The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu has emphasized the need for Government at all levels to prioritize the welfare and transformation of the society for the greater good of the citizens.
Hon. Ohonbamu gave this remark at the Stakeholders Sensitization Workshop organized by the Ministry of Information and Communication with the theme, “Exposing the Programmes and Projects of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration”, held at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, Benin City.
According to the Commissioner, “We know that Government should not be there as an end in itself, it must be a means to an end, the essence of Government is to transform society”.
Hon. Ohonbamu while commending Governor Monday Okpebholo’s project SHINE vision to transform the State, asserted that the purpose of the stakeholders sensitization was to engage all critical stakeholders on the various infrastructural and developmental strides of Governor Monday Okpebholo since assumption of office and also to cross fertilize ideas on areas that the Government needs to improve upon.
At the panel session of the event moderated by Hon. Ohonbamu, the Commissioner for Education and panelist, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, ex-rayed the giant strides of Governor Okpebholo’s administration, particularly infrastructural development of schools across the State which hitherto where in a deplorable condition. He added that over 500 new teachers had been recruited, Vacational Centers had been created, as well as STEM laboratories, emphasizing the partnership with NELFUND, to provide accessible education to children in Edo State from Primary to Tertiary level.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Chief Olabisi Idahomi, who was also among the panelists stated that her Ministry has a mandate of empowering and protecting the rights of women, girls and vulnerable in the society and has been empowered by the State Government to eradicate all form of Gender Based Violence and abuses, through the Violence Against Person Prohibition, (VAAP) Law, as well as the provision of Sexual Assault Rehabilitation Center, (SARC) and other rehabilitation facilities.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of the Edo State Emergency Management Agency (EdoSEMA), Hon. Jerry Idahosa, highlighted various proactive and pragmatic interventions of the current administration in providing disaster management measures and relief materials to communities affected by disaster and other environmental hazards.
In the same vein, the Functioning Permanent Secretary of the Edo State, Ministry of Works, Engr. John Obanor highlighted various road projects completed and those undergoing construction by the current administration.
Similarly, Prof. Felix Orhiakhi of the Department of Political Science, Federal University Otuoke, also commended Governor Okpebholo for fixing Federal Roads in the State, while advocating for collective dialogue among stakeholders in addressing the issue of cultism and insecurity.
In their separate responses, some of the stakeholders from the CSOs, Religious Organizations, Artisans, Youth Organization , Students, Persons with Disabilities, and Concerned Groups, commended Governor Monday Okpebholo’s developmental strides within a short period of time, while they sought government’s intervention in areas such as, multiple ticketing by some groups, out of school children, needs of Persons with disabilities, Cultism, amongst others.
Aichienede Akhabue Goodluck
Media Officer
Ministry of Information and Communication
PHOTO CAPTION
A cross section of participants at the Stakeholders Engagement as Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin City.
