#EDOFEST @DAY2 : CULTURAL DISPLAY

*As Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs leads cultural troupes from the eighteen local government to the Palace of his Royal Majesty Oba Ewaure II(Oba of Benin)*

The celebration of Edo festival of Arts and culture " #Edofest " witnessed colourful display of cultural activities from the eighteen cultural troupes in Edo state at the palace of his Royal Majesty Oba Ewaure II.

The cultural troupes led by the Commissioner for Arts Culture Tourism and diaspora affairs, Hon.Osaze Osemwegie-Ero, In his speech Hon.Osaze said they decided to come to the palace to pay homage to the Royal Majesty Oba Ewaure II Oba Of Benin, who is the number one custodian of our culture in the state and to get his Royal blessings towards the upcoming EDOFEST.

Tourists, Residents and notable celebrities were entertained to a very beautiful and colourful display of culture, from the Benin cultural group in Edo south, Cultural troupes from Esanland( Edo central)  and Afemai people (Edo North).

The event which climaxed at about 7pm with musical interlude from legendary Edo musical Ambassador Osayomere Joseph.

As activities for Edofest 2017 continues, tourists, residents are optimistic that the event will no doubt leave a lasting memory in the history of our cultural heritage.

Our Culture, Our Wealth.

#PhotoNews: Beautiful Photo Display from the kickoff of #Edofest 2017

Beautiful photo display from the flagoff  of #Edofest2017

BEAUTIFUL AND COLOURFUL DISPLAY OF CULTURE

* As Edo state Deputy Governor, Comrade Phillip Shaibu flagoff Edofest 2017*

The much anticipated and publicized celebration  of Edo festival of Arts and culture 'EDOFEST 2017' was flagoff by Edo state deputy Governor His Excellency Philip Shaibu. The event which witnessed a large turnout of residents, tourists, cultural troupes, models from all parts of Edo state and beyond,started with a carnival float and procession from the carnival village at Ramat park, Benin City through to the City Center (Kingsquare).

Top government functionaries led the procession and the carnival float, notable amongst those present was the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, SSG 'Barrister Osarodion Ogie, member representing Oredo Federal constituency Hon.Ogbede Ihama, Chief of Staff to the Governor 'Taiwo Akerele,  Commisioner for wealth creation and employment 'Hon.Emmanuel Usoh, Edo state APC publicity Secretary Mr Chris Azebemwan.

The colourful event kickoff activities for the celebration of EdoFest 2017, attracted large turnout of celebrities, fun seekers, residents, tourists, dancers from the major ethnic group of Edo state. The activities for the carnival float climaxed at the city center with the official flagging off ceremony by Edo state deputy Governor.

His Excellency Comrade Philip Shaibu commended the ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora affairs for putting up EDOFEST 2017, He promises that the government will make EDOFEST 2018 much more better and  thanked all sponsors, partners, planning committee members who made EdoFest 2017  a reality.

Hon.Osaze Osemwegie-Ero, thanked dignitaries and all who made EdoFest  2017 a reality, he stated the government is committed to the celebration of our cultural heritage and  assured residents and tourists alike that EdoFest has come to stay and will keep getting better as we celebrate our culture yearly.

The activities for Edofest continues from the 17th-22nd December 2017.

our culture, our wealth

*Mahindra, Tolaram, Dangote to Showcase $1.5bn Investment in Edo at Alaghodaro Summit*

As preparations hit top gear for the Edo State Investment Summit tagged Alaghodaro 2017, international industrialists including the Mahindra Group of India, Tolaram Group from Singapore and Dangote Group are set to showcase their over $1.5bn investment outlay in the state.

The companies are billed to share their experiences, prospects and insights from investing in critical sectors of the state such as agro-industries, manufacturing and human capital, and will be storming Edo with their partners at the event holding from November 10 to 12, at Edo Hotels, Benin City, the state capital.

The three-day summit is christened ‘Alaghodaro,’ which means progress and will host business leaders, investors, bankers, financiers, industry experts, policymakers, among others to engage, discuss and explore Edo’s rich potential across various sectors.

