The Edo State Commissioner for Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development, Honourable Isoken Omo launched the grand finale of the Urban October Symposium / Master Plan Competition Project.
The symposium held at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin City on Thursday, October 31, began with competitions from secondary schools, technical colleges, and tertiary institutions categories from Edo North, Edo Central, and Edo South Senatorial Districts.
The project which was launched with the theme: “Youths Leading Climate and Local Actions for Cities: Youth Involvement in Designing Resilience Cities Through the Master Plan Implementation”, was done to lay down plans for the involvement of the youths in Edo State’s Master Plan for the next 30 years.
The Master Plan for Edo State which was launched with the theme: “Edo State Master Plans: A Pathway to the New Edo Nation” marked the 33-year celebration of the creation of the state as part of the strategies for preserving the Edo urban area, ensuring an orderly society and a guide for long term physical development.
The initiative brought together dignitaries, commissioners, and students from different institutions of learning, attendees were: Students of Oredo Girls College, Imaguero College, Eghosa Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School, Oba Ewuare Grammar School, Ogbe College, Edo College, Benin Technical College and St John Bosco’s College.
Others are Egor Technical College, Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, Shaka Polytechnic, Eyaen Secondary School, Auchi Polytechnic, and Ambrose Ali University among others.
The awardees of the grand finale of the Urban October Symposium competition were; The Secondary School Category – First place with a price of N300,000, second place, N200,000, and third place with a sum of N150,000.
The technical college category with the same award price, while for the tertiary institution category: the winner from Ambrose Ali University, the second place from Shaka Polytechnic, and the third place from Auchi Polytechnic.
Blessed Uwoghiren an awardee from Eyaen Secondary School, winner of the secondary school category said, “I would like to tell them a big thank you for the planning and setting up I’m grateful to them for what they have done. They made me attain a great height in my academic career and I want to say a big thank you to them. I want them to continue the good work they are doing.
“My advice to other students is that academics pay, they should keep being focused, knowing the purpose why they are in school, and follow their ambitions in life”.
Itebimien victory from Afuze Technical College, winner of the technical college category said, “It all started last week when my teacher informed me about the quiz competition she gave me the Benin City Master Plan, the Edo State Regional Master Plan.
“I started reading it we were many tho but I came out for Afuze Technical College and I won for the Edo North and I was qualified for the competition held today.
“The Master Plan is just to make Benin City a place where people can come and make investments and become a place for tourist attraction.
“When the education sector is up to date with quality teachers and up-to-date facilities for education it will empower people like me“.
In addition, the new ambassadors for the Edo Master Plan were sworn in as they took their oath and charge of office for the work ahead.
