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

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the state government will reposition the state-owned broadcast outfits, Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) Radio and Television, as it prepares for the digital switch-over. Obaseki said this during the courtesy visit by the management team of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), to the Government House, in Benin City, Edo State. He noted, “The state government has completed assessment of how the re-positioning of the state-owned broadcast media outfits can benefit from the digital switch-over in line with modern global media practice driven by Information and Communication Technology (ICT).” “It is time to leap-frog our entire communication infrastructure and align it with the global media space. We understand the role of ICT in digital switch-over.  The state government will leverage on the digital switch-over considering the unique location of the state,” Obaseki said. He added, “This administration will procure state-of-the-art

By Crusoe Osagie As has become their stock in trade, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, has gone to town with their ill-informed reasoning, trying to tell the people what is not, with a flippant assessment of statement by the Attorney General of Edo State Government. Ordinarily we wouldn’t have responded to the faulty assessment of issues raised in the said report, but we owe it as a duty to the people we are elected to serve to be forthright about prevailing realities and true to the task of advancing our state. We will like to reiterate that the present administration in Edo State is run based on well-researched data and our assessment of issues are devoid of sentimentality and romanticising of issues. Hence, when the Attorney General of the State, described the menace of human trafficking as “neither solely about economic issues nor underdevelopment, but has deep cultural roots that must be exposed, examined and pulled out,” she was speaking as someone with privile

Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has commenced talks with the British High Commission and the United Nations Women on areas of partnership spanning resettlement of victims of human trafficking and empowerment. The meetings with the two International bodies held on the sideline of the Senate Roundtable on Migration and Human Trafficking, which held in Benin City, the Edo State capital. Obaseki met with the Country Representative, United Nations Women, Comfort Lamptey, with whom he discussed areas of partnership on empowering returnees and stemming the tide of human trafficking. The talks are expected to lead to partnerships that will see the UN Women engage in programmes to resettle returnees, halt the tide of irregular migration and empower women to lead productive lives without resorting to dangerous journeys outside the country. Governor Obaseki also had a separate session with British Deputy High Commissioner, Ms Laure Beaufils, to synergise on measures to mitigate human t

…unveils rebranded Bendel Insurance FC  Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his administration’s vision to reform sports is aimed at creating jobs and curbing restiveness among youths. The governor made the submission during a dinner organised to unveil the new logo, jersey, team bus, technical team as well as manual for the rebranded Bendel Insurance Football Club (FC) in Benin City, the Edo State capital. Obaseki said, “We have a keen interest to reform the sports sector in the state, and this is aimed at providing solutions to youth restiveness and unemployment. For us, sports have the potential to uplift the lives of our people and offer hope to youths who seek a better country. “Edo people are sports-loving. We will leverage this as we continue our reforms and give hope to our teeming youths. The steps made in reforming the Bendel Insurance FC will serve as reference point to drive more reforms in the sector.” He added the reforms will focus on grassroots sports

------As goal keeper gets National Team call up By, Omoregie Elvis, Benin Ahead of the unveiling of the rebranded Bendel Insurance FC, EDO State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu, joined the team on Monday evening training session in Iriri, Aruogba, Benin City. The energetic Deputy Governor engaged in several work out session with assistant Coach Greg Ikhenogba before joining the players to train where he displayed soccer artistry to the admiration of fans who came to watch the team. Speaking after the training,  Com Philip Shaibu reassured the players of Government commitment to support the team, "Governor Godwin Obaseki has said that the State Will support Insurance in whatever they need to achieve success in the League and bring back the Glory of the team". On his part, the technical manager of Bende Insurance FC, Monday Odigie said that the the visit of the Deputy Governor is a motivation to the team. "Your visit to the team is a motivation to the

