Kakaki

A Bill for a law to provide a legal framework for the establishment of the Edo State Oil Palm Programme on Monday passed through second reading on the floor of the Edo State House of Assembly.

Leading the debate for the passage of the bill, the Majority leader, Mr Charity Aiguobarueghian said the bill when passed, seeks to provide a legal framework for the development of the Edo State Oil Palm Industry

Aiguobarueghian noted that oil Palm had been the mainstay of the state economy long before crude oil was discovered.

He noted that the oil palm industry was a billion dollar industry that has the potential to boost the revenue of the state.

He added that, Edo was one of the leading states in oil palm cultivation and production hence the need for a legal framework to strengthen the sector.

According to him, in view of the importance of this bill, I urge you all to support the passage as it will help to regulate oil Palm production activities in the state.

The Deputy Speaker, Maria Edeko (PDP Esan North East 11) in her contribution said that the bill, when implemented would provide job opportunities for the youth and increase the state Internally generated revenue (IGR).

Other lawmakers in their contributions supported the passage of the bill, saying that, the bill, when passed would secure the development of oil Palm production in the state.

The Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku thereafter, directed the bill to the house committee on Agriculture for further action.

Meanwhile, the Speaker has inaugurated the house standing committee on Information, Sports, Youth and Humanitarian affairs with a charge on them to work with the respective ministries, departments and agencies(MDA’s) during its oversight functions.

Agbebaku urged the respective MDA’s to cooperate with the house standing committees in order to achieve the desired goals of the Make Edo Great Again (MEGA) agenda of the state government.

Speaking shortly after the inauguration, the chairman of the committee, Donald Okogbe said oversight functions would be a priority of the committee in order to monitor budget performance of each MDA’s

Also, the State Commissioner for communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, who was present at the inauguration of the committee, pledged the loyalty and the cooperation of the executive whenever called upon.

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The frenzy around the Edo 2024 Guber race has made many political pundits to offer mass media opinion on the type of Leadership that is expected or needed in Edo State considering the political momentum that is currently being generated .

Accordingly, public-spirited individuals and various support groups are raising serious concerns over the quality of a Leader that is needed for the position of a Governor in Edo state

Political pundits and various support groups in the state are in search of a :

• Leader that will offer a fresh perspective and a overriding drive for social – economic Transformation of the state. Some political pundits in the state are of the views that Fr Andrew Obinyan is to the rescue for Edo state in the wake of the Edo guber race.

Unlike other Governorship contestants in the Edo 2024 Guber race state, Fr Andrew Obinyan offers a new perspective on the Edo 2024 Guber race.

It is worthy to note that the cardinal objectives of any good government among other things is to improve the quality of lives of the people, to bring the government closer to the people through the various representatives at the various arms of government and to deliver a people oriented policies and projects that will bring about development and growth of the state.

These objectives can not drive itself but by a focus , dedicated and committed Leader .

This is where Fr Andrew Obinyan has distinguished himself as he is committed to integrity, accountability and transparency judging from his 27 years of pastoral work.

The quintessential Rev Fatheŕ has no baggage of being accused of embezzling the common patrimony of the people as evidenced in his 27 years of pastoral service.

He is fondly referred to within and outside the state as the ” the Welfarist man.

His unrelenting support for the vulnerable and less previledge over the years in the state and outside the state bear eloquent testimony of his love for the people .

He is accessible to everyone that has cross his path.

Many believe that the choice of Fr Andrew Obinyan as Governor remains the best choice ever as he will be committed to the task of repositioning the state for social economic prosperity.

Fr Andrew Obinyan, for the past 27 years has blazed the trail as a Servant of God without any house or material thing in his possession.

Over the years, he has preoccupied himself with the business of raising armies of Kingdom minded people.

In a related development, opinion moulders are of the view that what Edo state need now is a Unifier who has the capacity to build bridges of unity across the troubled water of division.

This is were Fr Andrew Obinyan stands out. He has demonstrated uncommon Leadership style in a detribalized Roman catholic setting flowing from his skilled spiritual professionalism with which he has successfully led and managed the Catholic faithfuls over the years.

This, however give credence to the fact that Rev Fr Andrew Obinyan has all what it takes to provide the much needed Leadership for the state at this critical moment

Julius Ebakota writes from Benin

The Management of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, has announced the appointment of Mr Mike Aladenika as the Head of Corporate Communications of the University.

A statement issued by the University’s Acting Registrar, Ambrose Odiase, said the appointment was part of the bid to reposition the institution.

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Our institution is undergoing rebranding in all facets and our corporate image is important to the growth of the institution, thus the need to engage a professional with requisite cognate experience.

