Social Reporters News Service, published by IOE Publishers - CAC/BN/3400383

The Edo State Government has expressed readiness to partner with VLISCO Group to support skills acquisition programme for youths in the state, as part of efforts to tackle the scourge of human trafficking and slavery. Governor Godwin Obaseki, said this while playing host to top management of VLISCO, led by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), David Suddens, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Benin City, the Edo State Capital on Monday. Obaseki said the goal of his administration is to empower the youths by creating an environment that will attract businesses and employment opportunities. “As a government, our plan is to first attract businesses to the state and ensure that they thrive by taking advantage of our strategic location as a logistics hub,” he said. He lamented that with a population of about 4.5 million people, 60 percent under the age of 25, many of the youths want to travel abroad. He explained that given “the strategic location of the state, the E

The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has made a strong case for the enhancement of judicial workers’ capacity in the National Policy on Justice 2017, which is currently being reviewed. According to Obaseki, this will address the capacity challenge faced by operators in the judicial system with consequent impact on the rights of Nigerian citizens, and law and order. Obaseki made the case while declaring open a two-day National Sensitisation Workshop on the National Policy on Justice in Benin City, on Monday. He said, “The policy should address the issues of sound structures and processes for the judicial system; the need to improve capacities of judicial operators, and put into consideration the role of alternative dispute system in the country to protect the rights of citizens.”                                    The governor said that the implementation of a National Policy on justice is apt as the Nigerian Justice system needs to be reformed. “Our administrativ

I read in a post where the author blamed the unemployment rate on Nigeria's youth. He suggested agriculture as a means of employment n livelihood. I do not agree totally with his position and therefore have a few queries for him. How many farmers in Nigeria drive in convoys, own property in Nigeria or/and offshore? How many farmers have constant supply of electricity, portable water, motorable roads and access to the international market? How many farmers can afford machines, tractors 🚜, processing equipment and other advanced farming tools at the current high cost? How many farmers have the capacity for mass production of farm animals or The  capacity for rapid multiplication of crops. How many farmers know the importance of employing AGRIC consultants, technicians, engineers, scientists, business developers or corporate executives?  Who, in the government can be trusted to disburse billions of Naira to farmers with all these accusations n counter accusations going on in g

By Erasmus Ikhide PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari's trump card in 2019 presidential election wouldn't be signposted on war against corruption. That's if he is strong enough to take a shot at the presidency for a second time. It would be something else, unknown to Nigerians. Because the anti-corruption plank upon which he stood to pull the rug off former President Goodluck Jonathan's foot is weakened and has lost its lustre. President Jonathan's corrupt dealings can now be properly said to be mere stealing, while under Mr. Buhar, corruption is the air the nation breathes.  Dead on economic recovery direction, lack of initiatives on power generation, killing and kidnapping of Nigerians by his Fulani herdsmen, inequality of education, and other woes plaguing the nation, President Buhari has shamed himself as an ethnic potentate whose bigotry is beyond comprehension. Buhari's Presidency which stands on antigraft solo soil has been romanticising with the nation's pa

THE Congress of the NUJ in Benin City held on Tuesday which had in attendance the CPS to the deputy governor, Mr Musa dissolved and rejected the report of its Ethics and Disciplinary Committee. The standing committee investigated the 9 suspended journalists accused of conspiring to steal N5million out of the N10million approved for empowerment of journalists working outside the Governor's office by the Edo state government. The congress rejected the report because some members felt the committee went contrary to mandate amidst allegations that its members may have compromised. Congress was expected to ratify the report before sending it to the National Secretariat but Congress asked that a new Committee be set up to complete the work already started while the 9 remain indefinitely suspended and barred from entering the NUJ Press Center, chapel office or attending any NUJ event. The congress was told that the committee could not get the Edo government voucher with which the mone

Kunle Falayi in 2014, the President of the National Association of Women Journalists, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Omowole, sold the idea of low cost housing for women journalists in the state to the National Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council. Three years down the line, with contributions running into almost N100m, no journalist or contributor to the scheme has got any house while prospect of getting refunds for their money has become bleak. The questions arose about what has become of the contributions of more than 700 subscribers and why there only exist three “prototype units” on the said site. The 800-plot project called Pen Jewel City, a low-cost housing scheme, was to be built by an international organisation, Counselling Research Consulting & Investment Africa, as empowerment for women journalists. The pool of subscribers was supposed to raise $250,000 representing 40 per cent of the cost. Saturday PUNCH  learnt that NUJ had 1,634 plots of land at Mowe, Ogun State, which the

