all here to rejoice with me because, it is a fulfilled dream.
I will always remain grateful, and I promise His Excellency, Governor Obaseki that I will always put in my best for towards his inputs in the educational system. I will not let him down.
