Edo State Governor Mr. Godwin Obaseki has continued to show commitment, determination, courage and focus in developing all sphere of the economy of the State.
Obaseki is from the private sector and not a typical politicians who plays politics with everything at their disposal not minding the negative effect on those they lead but the governor of Edo State focused on doing things differently using his private sector background to change the narrative of the State.
The governor worked hard to change the narratives and transformed the economy of Edo State from that of a Civil Servant State to an investment destination in Nigeria, West Africa and the Sub-sahara using the private sector initiatives, experience and strategy.
Obaseki embraced people oriented policies, implementing programmes having the people of the State in mind as his administration work in ensuring it improve the standard of living of citizens of Edo State despite the dwindling nature of revenue from oil which is the main source of revenue for the nation.
Obaseki created a business friendly environment making it easier to woo potential investors into the State to invest in various sectors of the Edo economy including education, agriculture, environment, health, real estate, sports, tourism amongst others.
His developmental strategy cut across all the 18 local government area of Edo State working spontaneously across the three Senatorial District of Edo State. Take for instance Edojob headed by Mrs Ukinebo Dare was an initiative of the governor and a flagship programme whose platform he uses to create thousands of jobs in the last six years.
The State has collaborated with the German, Swiss, French and other European governments to establish Edojob centers across various local government area of the State as it train and exposes the youths to modern technology that will position them to face challenges of the future. Through the scheme, they get equip with relevant skills to enable them contribute to the development of the State, country and world at large.
The governor has changed the face of politics in the State using his developmental stride in education, health, sports, environment, transportation, tourism, creating a business friendly environment using technology as a platform to run his administration, ensuring transparency, accountability and service delivery to the people of Edo State.
He is massively transforming the entire sector in terms of using his private sector experience to gradually turn the State to a business destination for potential investors across the world as they travel to the State to invest as it’s sure to be a win-win situation for them as Edo is a safer place for doing business.
Aside from the urban areas, the governor has his eyes in the rural area of the State as his administration has also put modalities on ground to equally extend development to the rural areas as the city is becoming too small for investors and his administration’s plan is to spread development across all spheres of the Edo economy focusing on diversifying from oil to agriculture and other field.
The State is open for investment from both foreign and local partners in the agricultural, educational, heath, tourism and other viable sector in the rural area, the infrastructure in these areas must be good and something to write home about. The governor knowing this has began work in various rural areas that has not felt government impact before the coming of this administration.
Aside oil which is the main source of revenue for the nation, Edo State wants to standout and be a role model for other States in the federation as it focuses in diversifying its economy through sports, tourism, education, agriculture and the likes.
Talking about agriculture, Oke-Irhue Community in Uhunmwode Local is an agrarian one as it plays a leading role in cocoa cultivation and other cash and food crops that are highly perishable in nature, the inability to access larger markets on time due to the poor condition of the road exposes farmers to high risk of economic losses. This has further reinforced the quest of the Community for an accessible road which cannot be over emphasised because it will greatly boost agricultural activities in the locality.
Taking advantages of it’s potentials in the agricultural sector, members of Oke-Irhue Community in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the State has visited the governor to signify their readiness of collaborating with the government in diversifying the economy and key into the developmental agenda of the Godwin Obaseki led administration in fulfilling its MAKE EDO GREAT AGAIN (MEGA) agenda.
The community is ready to open it’s door to both foreign and local investors in the agricultural sectors and appeal to the governor to help them address some challenges that will frustrates the move of transforming the Community.
The President of Oke-Irhue Community General Assembly (OCGA), Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State, Mr. Rufus Nosakhae Akpasubi led a delegation to government house and were received by the Chief of Staff to the governor Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha who promised to transmits all their request to the governor of the State who loves to carry Edo citizens along as all work together to move the state forward.