By Peter Nwokolo The agitation for some sort of restructuring of the Nigerian State has always been a recurring issue since our independence in 1960. Major Isaac Adaka Boro, a young, idealistic officer of the Nigerian armed forces from the Niger Delta region started what can be described as a protest demanding for greater autonomy and resource control for the oil producing areas and of course, the 3 year civil war which started in 1967 and ended in 1970 was also a result of the inability of the Federal military authorities then to effect wide ranging restructuring measures that would have set the country on the path to sustainable peace and stability. In the wake of the civil war, a peace conference was held in Aburi Ghana, to try to fashion out a workable model for the new nation that would ensure justice, equity, even development and autonomy for the 3 regions that make up the Nigerian federation then, but again the Federal military authorities reneged on its agreement to allow for

Horse Durbar in honour of Oba Ewuare II during the 1st Coronation Anniversary at the Oba Palace Women dancers from Nupe entertaining HRM Oba Ewuare II at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium during the Horse Durbar to mark the 1st Coronation Anniversary of HRM Oba Ewuare II Hausa music/flute player from Sokoto performing during the Dubar in honour of HRM Oba Ewuare II at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium A cross section of Palace Chiefs during the 1st Coronation Anniversary of HRM Oba Ewuare II Inneh Theatre Troupe performing during the 1st Coronation Anniversary of HRM Oba Ewuare II Edo Cultural Theatre Group performing at the 1st Coronation Anniversary of HRM Oba Ewuare II Horsemen during the Durbar to celebrate the 1st Coronation Anniversary of HRM Oba Ewuare II at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Children of Southpoint Royal Academy performing at the 1st Coronation Anniversary of HRM Oba Ewuare II Miss Ifueko, winner of the Beauty Pageant at the Gala Night to mark the 1st Coronation Annivers

Alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumene Onwuamadike, has arrived the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere where he has two pending charges bordering on murder and illegal possession of firearms. He was brought into the court as usual by heavily-armed, combat-ready policemen. The court scheduled this morning to hear his application challenging the competence of the two separate charges.

BY: Desmond  Agbama Chief Press Secretary to Oba of Benin  On Thursday 20th October, 2016 the history of Benin Kingdom was re-written as Oba Ewuare the second becomes the new Oba of Benin. Against the expectations that Oba Ewuare the second would be the 39th Oba of Benin, the Oba in his address on the occasion of his coronation put in proper perspective the historical records. Oba Ewuare the second while giving a brief historical account of the Obaship throne in Benin Kingdom said people and historians are quick to state that Oba Eweka the first was the first Oba of Benin, without due regard to Oronmiyan, who, according to Oba Ewuare the second is the first Oba of Benin, being the son of the exiled Prince Ekaladerhan of Benin who later became Oduduwa meaning “Izoduwa”, I have found the path to prosperity, and the first Ooni of Ile-Ife. It was Ekaladerhan or Izoduwa that sent his son Oronmiyan to become the Oba of Benin upon request by the Binis. Consequently, Oba Ewuare the second

4 suspects alleged to have kidnapped the Director of Ogba zoological Garden, Benin city, Mr. Andy Ehanire have been arrested by Men of the Edo State Police Anti- kidnapping squad. The suspects were arrested in Sapele. They had collected 25 million naira and 100,000 dollars as Ransome, bringing the total ransom to 61 million naira. The suspects said they had to kill the 3 policemen attached to Mr. Ehanire because they had earlier attempted to kidnap him but failed. 800,000 naira was recovered from the wife of one of the suspects who is now in detention for conspiracy. Details later

…Rehabilitate outlawed CDA members The Edo State Government has revealed plans to set up a specialised court across the state as part of its ongoing efforts to attract more investors in the property development sector. This much was disclosed by former Inspector General of Police, IGP, and Chairman, Edo State Private Property Protection Task Force, Dr. Solomon Arase, at the Government House in Benin City, during a chat with journalists on the state’s efforts at creating the enabling environment for investors in property development.  “The state governor has promised to speed up the process to create specialised courts which will enable us prosecute individuals and groups involved in illegal land allocation which stifles economic development,” Arase said. The thinking in Edo State government circle is that the specialised courts will assist in the speedy and timely dispensation of property-related legal matters which is a basic requirement in attracting investors into the state’ pro