A total of 150 cassava farmers in Auchi, Estako West Local Government Area are set to receive loan support under the Central Bank of Nigeria Anchors Borrowers Scheme. Also, some Auchi youths who were recently deported from Libya have indicated interests to be registered in the schemel. Otaru of Auchi, HRH Alhaji Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe III donated 500 hectares of land to the cassava farmers for the success of the scheme. Addressing the farmers at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the farmers, CBN officials and other supporting institutions, Governor Godwin Obaseki said he has many programmes to uplift the living condition of farmers in the state. Governor Obaseki who was represented by his Special Adviser on Agriculture, Prince Joe Okojie, assured the farmers that tractors would soon be made available to prepare the land for the farmers. Obaseki noted that the decision to engage the farmers in clusters was to teach them new ways of farming in his quest seek alternati

By Desmond Agbama Illegal migration and human trafficking has become a cankerworm that has eaten very deep into the fabric of the Nigerian Society. Many young men and women including children have become victims of illegal migration and human trafficking. Many Nigerians who have been trafficked illegally with the intention of going through the desert, and across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe have been stranded in Libya, Morocco and other North African countries. Majority of them are subjected to all forms of inhuman treatment, including slave labour, prostitution, while others are induced with hard drugs and their organs like kidney are harvested and sold. Some are killed for no just reason by those involved in this illicit business. Investigations revealed that some Nigerians are involved in this illegal migration and human trafficking business. They usually lured innocent and unsuspecting young Nigerians into it, convincing them and assuring them of juicy job when they get to Eur

By Isaac Eranga The much talked about Obaland Royal Awards has finally been launched in Benin City, capital of Edo state. This was disclosed by popular entertainer, producer and founder/ CEO, Edo Reggae Festival Inc, Empress Adesuwa Omoyeme Obatta, a.k.a Dqueen. Edo Reggae Festival Inc, is an entertainment company, established in 2017. Empress Adesuwa Obatta was among the first 90 members who constituted the Nigerian film industry and a co-producer of controversial Nollywood film “Scavengers” in 2016. The Obaland Academy and the awards programme, was launched in Benin city on the 7th of February 2018, with the participation of important personalities like Edo State Director of Art and Culture, Mr Godwin Egbe of the Edo  broadcasting service, Nigerian veterans, top notch artistes like Oligbese, Daddy Fresh, Dyckoy, Ben Priest (The official lead vocalist of late Lucky Dube), Naxis DG, S.K.O, Eedris Abdulkareem, Dj Oscar B and others from the Nigeria entertainment industry. During t

The Edo State Government says all the bags of rice and other items like shoes, apart from the ones that were damaged in storage before they were allocated, were distributed to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)  and other orphanage homes within the state. Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, declared as completely false,  the allegation of diversion of rice by the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).  “The allegation is laughable and completely false and is a design of detractors to smear the image of a performing government,” Osagie said. He added,  “they have tried and failed on all other fronts, now they have stooped lower to a commodity as cheap as rice.”  The governor’s aide maintained that “the Edo PDP has a rich  history of diverting items meant for the less privileged and the state’s resources and its members think other people are like them.” He explained that the state government has made several dona

By Isaac Eranga. A Benin based philanthropic couple have commended DAGOMO, a non-profit foundation based in Benin City, for being a foremost organization dedicated to the welfare of the elderly in the society. The philanthropists, Mr & Mrs. Valentine Matthew made this commendation when they visited the Grace Onaiwu Omoigui Elderly Care Center (GOOECC) on Monday, February 19, 2018 and presented a selection of edible & non-edible items to the center for distribution amongst DAGOMO beneficiaries.  They had happened upon DAGOMO by chance and were very impressed and pleased at the activities of the foundation. They expressed an interest in keeping in touch.  

