…receives state’s policy, report science, tech, innovation
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said the government is undertaking a holistic revamp of the state’s education system, retooling and realigning the sector to focus on science, technology and innovation.
Obaseki said this when he received members of the Edo Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, who were at the Government House, Benin City, to present the Edo State Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and Report, to the Governor.
Governor Obaseki said, “We have realized that our education policy has to be retooled and realigned to emphasize science, technology and innovation. This is currently going on as we speak. We are transforming EdoBEST to EdoBEST 2.0
“The setting up of this committee triggered awareness across the country and we were anxiously waiting for this policy and report, which will help the State to look at TVET to meet up with the World Bank’s requirements on assisting us on TVET.
“The World Bank came up with projects and funding on science and technology-oriented projects on the educational level focusing on TVET. It will be helpful to look at the report and see what you recommended on TVET and see how it aligns and how to incorporate it into what we currently agreed. TVET is a whole new process of education, helping people to rethink science.”
He further stated, “We are also working on decentralizing healthcare to the primary healthcare centers. We should be able to reach people with modern knowledge and trends in providing healthcare. The Executive Council took a decision that will put Edo at the forefront as the smartest state in the country, by finalizing the transaction to ensure that every local government in Edo is connected to fibre before the end of this year.
“This will enable us to get science and technology to the homes of thousands of our citizens in the State. This draft policy and the report will help us. The policy is important, especially as we are thinking 30 years out under our social, economic, and urban and development. We are ensuring that it’s anchored on science, technology and innovation.
“Our focus now is an action plan on how to bring to life some of the policies in this draft and report,” the governor noted.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Kensington Obahiagbon, while presenting the policy and report to the governor, thanked him for the opportunity to serve the State.
He said, “We were able to reach out to innovators from different spheres of the state, both in public, private, and academia as they were able to showcase their innovation.
“We selected the best five that represented the State at the National Expo held in Abuja held in March last year where Edo State came second in the competition.”
