ESOA Tasks Special Assistants on Governance Literacy, Value Reorientation.
…As Commissioner Afegbua, Sonny Irabor Harp on Accountability, Citizen Trust
The Edo State Orientation Agency, ESOA, on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, held an engagement with all Special Assistants across the 18 Local Government Councils of Edo State as part of activities marking the 2026 ESOA Week.
The event, held at the Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, Airport Road, Benin City, brought together political appointees, government functionaries, political stalwarts, civil society organisations and heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.
The engagement was aimed at deepening governance literacy, strengthening value orientation and building citizen trust in line with the SHINE Agenda of the Governor Monday Okpebholo administration.
The Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, who was present at the event, tasked political appointees on effective information management and attitudinal change.
Prince Afegbua said there must be a deliberate and conscious attitudinal change by all political actors, stressing that indiscipline and misinformation waste public resources.
He noted that citizens must take ownership of government projects and programmes, adding that government belongs to the people.
The Commissioner listed the achievements of the Governor Monday Okpebholo administration in infrastructure, healthcare, education, security and other critical sectors, and urged the followership to engage in constructive criticism rather than deliberate falsehood.
He charged political appointees to shun greed, selfishness and to be accountable to the people they represent in government.
Delivering the keynote address on the theme: “Governance Literacy, Value Orientation and the Responsibility of Appointees in Building Citizen Trust,” veteran broadcast journalist and former Managing Director of African Independent Television, AIT, Mr. Sonny Irabor, defined governance literacy as the knowledge and understanding of how government operates, how public institutions function, how decisions are made and how citizens can hold leaders accountable.
According to him, appointees must understand the constitution, policy formulation and fiscal literacy.
“Appointees must understand policies and the problems those policies are meant to solve. You must be constantly abreast of civic literacy and responsibilities,” Irabor said.
He tasked political appointees on fairness, justice, integrity, empathy and tolerance, urging them to allay the fears of citizens and be open in decision making.
“Effectively communicate with citizens, don’t manipulate them. Kill mutual suspicion. Cement good relationship between government and the people. Communicate the needs of the people to government. Be a smooth bridge between the people and government,” he said.
Irabor also tasked citizens on patriotism and commitment to the common good, noting that political loyalty should not mean blind obedience.
“Political loyalty is not unquestioning obedience, but there should be earned trust, informed confidence and not blind obedience,” he stated.
He commended the state government for its strides in infrastructure development but noted that there will always be trust deficit between leadership and the public due to yawning expectations, urging government to build strong foundations, deliver measurable results and make public institutions accessible.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Affairs and Media, Comrade Haruna Braimah, spoke on the SHINE Agenda of the Governor Monday Okpebholo administration, describing it as a model of practical governance.
Braimah traced the historical development trajectory of Edo State in security, health, infrastructure, natural resources and education, stating that these form the core essence of the SHINE Agenda. He praised the Governor’s achievements in the key sectors and called for support from all appointees.
He commended the Director-General of ESOA, Mr. Maleke Idowu Monye, for changing the narrative and for reminding the people of government’s fight against insecurity and cultism, and applauded communal efforts in tackling insecurity.
He urged appointees to work diligently for the citizens and not forget party loyalty and the vision for the re election of Governor Okpebholo.
“The Governor is passionate about Edo State. You are responsible for the success of this administration. You must believe in the product for you to effectively market it,” Braimah said.
In his welcome address, the Director-General, Edo State Orientation Agency, Mr. Maleke Idowu Monye, said a new Edo is being unbundled and that the mandate is clear: one message, one government.
Monye said the responsibility of the Agency is to ensure that every citizen understands their role in building the Edo desired by all.
He tasked political appointees to be worthy ambassadors of the state, to defend government with facts and to join the Governor in shining the torchlight of peace, unity and progress for all.
He warned those who use social media to misrepresent government to always seek clarification from the Agency or risk being called out for spreading falsehood.
“Let us leave this hall today with a sense of purpose,” he said.
The ESOA Week continues with community sensitization and media engagements across the three senatorial districts.