The Dangote Group proposes extensive investment in cement manufacturing in Okpella axis of the state estimated at over $1bn, which is strategic to extending the frontiers of the conglomerate in southern Nigerian.

The plant is expected to take advantage of Edo’s strategic location as a logistics hub linking eastern, northern and western parts of the country, in moving its finished products across the country. The state’s massive limestone deposit is also a major consideration for investments in cement manufacturing.

The Mahindra Group is partnering with the state government in building the Edo Industrial Park, on which major industralisation efforts in the state would be anchored. The Industrial Park will be situated at Ologbo in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state, and would serve as a hub to train human capital and engage major industries in the state. The implementation plan has been concluded and submitted to the state government.

On its part, Tolaram Group will, at the summit, showcase its over $50m agro-allied investment outlay, which covers oil palm, cassava to feed processing plant, expected to create 50,000 jobs across the state.

Chairman of Alaghodaro 2017, Asue Ighodalo, said the summit is a deliberate move by the state government to steer off heavy dependence on oil money, noting that the state intends to get investors to buy into its ideas and programmes aimed at guaranteeing a better future Edo and its people.

According to him, “The world over, governments are looking beyond oil to alternative revenue sources in order to ensure sustainable development, and we must also get creative and take action today for our future and the future of our children.

The summit would foster knowledge sharing, and provide avenue to build relationships, spark innovation and inspire commitment to strategic deployment of private capital for greater socio-economic impact.

*PDP goofed, Obaseki did not use school compound for rally, says APC*

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has described as a lie, the claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the state’s governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, used a public school as venue for the recent tour of some wards in the state.

The Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Mr. Chris Azebamwan, said: “Our attention has been drawn to the lie by the fragmented Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Chris Nehikhare, who accused Governor Godwin Obaseki, of using a public school compound as venue for the thank you visit to members of the APC at some wards.”

Azebamwan explained that in the news report published on Naija Center News, an online news site, Mr. Nehikhare alleged that the Obaseki-led APC government acted in breach of its own policy by organising a thank you rally at a public school, after placing a ban on the use of public primary and secondary schools for social events in the state.

“In the most hypocritical manner and with total disrespect to Edo people, Governor Godwin Obaseki led APC government, is now using the prohibited public school fields for his so called thank you rally” Nehikhare was quoted as saying in the news report.

But the state APC scribe debunked the claim and said that “the Edo State APC is aghast at the ease with which the PDP is applying its last breath in the propagation of falsehood in the state as it struggles desperately to come to terms with its new reality of an obscure party that is ready for decommissioning.”
Azebamwan maintained that at the said rallies, Governor Obaseki was treated to a warm and carnival-like reception everywhere he went, across several local government headquarters and stressed that “None was held at a public school.”

He further said that the videos and photographs of the tour of some wards have been broadcast severally and printed in newspapers and magazines in national and local media. “The contents are the same and there is no media content of the governor at a public school during the tour.”

“We thought that after defeating the PDP at the polls and subsequently at the courts, the sinking party will think of a civilised way to manage its new status as a depleted and insignificant opposition party.  To add bare-face lying to its beleaguered status and its several baggage such as its notoriety for impunity, grand looting and insensitivity to the plights of the weak and downtrodden is the height of irresponsibility.”

According to the state APC Publicity Secretary, “the fact that Governor Obaseki is a man of rules, law and order cannot be controverted. This can be verified by his administration’s policies that have since rid bus stops and locations in Benin City of chaos, which many people thought was impossible before now. So it is laughable to even imagine that the same governor, whose rising profile in public administration has caught the attention of world leaders can break his own rules.”

He advised the PDP that “the resort to barefaced lies is clearly not a strategy to regenerate a dead political idea like the PDP.  Truthfulness and constructive criticism is the way to go.”
For the editors of the story at Naija Center News, Azebamwan urged them to be more professional, circumspect and investigate claims by anyone “and if possible err on the part of caution rather than rushing to publish an unverified word-of-mouth claim by a party like the PDP with its huge credibility crisis.”


PHOTO CAPTION:

Chris Azebamwan, APC Publicity Secretary, Edo State.