The President of OCGA, Mr. Rufus Nosakhae Akpasubi led other executive members of the group on the courtesy visit to government house in Benin City. Those that came with the president include; Vice President Mr. Philip Osaze,
General Secretary Mr. Patrick Irabor, Assistant General Secretary Barr. Edwin Atohengbe, Welfare/Social Secretary Mr. Patrick Igharosa, Rep. Edo State Zone Mr. Festus Idiagbonya. Others are Education Committee Chairman Mr. Philip Lawani, Rep. Edo State Zone Pastor Charles Ugiagbe and PRO of the group Barr. Emmanuel Efosa Idahosa .
Mr. Akpasubi who address the governor on behalf of the Odionwere of Oke -Irhue, Elders-in-Council, and the Oke-Irhue Community General Assembly (OCGA) commended Godwin Obaseki for his developmental stride in all sphere of the economy of the State and his purposeful leadership has engendered peaceful co-existence amongst the numerous tribes in Edo State.
The group also commend the zeal and unparalleled commitment of the governor to the provision of basic economic and social infrastructures that are already yielding dividends to households and legitimate businesses, appealing to him to extend such to the Community pledging the readiness of the people to collaborate with his administration to succeed.
As a mark of appreciation for the governor’s numerous achievements, the community and the people of Oke-Irhue Ward 4, in Uhunmwode LG, therefore re-affirm their un-alloyed support to his Administration and align with his developmental agenda in Edo State.
The President of OCGA, Mr. Rufus Nosakhae Akpasubi appreciated the governor for his sincere efforts in Education, Road constructions and rehabilitations across Edo State especially that of Ehor/Oke-Irhue/Uhiere Road which he personally flagged off about three years ago.
“Although about 5.5km had been asphalted out of the stretch of about 22km between Ehor and Uhiere, work had stopped on the remaining portion of the Road as the Contractor had since withdrawn from site for whatever reasons known to them.
“We strongly believe that your Excellency don’t abandoned projects as your signature in terms of project completion is there for us to see. Therefore, we have come to draw your attention and appeal to you to help us complete the Road because of its strategic and economic importance and the other communities in Uhunmwode Ward 4. We are in distress due to the deplorable state of the Road in our Community and our people are having sleepless night but believe in your capability to change our narrative”.
The President drew the attention of the governor to the Primary Healthcare facility built over 30 years ago and its in a very deplorable condition despite the Community’s contribution to give it a face lift, as it requires such in terms of facilities and adequate health care Practitioners.
“We have embarked on electricity project in the Community through communal efforts since 2018. We are now on the second phase of the project by trying to cover the areas not yet reached with concrete poles, electric cables and Transformers. We therefore solicit for your assistance to energise the entire Community. You have done it through Ossiomo power plant, sir a touch from you in this area will make the difference.
“On education, Oke-Irhue Community Mixed Secondary school is the only secondary school in ward 4 which had since been in comatose. We as a people through OCGA is currently renovating the dilapidated and abandoned portion of the only Primary School in our Community to accommodate the JSS one to three. The permanent site of the Secondary School had been abandoned because of its remote location from the Community due to security challenges.
“We know that Education is of paramount importance to your administration and Oke-Irhue Community are ready to key into your laudable programme in education and therefore solicit your support to revamp education in Oke-Irhue by helping us relocate the School within the Community and we are ready to support this course.
Responding Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, said his government will continue to prioritize education, health and other critical sectors of the state’s economy, ensuring a prosperous and progressive Edo where all citizens are able to realize their fullest potential.
Obaseki who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha said his administration is taking the health needs of his people seriously and sustaining efforts to bring quality healthcare services closer to the people.
He noted, “We are working on our primary healthcare system as we are focused on having one primary healthcare center per ward to bring healthcare closer to the people in rural areas. We are working in various areas in the State, especially on our roads but the rains are here already and not much can be done now until after the rains”.
Reassuring the government’s commitment to sustaining investment in the education sector, Obaseki stated, “We are seriously looking at the issue of schools in the community and would ensure they benefit from our educational transformation which we have embarked on through the EdoBEST programme.”
