Posts

FG hails UBTH CMD’s healthcare reforms

Image
By Elvis Omoregie, Benin The Federal Government has commended the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, for her commitment to improving healthcare delivery through investments in critical infrastructure. The commendation was contained in a speech by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, delivered by Dr. Philip Ugbodaga, Medical Director, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Benin, during a facility tour and commissioning of projects at UBTH on Tuesday. Kachollom described the projects as evidence of visionary leadership and a commitment to advancing quality healthcare delivery in Nigeria, while urging the hospital management to sustain the momentum. Representing the Permanent Secretary, Ugbodaga unveiled the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), one of more than 12 projects completed under the current administration of the hospital. The projects include a modern police ...
Read more

2,679 Enrol for Oba Ewuare II Entrepreneurship Programme

Image
By Elvis Omoregie, Benin No fewer than 2,679 prospective entrepreneurs have completed orientation for the fourth edition of the Oba Ewuare II Two-Month Entrepreneurship Programme, an initiative aimed at promoting youth enterprise, skills development and job creation in Edo State. The programme, organised by Aiguobasinmwin Movement World-Wide as part of activities marking the 10th Coronation Anniversary of His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, CFR, is scheduled to commence on August 10, 2026. The orientation brought together participants from across Edo State and served as a preparatory exercise ahead of the intensive two-month entrepreneurship training, which is designed to equip beneficiaries with practical business and vocational skills for self-employment, enterprise development and wealth creation. Speaking at the event, President of Aiguobasinmwin Movement World-Wide, Iyamu Osaro Culture, described the initiative as a strategic investment in human capital, noting that equi...
Read more

Edo targets Infrastructure with ground rent, property tax

Image
By Elvis Omoregie, Benin The Edo State Geographic Information Service (EDOGIS) has urged landowners and investors to promptly pay ground rent, property tax and other statutory land charges, saying compliance is essential to boosting the state's revenue and funding infrastructure, security and other critical public services. Managing Director of EDOGIS, Dr. Innocent Bello, made the appeal during an interactive session with journalists in Benin City, where he described land administration revenue as a key pillar for financing the state's development agenda. He said prompt payment of statutory land charges would enable government to sustain investments in roads, healthcare, security and other public infrastructure while strengthening a transparent, efficient and investor-friendly land administration system. Bello said the agency is implementing reforms driven by digital technology to curb land fraud, multiple land sales, illegal occupation of government land and revenu...
Read more

CRPP questions gains from Okpebholo's foreign investment trips, seeks transparency

Image
By Elvis Omoregie The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has questioned the Edo State Government's latest investment mission to the United Kingdom, citing what it described as the absence of tangible outcomes from Governor Monday Okpebholo's previous investment trip to Glasgow, Scotland, and calling for greater transparency in government-sponsored foreign engagements. The coalition recalled the governor's earlier investment mission to Glasgow, during which a widely publicised proposed $250 million investment was announced. It, however, noted that the initiative has yet to translate into measurable economic benefits for Edo State, arguing that the experience highlights the need for greater transparency, accountability and clearly defined outcomes in official foreign investment missions. In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor, and National Secretary, Hon. Nkama Waribe, the CRPP urged Governor Okpebholo to ensure that the on...
Read more

AU Recognition Puts Edo's Energy Reforms on Continental Investment Map

Image
By Elvis Omoregie, Benin Edo State has taken its electricity sector reforms to the continental stage, using a high-level African Union (AU) energy meeting to showcase its decentralised power model as a catalyst for investment, industrialization and sustainable economic growth. Representing Governor Monday Okpebholo at the meeting, the Commissioner for Power, Hon. Paul Usenbo, said Edo's participation was aimed at presenting the state's energy reforms to development partners, investors and policymakers while positioning it as a preferred destination for energy investments in Africa. Usenbo said the state's energy agenda aligns with the African Union's Agenda 2063, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Mission 300 initiative to expand electricity access across the continent, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 on affordable and clean energy. According to him, the continental engagement provides Edo with an opportunity to forge...
Read more

Aiguobasinmwin Movement Warns Against Incitement, Urges Authorities to Preserve Peace

Image
By Elvis Omoregie, Benin  The Aiguobasinmwin Movement Worldwide has called on security agencies to investigate a viral video in which some youths allegedly made statements threatening violence over the ownership of Gelegele, warning that such remarks could undermine peace in Edo State. In a statement signed by its President, Mr. Iyamu Osaro Culture, the group said its attention had been drawn to the video in which individuals, identified as Ijaw youths, allegedly threatened that Benin people would face violence if they entered Gelegele community. According to the group, some of the individuals featured in the video had previously participated in a peaceful protest to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) office in Edo State to demand youth empowerment, but noted that their recent comments were inflammatory and capable of escalating tensions. The movement maintained that Gelegele is an integral part of Ughoton Community in the Benin Kingdom, adding that the O...
Read more

Funding Crisis Threatens Education, Welfare of 4,000 Displaced Children, Edo Foundation Warns

Image
By Elvis Omoregie, Benin Nigeria's rising inflation and declining humanitarian support are threatening the education and welfare of thousands of internally displaced children, with the Home for the Needy Foundation in Uhogua, Edo State, warning that years of investment in rebuilding lives could be reversed without urgent intervention from government, the private sector and philanthropists. Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, Coordinator of the Home for the Needy Foundation and Overseer of the International Christian Centre for Missions (ICCM), said the foundation is struggling to sustain operations as soaring food prices and dwindling donations continue to erode its capacity to care for children displaced by insurgency and violent attacks across Nigeria. Speaking in an interview with BusinessDay in Benin City, Folorunsho said the shelter, which has cared for thousands of vulnerable children since 2012, is finding it increasingly difficult to provide food, clean water, accommodat...
Read more