Progress Raji, the 27-year-old man, who was arraigned at the Oredo Magistrates’ Court in Benin City, committed a major traffic offence by driving on the wrong side of the road. Raji was not arraigned for obstructing Governor Godwin Obaseki’s convoy as has been reported by some newspapers, the Edo State Government has said. Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said: “contrary to media reports that Raji was arrested for obstructing the convoy of Governor Obaseki, he was actually apprehended for driving against traffic and the governor, who was on his way from church, witnessed the offence and ordered Raji’s arrest, as he posed a grave danger both to himself and to other road users.” Osagie added that during interrogation, Raji was also found to be driving without a valid driver's license. The Governor's aide explained that the Edo State government places high premium on the lives of Edo people and residents of the state, whic

By Isaac ERANGA IYAMHO - The Edo State House of Assembly Standing Committee on Education has commended the Acting Vice Chancellor of Edo University, Iyamho, Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor and his management team for the recent ranking of the University as the third best out of the 160 universities in Nigeria and best state university by the Nigerian University Commissiob (NUC) under the Open Educational Resources (OER). The Committee Chairman, Hon. Foly Ogedengbe made the commendation during Committee's visit to the University in Etsako West Local Government Area, as part of their oversight functions to ascertain the state of the university in order to enable government tackle some of the major challenges that may be facing it "It is not always easy to come thied among Nigerian universities for a school that is barely two years of existence; it is a record and we can only urge you to continue to do that thing which you are doing that hss brought the good result. "I also want t

By Pius Adesanmi I was stung by the news of Mr. John Shagaya’s death in a fatal road accident. Shagaya belongs in a generation of colourful military men who defined my generation in the 1980s in ways in which we – and Nigeria – have never really recovered. The manner of Mr. Shagaya’s death is an occasion for yet another examination of the Nigerian condition. Mr. Shagaya’s death is connected to James Ocholi’s death is connected to Abdulkareem Adisa’s death. These deaths are a metaphor of the Nigerian condition, refracted though the ruling class, the political, social, and economic elite, the upper class, the one percenters (call them any name!) writ large. They are also a metaphor of the lower classes they oppress writ large. Of note is the fact that there is a fundamentally indecent value system in Nigeria which divides bodies into mournable and unmournable bodies depending on where fate located them in the socio-economic scheme of things when they were alive. Members of the lower

Fiancée to late David Okoniba, the allegedly slain cab driver in the clash between youths and Policemen at the Upper Igun area of Benin City, Miss Ruth Okojie, has appeared before the Justice Joseph Olubor-led Administrative Panel of Inquiry to testify regarding the situations surrounding the death of the father of her two children. The Administrative Panel of Inquiry, which commenced hearing from the public on the matter, Thursday, was set up by Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to look into the immediate and remote causes of the incident that led to the alleged killing of Okoniba during an exchange with Policemen and the resulting clash between some youths and Policemen. Miss Okojie appeared before the panel, which sits at the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, in Government House, Benin City, to give her account of the incident, as she was said to have been with her fiancé when the unfortunate incident occurred. Other members of the public that also appeared b

Valentine's Day Special... How to show Love to the Elderly By Isaac Eranga. St. Valentine's Day is a day set aside for the purpose of expressing love gestures to your friends, family members and those around you. It is unconnected with sexual intimacy.  We at the Dagomo Foundation, believes that Valentine’s Day is a great time to express to your aging parent(s) or family member that they are indeed cherished and adorned. Spending some time with them, can make a huge difference in their day, week and even the rest of their lives.  To this end, here are few ways to show your affection for your aging parent(s) this Valentine’s Day: 1.1Make them to reminiscence on past Valentine's Days. They may have had a very active youth and would love to talk about it. Talking about the past usually brings forgotten happy memories to the minds to our elders. As Many of the elderly are widowed or living alone, you could ask them to tell a story about an especially great Valentine’s