By Ehis Agugu The Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Magdalene Ohenhen, yesterday flagged off the zonal training workshop on better parenting with a focus on most critical but overlooked factors responsible for the myriad of social issues affecting our children directly and indirectly. The event was tagged 'Better Parenting' organized by the Coordinating Comprehensive Care for Children (4Children), attracted stakeholders nationwide in the ministry/secretariat of women affairs and social development as well as the civil society spectrum, who lauded the 4Children Project for a well thought out training/workshop. The honourable commissioner who was ably represented by Mrs. Julie Osigbemhe Olatunji, Permanent Secretary in the ministry added that she was standing on the compliment of the Executive Governor of Edo State 'Mr. Godwin Obaseki' and the good people of Edo State to emphasize this administration's determination to engage ev

…As Obaseki inaugurates summit’s organising committee Foreign missions in Nigeria are firming up arrangements for the maiden Edo State Alaghodaro Investment Summit, holding in Benin City, the state capital. Some of the missions include the United States (US) Embassy, the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom (UK), Embassy of Japan, Chinese Embassy, Irish Embassy, and a number of embassies from the Asian continent. Meanwhile, the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, has inaugurated the organising committee for the summit at the Government House, in Benin City. The organising committee, headed by Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, is a steering organ charged with ensuring the smooth running of the summit and would ensure that the event reaps as much benefit as possible for the state. The three-day summit is christened ‘Alaghodaro,’ which means progress or moving forward, will hold at Edo Hotels, Okada Avenue, Benin City. The foreign missions are attending the summit as part of efforts to deepen

Pix 1:  HRM Oba Ewuare II  being supported by his Queens to cut his Birthday cake at the Gala Night to celebrate the event. Pix 2:   HRM Oba Ewuare II  cutting his Birthday cake, and to his left are his Queens and to his right is the Oba of Lagos, HRM Rilwan Akiolu. The occasion was the Gala Night to celebrate the Omo N’Oba’s Birthday/Coronation Anniversary. Pix 3:  HRM Oba Ewuare II , to his right is Oba of Lagos, HRM Rilwan Akiolu, to his left Governor Godwin Obaseki and his wife Betsy, State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, Captain Hosa Okunbor and other guests at the Gala Night to celebrate the 1 st  Coronation Anniversary of Oba of Benin.  Pix 4:  HRM Oba Ewuare II  flanked by Oba of Lagos, HRM Rilwan Akiolu and other traditional rulers during the Gala Night to celebrate Oba Ewuare II 1 st  Coronation Anniversary.  Pix 5:  HRM Oba Ewuare II,  the Queens and HRM Oba of  Lagos watching Davido performing on state during the Gala Night to celebrate the 1 st  Coronation Ann

By: Desmond Agbama Chief Press Secretary to Oba of Benin Before Oba Ewuare II ascended the throne of his fore fathers in Benin Kingdom on October 20, 2016, the people were faced with different challenges that hindered the rate of development in the various Villages, Towns or Local Government Areas. Some of these challenges include difficulties in acquiring and developing land, extortion and intimidation of developers by members of the outlawed Community Development Association CDA, Leadership tussles, family disputes, especially issue of inheritance, boundary disputes among Villages or communities. With regard to boundary dispute, the one between Iguomon and Ikhuen-oboh, Egbirhe and Okhoromi are cases in point where several efforts to settle the matter did not yield result. Furthermore, some Enigie, Edionwere and Ohen were either suspended or relegated to the background by the CDA members in the community or Villages where they are supposed to be the head. This was the case in Egb

By: Desmond Agbama, CPS to Oba of Benin Although the activities to celebrate the first anniversary of the Coronation of His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II has been concluded, the memories will linger for many years to come. The two weeks long ceremony started with musical performance on 3rd October, 2017 at the Palace ground with Ambassador Osayomore Joseph, the Ulele Power Sound exponent taking the lead. The music performance was on everyday, with different musicians taking their turn to play and entertain the people. On Thursday 12th October, 2017 there was the proclamation of the Benin Customary Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee by His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II at the Palace ground. According to the Oba of Benin, the Palace has not been happy to observe the frustration the people were going through to obtain justice from the Palace Panel System that was formally in place. The age-long tradition, coupled with the vision and mission of Oba Ewuare II is to provide justice, e