The Edo State Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo has been described as an administrator, whose vision and pragmatic leadership qualities have brought about development and remarkable reforms in the Civil and Public Service, as well as the State in general.
The Edo State Head of Service (HOS), Dr. Anthony Okungbowa Esq., made the submissions in a keynote address at a Stakeholder’s Sensitization Workshop with the theme; “Advancing Edo together: The People’s View of Governor Okpebholo’s Achievements”, organized by the Ministry of Information and Communication at the New Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City.
Dr. Okungbowa, who represented Governor Okpebholo at the event, stressed the need for Government to engage and report to the people at all times, against the backdrop that the government derives its power from the people and that it is the social contract of government to provide security for the people.
The Moderator of the event and Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, declared that the Governor’s commitment to transforming Edo State into portable paradise will give pleasure and not pain to the people. He added that projects being executed by the current administration will bring pleasure and restore the State to an irreversible path of developmental progress.
Hon. Ohonbamu noted that the Stakeholder’s engagement which is the third since his assumption of office this year, is aimed at enlightening the people of the State on the various developmental projects of the Governor and to harvest feedbacks or healthy criticisms from the people, which will enable the Government make quality policy decisions.
A panelist at the event, Prof. Felix Oriakhi, of the Department of Political Science, Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, commended the Governor for reviving the New Edo Line Transportation Service as well as the massive investments in the Education Sector and reforms in the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. He however urged the Governor to revive technical education and other moribund State-owned enterprise to place the State in the best competitive position among the comity of states in the Country.
Other panelists including the Director General of the Edo State Migration Agency, Hon. Chief Lucky Agazuma; the functioning Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Engr. Friday Obanor; the functioning Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Sunday Osayande; and the Managing Director of Edo Broadcasting Service, Mr. Sulaiman Aledeh; gave insights of the various achievements recorded by Gov. Okpebholo in their various ministries, departments and agencies.
Their views were corroborated by various stakeholder’s drawn from the civil society organizations, students’ unions, religious organizations, heads of local government councils, traditional institutions, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (Edo State Council), amongst others, who appreciated the Governor for turning Edo State into a construction site and improving on the welfare of residents in the State.
There was also a goodwill message from the Coordinator, Office of the Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Anani. A consensus view by the stakeholder’s affirmed that the series of sensitization workshop as organized by the Ministry of Information and Communication under Gov. Okpebholo’s leadership has greatly improved citizens’ trust for the government.
Aichienede Akhabue Goodluck
Public Relations Officer
Ministry of Information and Communication