...urges Edo, Delta elite to sustain virtues, legacy Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has urged Edo and Delta citizens to hold fast to the virtues and legacies that made the old Bendel State outstanding among its peers, calling out leaders of the two states to sustain and build on the heritage of the old region. Obaseki made the submission in his goodwill message at the birthday celebration of Prof. Pat Utomi, who marked his 62nd  birthday anniversary at Ibusa, Delta State at the weekend. The governor urged the business and political elite in Edo and Delta States to re-direct their focus to re-building and returning the states to a leading spot in Nigeria, wherein things worked for the good of everyone and not for few persons. According to him, “The defunct Bendel State, which is now Edo and Delta states, was revered as a leading light in Nigeria in the areas of quality education, infrastructure and sports. Then, other states in the country looked to us for direction.” He s

The Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has expressed shock over the sudden passing of a former Internal Affairs Minister, General John Shagaya (rtd), who died in a motor accident today. The governor who condoled with the family of the late retired General said  Shagaya's death was a loss to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the nation as he was until his demise, a chieftain of the APC in Plateau State. According to reports, the 75-year-old retired army general was on his way to Jos from his village in Langtang, when the accident occurred at Amper in Kanke Local Government of Plateau  State. "He was a strong advocate of a united, progressive and prosperous Nigeria and his contributions will be greatly missed as the nation's democracy continues to evolve," Obaseki noted. Born in Langtang North, on Sept. 2, 1942, Shagaya served as minister of internal affairs under military President Ibrahim Babangida, and represented Plateau South in the senate from 200

By Babatope Okeowo, Lanre Odukoya, Taiwo Jimoh and Cajetan Mmuta  Several people were reportedly shot dead yesterday while two persons were kidnapped when gunmen suspected to be herdsmen attacked passengers on Ore-Benin Road in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. Several others were critically injured. The incident, according to survivors, occurred about 4p.m. when buses either coming from Benin and heading to Lagos or coming from Lagos and heading to Benin or Akure were attacked. According to a female student, who survived the attack, the armed men shot sporadically at the buses and forced the passengers to flee, leaving their buses and belongings on the road. The terrified lady told our correspondent that the incident caused gridlock for hours on the Ore-Benin-Lagos Expressway. The female student, who spoke with our correspondent on the phone, said she was returning from school when they ran into the herdsmen on the road. She said: “I’m schooling at Igbinedion Universi

Another fresh war is brewing between Tonto Dikeh and estranged husband, Olakunle Churchill with the actress threatening to go ahead with the filming of their son, King, in a reality show. Churchill had reportedly filed a suit against his ex-wife at the family court of the Lagos State Magistrate’s court, where he is said to be challenging Tonto’s decision to feature their son in a reality show. Despite the orders and the moves by Churchill, nothing seemed to be stopping Tonto from going ahead with the campaign for the show as she insisted that nothing would stop the campaign. According to him, the aim is to exploit his son for financial gains, expose the life and times of the little boy at a period when he cannot make a decision for himself. According to him, the production is entirely an adult content. Thus, the show called “King Tonto” being produced by Linda Ikeji Media Limited and featuring King Andre cannot be released or aired. Tonto appeared to have concluded to lay bare he

A political movement proposed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo was launched on Wednesday at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. Mr. Obasanjo is not present at the ongoing launch in Abuja, but two former PDP governors, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Donald Duke, were in attendance. Mr. Oyinlola, a former governor of Osun State, said the movement is not yet a political party. If and when we come to an agreement that we must metaphose into a political party, then we will, Mr. Oyinlola said. “We’re not a political party, at least, for now,” he said. He acknowledged that for the movement to make electoral impact in the manner described by Mr. Obasanjo in his letter, its proponents would need to follow the Constitution and register it as a political party. “We recognise the facts that by the dictates of the Constitution, you can only contest on the platform of a political party,” said Mr. Oyinlola, who was the national secretary of the PDP before joining the APC in 2014 after