“It is the belief of the Management that with the appointment of a senior media practitioner, our rebranding process is gradually climaxing, thus putting AAU at an enviable position among the comity of institutions of higher learning.

“Nigerians and our dear people of Edo State should know that Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, is not only an institution of today but one with its eyes into the future.

Otunba Mike Aladenika, is a product of the then Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti and the International Institute of journalism.

He served as Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council.

He was a former Head of News and Current Affairs, AIT Benin, Chairman, Online Media Practitioners and Principal Editor, SPARKNEWSNAIJA.

The Deputy Speaker of Edo House of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Maria Edeko on Thursday called on celebrities and the young generation in Nigeria to steer clear of drugs to enable them stay focused in their chosen career.

Edeko made the call when the management and members of the Twinsporium Entertainment Agency paid a courtesy visit to her office at the Edo house of assembly complex in Benin.

She noted that the menace of drug abuse had in the past brought devastating consequences including physical and mental health problems, financial difficulties and death to the many successful celebrities in Nigeria.

“As professionals, one thing you people must avoid as celebrities is drugs because drugs destroy irretrievably.

“Most of our greatest artists today have been destroyed by drugs .You can make billions from your career and the billions will go the way it came if you do drugs.

“So I am happy to see a group of people who are committed to discovering raw talents, develop the talents and empowering these youths to earn a living.

“At the end of the day, what we need is something to keep the younger generation busy to enable them live a comfortable life,” she said.

The deputy Speaker who also warned against human trafficking and sexual harassment, said human trafficking and sexual exploitation of both genders has been the bane of the nation.

” As you are aware, we have been plagued with the menace of human trafficking and exploitation. In the past people could travel aboard to study and they will return back to Nigeria.

“But today, it is no longer so. People now engage in human trafficking, exploitation to earn a living. God has blessed us with everything but we Africans are selfish people.

“As long as Africans continue to think about themselves before the common good of the nation, we are going nowhere,”she added.

Edeko, however, called on the beauty Queens and other contestants to carry themselves with dignity and respect adding that those were the only qualities that would get them to their destinations.

She said “professionals must be people that are seeking knowledge . As you are going into this contest, go into the internet, search for those qualities you need to posses to get you the crown not just beauty .

“In a contest like this, your communication skills, intelligence and self respect would be put to test.it is not in nudity that you are beautiful , beauty is an inner thing.

“So, I want you to hold yourself in high esteem. And for you the organizers, you must not sexually abuse them. If anybody sexually tries to abuse you, come to me, I will send the person to jail.

“I can see here that you are training them in acting, modelling and event management. Developing human beings is the greatest thing you can do for mankind.

According to her, I shall convey to Mr speaker that you were here and it will be good to create time to see him too so that as a house we will be supporting the development of our children.

“These are the legacies we can leave behind. This is empowerment for our children, it is something very serious and very important,”.

The Majority leader of the house, Charity Aiguobarueghian and the member representing Igueben , Inegbebor Ojie, urged the beauty Queens and the contestants to be good ambassadors of the brand they represent.

Earlier, the President of the Twinsporium Entertainment Agency, Udo Peter Oshomah said that the primary objective of the agency is to discover raw talents in the entertainment industry.

Oshomah explained that the agency helps to develop talents in modelling, acting choreography and event planning among others.

“We are redefining the ethics of modelling and pageantry by propagating our cultural values and morality with respect to the dignity of womanhood.

He told the deputy Speaker that the agency was a platform for young girls and boys to harness their potentials in the entertainment industry,” he said.

According to him, the visit was to present the Queens and contestants of Miss Beauty Pageant International 2023/24, models of Twinsporium Entertainment Agency to the deputy Speaker for words of encouragement.

.The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Thursday inaugurated “Edo Sure 4 You” campaign under the Managing Migration through Development 2:0 Project (MMDP) in Edo.

Speaking during the launch of the MMDP: 2:0 awareness campaign, Wintana Terekegn, Head of sub-office IOM, Benin said the project would provide sustainable reintegration support to returned migrants in Edo.

Terekegn noted that the launch was to show the danger of irregular migration and trafficking in persons and provide access to information on safe migration and available opportunities in the state.

Terekegn noted that the project had designed a communication for development approach, an evidenced based and participatory framework to design its awareness raising activities.

“The project was designed to ensure the participation of community members and other stakeholders in a design lab and pre-test that led to the production of short videos, jingles and education materials.

“Providing key messages on safe migration pathways as well as availability of local opportunities in target communities,” she said.

According to her, the creative content will be disseminated on social media in partnership with influencers in addition to television and radio.

Also, the IOM Awareness Raising Officer, Cyprine Cheptepkeny who gave the overview of the project said IOM was committed to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all.