By Akpomejero Friday , Benin Ex-militants from Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Ondo and Delta states, on Tuesday, raised the alarm over plot by unknown group of persons to remove the head of Onshore Education Unit, Major Hassan Kesiena Mowarin rtd. from the office of the Amnesty Programme of the federal government. Leader of the group, from Atangbala Camp, Mr. Atangbala One raised the allegation while briefing newsmen in Benin City, the Edo State capital. He said since Mowarin assumed office as the head of the Onshore Education Unit of the Amnesty Programme of the federal government, he has brought his wealth of knowledge to bear leading to the tremendous improvement witnessed in the scheme. The ex-militant boss, Atangbala said that his choice by President Muhammadu Buhari was an indication that the current leadership of the country means well for the people of the Niger Delta region. The repented militant leader said because of his good work, some few individual do not want him there as th

There was pandemonium in Benin, capital of Edo State Tuesday, when an unidentified commercial cab driver, was killed by a petrol tanker, after he was allegedly pushed to the centre of the road by police operatives, who had mounted a check point. The incident which occured around 3rd East Circular Road, by Igun Junction, caused traffic lugjam on the ever busy Akpakpava road and all other adjourning roads, as all the link roads were blocked with bonfires by angry protesters. It was gathered that the police operatives stopped the victim who was said to be with his wife and two children in the car, and demanded for N100 from him, which was said to have resulted in an ultercation. For reasons not yet established, a police operative allegedly pushed him into the moving petrol tanker, which was said to have run over the deceased on the head, spilling his brain on the road. Following the death of the unidentified man, irate youths and drivers mobilised and decended on the police operatives

By Albert Obazee When you are confronted with a dizzying defeat, what do you do? Take stock of the situation, assess your options and get back on track? Or sit in a puddle of shame and wallow in what is not yours - what you clearly lost to a better, more qualified candidate? Some would go the former route, ruing their chances, blaming every other person but themselves. In psychology, this state is captioned as living in denial. Scholars say this condition lingers for some time but will eventually fade, leaving the victim to confront the reality of the situation and forge ahead in life.   But sometimes, given the magnitude and outsized ramification of a defeat, one might linger in this hazy oblivion for a while longer, wherein he or she is tormented by the hunger of the object of desire. It is at these times in a man’s life that he would wish he made smarter choices or was better prepared for the sharp bends he is confronted with. Carl Alasko, author of Beyond Blame, on Psychology T

By Mike Osarogiagbon      When late Mrs. Vivian Rafatu Ajibua, 61, employed one Felix Simon, 25 as a gateman in her private residence in the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin City seven months ago, she never knew that it was an employment of her own death. The gateman had on Sunday, January 28, 2018 at about 3: am raised an alarm that fire had suddenly engulfed his boss’s apartment, crying loud for help. Neighbors rushed to the scene with buckets of water and eventually put out the fire. Sadly, the owner and lone occupant of the apartment, Mrs. Vivian Rafatu Ajibua, a widow whose two children live abroad was found dead with severe burns on her body inside her bedroom. The police and relatives were contacted, and as arrangement to move her corpse to mortuary was being made amid wailing and sorrow, a sympathizer sighted the gate man secretly throwing his belongings over the fence to a nearby uncompleted building. The discovery was said to have triggered actionable suspicion

The Green Party of Nigeria (GPN) has urged Nigerians not to give up on the country. This was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of GPN, Edo State chapter, Mr Roy Oribhabor, and made available to Newsmen in Benin on Monday. The chairman who called on Nigerians  to uphold the principles of peaceful dispositions, appealed to the people to continually see themselves as one. "Edo GPN is quite impressed with the dispositions of Nigerians and salute their determination for better society but appealed to them not to give up on Nigeria. he said. "This is the position of the party from the weekend meeting of the GPN to review the state of the nation," he said. Oribhabor also added that the Edo Chapter of the GPN called on Coalition for Nigeria Movement to embrace and identify with Green Party of Nigeria. He said the call became necessary as the party offer the best platform for the movement to achieve its set out aims and objectives. "Again, because the ma