Cyprine thanked the Italian government for funding project through the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Senior Special Assistant to governor Godwin Obaseki on sustainable partnership, Uyi Osifo represented the office of the governor at the event.

Osifo said the awareness campaign would serve as an alarm to the youth in Edo and urged them to resist the allure of irregular migration.

According to him, the aim was to foster a culture of informed decision-making, guiding our youth away from perilous paths and towards a brighter and more promising future.

A panel discussants at event spoke on the importance of discouraging irregular migration and the need to promote safe migration

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), on Saturday has said that any consumed power must be paid for now, unlike what was obtainable in the past.

The Managing Director, MD/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Praveen Chorghade, stated this during a one-day interactive session with customers in Onitsha, with the theme ‘Customer Engagement Session,’ in Onitsha.

Chorghade, who was represented by the Head, Corporate Communication, Mr Emeka Ezeh, described the session as a platform earmarked periodically for interaction with the customers towards having improved power supply.

Ezeh disclosed that the Covid-19 pandemic stopped the constant EEDC and customer session, adding that it would now continue to be held.

According to him, the customer engagement session wasto reach out to our customers and we do this to get direct impact with our customers.

“The whole idea is to serve you, customers. It is obvious that any consumed power must be paid for now.

“Unlike what was obtainable in the past when we off set some of the bills sometimes on our own,” he said.

He further said that presently, Southeast receives nine per cent of the power supply and as such will not be distributed to all even as it contributes to epileptic power supply.

He expressed optimism that with time there would be improvement in the power supply.

“When customers pay for power supply, we collect only 27 per cent of the money paid and remit the bulk sum to the authority that gave us the power supply.

“Some people don’t even know if we don’t pay we are disconnected,” he further hinted.

In his remarks, the Head of Commercial, Central 2, Mr Nwachukwu Obinna, lamented vandalism of EEDC transformers and equipment.

Obinna urged the customers to always expose such vandals.

A customer, Sunday Udensi, expressed satisfaction with the session and urged the EEDC not to relent at ensuring constant sessions.

Crowds of Worshippers from Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State gathered at St. James Catholic Church, Auchi for a Mid- Year Revival Programme presided over by Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Obinyan who started his Priestly ministry at the Catholic Diocese of Auchi 25 years ago.

In his Homily entitled ” Punctuality of Spiritual Blessings”, the Priest urged the congregation never to be discouraged under trying circumstances and delay, noting that “desired blessings come in glorious forms when we pray and rely on God even in hopeless situations”.

The host Priest, Fr. Ireneus Ikhane and Ambassador Chris Ighodaro described the visit of Fr. Obinyan as home coming and commended his untiring zeal in bringing the Good News and healing grace to lives and every situation where human woes abound.

For the Charismatic Renewal leader Joseph Osilimah, it was an unusual revival and encounter with the Holy Spirit and he thanked God for the gift of Fr. Obinyan to the church and humanity .

The programme featured Holy Mass, Adoration, Prayers for Healing, Deliverance and Blessing the Land.

Earlier, the Cleric was at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Auchi for a similar programme.

The Forum of Esan workers in the Edo State House of Assembly on Wednesday congratulated Hon. Maria Edekor on her emergence as Deputy Speaker of the house.

The Forum also congratulated other lawmakers from Edo central on their victories in the just concluded House of Assembly election in the state.

The Spokesperson for the forum, Mrs Sarah Okhuoya said they came to felicitate with the deputy speaker and other Edo central lawmakers and identify with them haven come from the same senatorial district.

Okhuoya while praying for the success of the lawmakers in eight assembly, urged the deputy speaker and her colleagues to give quality representation to their various constituencies.

Responding on behalf of other lawmakers from Edo Central, the Deputy Speaker, Maria Edekor, thanked them for the visit and assured the staff members that their welfare would be taken seriously.

Edekor disclosed that the leadership of the house was proposing a technical reform in the assembly that would make them ICT compliant.

“Reforms are not bad. What we are proposing is to make you better than your contemporaries in the ministry and in the Judiciary.

“Do not think that you will lose your jobs as a result of the reform. Disabuse your minds about retrenchment. We are here to protect you and help you rediscover yourselves technically,” she said.

Similarly, Members of the Edo House of Assembly Correspondents from various Media houses, covering the house’s activities also visited the deputy Speaker to familiarize themselves with her.

The Deputy Speaker, while responding to the media practitioners, acknowledged that the media was critical to the success of any government.

According to him, we are happy that you are here. You are critical stakeholders. If you are not here to project us, nobody would know what we are doing here.

Highpoints of the visits were the presentation of congratulatory cards to the deputy Speaker and other Edo central lawmakers.

Embrace ICT for your own good, Edo Deputy speaker urges assembly staff

The Edo state Deputy speaker Maria Edekor on Wednesday called on members of the Edo State House of Assembly Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) to upskill their knowledge in Information Communication Technology (ICT) so as to expand their capabilities.

Edekor, who  made the call when members of the association visited her at the assembly complex in Benin, said being ICT compliant would  make them more proficient in their duties and improve quality of government services.

She noted that governor Godwin Obaseki had digitalised the state public and  civil service adding that the state had moved away from analog to digital economy and e-governance.

Edekor said “this is the 21st century and every staff working in the  ministry and in the judiciary are ICT compliant.

“ICT has helped  workers in the ministry to automate government services that previously required bureaucratic hassles.

“I am very saddened to see that the staff working in the Edo state house of assembly  operates an analog system. You have been left behind.

“I have asked my colleagues how an analog system can perform an oversight function over a digital system.

“If you are in Edo state, you will know that your counterpart in the ministry and Judiciary have been upskilled and their lives have been transformed.

“I wonder how someone will get to a director here and do not even know how to operate  computer or a laptop.

“If you were to be transferred to the ministry or other agency of government in this state, you cannot fit in because you have been left behind technically,” she said

Edekor further stated that as a former commissioner in the ministry of Social development and Gender issues, she  reformed the ministry by training and retraining of all staff in ICT.

She explained that she had worked in different capacities as a lecturer, commissioner and heads of different bodies such as the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) adding that she knew how effective service delivery could be, using ICT.

“Many of my staff then that we trained, some of them have gotten job with international organization because of the digital skills they acquired while working in Edo state.

“People are always afraid of change and the changes are  for your own good.  Do not be afraid that you might lose your job with the reform that is coming.

“Nobody lost their job in the ministry where the digital reforms started. I am able to function in different capacities because of the experiences I have gathered in ICT over the years.

According to her, the EdoBEST programme in the state is a testimony of how digitalised system can enhance productivity and performance. Edo teachers can comfortably compete with their counterparts anywhere in the world using ICT.

“So be prepared to develop yourselves. If you do not change, you will be left behind.Whether government buys laptop for you or not, try and buy one and learn how to use it, it will help you a lot,” she added.

The deputy Speaker noted that she would be working with the Speaker and other members of the house to design a road map and strategic work plan for the assembly.

“By the special grace of God, I am going to work with you people and I will begin to advocate seriously for your upskilling by training you to become ICT compliant.

“I want to be remembered for a positive change in people’s lives. I want to see that the human beings that come my way are better than the way I met them.

“I am very happy to have you in my office, my doors are opened for conversations and ideas of how we can do things differently”.

Earlier, the chairman of PASAN,  Haruna Farouk said the staff would appreciate the deputy Speaker, if all she had said would be carried out to enhance their performance.

Farouk said “from all you have said, we can see that you have the welfare of staff at heart. We will gladly make ourselves available for the ICT training so that we are not left behind.

Wikimedia Foundation, a free online encyclopaedia, on Saturday issued certificates to 39 successful teachers in Anambra who participated in the one month training on the use of Wikipedia website for digital education.

The one month training took place at Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) Onitsha.

Presenting the certificates, the free online encyclopaedia lead facilitator, Mrs Obiageli Ezeilo, said that the training focused mostly on reading Wikipedia in the classroom for junior and senior secondary school teachers and students.

The facilitator said that 50 teachers participated in the training but 39 were successful adding that teachers who were not successful still have the opportunity to reapply for training.

Ezeilo attributed their failure to so many factors that included, absence from classes, lateness, lack of seriousness to learning, among others.

She said that the aim was geared towards teaching teachers on how to access and improve their media and information literary skills in the classroom.

She explained that the programme was a free online training designed for teachers to learn how to integrate Wikipedia as a learning tool in the classroom.

The facilitator stressed the need for them to master Wikipedia website to improve their Information and Communications’ Technology (ICT) skills.

“Wikipedia is a reliable tool for teaching, as it assists in research ability, ICT compliance, digital compliance, assists in this 21st century teachers,” she said.

Earlier, Dr Perpetua Osuchukwu, a resource person in Wikipedia, explained that the training at DMGS was a pilot project.

She said that it would soon be spread to other zones with a view to making the teachers to be Wikipedia digital friendly for easy access on website information.

Osuchukwu noted that those teachers who did not make it still have opportunity to reapply and commence training in the various zones of Wikipedia centers.

Also, a computer science teacher in Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Mr Ayo Abiodun, commended the organisers of the programme, adding that he would put all the knowledge and skills acquired during the training in use.