Osinbajo leads Dangote, others to Alaghodaro Investment Summit*

*Osinbajo leads Dangote, others to Alaghodaro Investment Summit*

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, is to lead industry titans including Africa’s richest man and President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, to the maiden edition of Alaghodaro Investment Summit, to be hosted by the Edo State Government, in Benin City, beginning on November 10.

The three-day summit with the theme: “Envisioning the Future,” will explore opportunities for local and foreign direct investments in Edo State by highlighting the state’s competitive advantage across various sectors.

Also expected at the investment summit are local and international business leaders and investors, bankers, financiers, industry experts, policymakers, the diplomatic community and the academia.

The summit will showcase the reform that the Obaseki-led government has carried out in critical sectors of the economy such as the Private Property Protection Law that has sanitised land acquisition and use, the planned development of 58 tourist sites across the state that will unlock the tourism potential of the state and the incentives for investment in the agricultural sector through public private partnership, amongst other sectors.

According to the Chairman of Alaghodaro 2017 organising committee,  Asue Ighodalo: “The world over, governments are looking beyond oil to alternative revenue sources in order to ensure sustainable development, and we must also get creative and take action today for our future and the future of our children.”

Ighodalo said that the key areas of focus at the three-day event would include Law and Order, Civil Service Reform, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Transportation, Forest Regeneration and Conservation, Education, Healthcare and Arts and Culture.

He further said that Alaghodaro Summit, is part of the response of the Edo State Government, under the leadership of Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to the imminent threat of an oil-dependent economy.

COMMISSIONER FOR ARTS, CULTURE, TOURISM AND DIASPORA AFFAIRS 'HON. OSAZE OSEMWEGIE-ERO CONGRATULATES OBA OF BENIN ON HIS ONE YEAR CORONATION ANNIVERSARY

PRESS RELEASE!!!!

The honourable commissioner,  management and staff of Edo state ministry of Arts, Culture,Tourism and Diaspora Affairs felicitates  and congratulates His Royal Majesty  Omo N'Oba N'Edo uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II Oba of Benin on the occasion of his one year anniversary.

In this one year ,we have seen our great Oba exhibiting high intellectual depth, moral and spiritual dexterity to lead Benin Kingdom to a greater heights. This has been clearly seen in his drive in promoting our cultural heritage, restoration of Edo language,promotion of ethics and moral values of Benin people.

On behalf of the good people of Edo State, management and staff of Edo state Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs we wish our great Oba many more fruitful years on the throne of our ancestors.

Oba ghator kpere

ISE!!!

Signed:

Hon. Osaze Osemwegie-Ero
Commissioner of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs.

EDO 2016 : GODWIN OBASEKI SPEAKS ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT.

There is a saying that "the rain produces abundance wherever it falls".

We will provide the enabling environment for women to achieve their highest potential by taking our women empowerment initiative beyond the phase of empowering women. We will empower society as a whole through the women because when we strengthen women we are empowering our domestic economy. We will advance government services when women occupy leadership positions.



Specifically, we will:



• Launch development projects under the leadership of women;

• Improve access to low interest rate financing for Women-in-Business;


We will develop over 20,000 affordable modern shops across the state by renovating existing markets and developing new ones under Public-Private Partnerships (PPP);

• We will also ensure that our women's health indices improve through adequate medical infrastructure, health care services and health care subsidies.

• We will ensure at least 35% women representation in our broad based government across board.

Shaibu, APC Youths Sweep Ize-Iyamu, PDP Out-of-Edo North

Philip Shaibu, APC Youths Sweep Ize-Iyamu, PDP Out-of-Edo North

The All Progressives Congress ( APC) deputy governorship candidate in Edo State, Rt. Hon.Philip Shaibu with Hundred of youths took to the street along  Auchi - Jattu road of Etsako West local in a road show tagged "sweep Ize-Iyamu, PDP out", to carry out a symbolic sweeping of the floor.

Philip Shaibu who led the sweepers said the exercise is to demonstrate to Ize - Iyamu and other PDP leaders that the people of Edo North are bent on ensuring total victory for the APC governoship Candidate Godwin Obaseki and his deputy in the September 28, election.

He said the youths came out in their numbers without being mobilized to sweep the road, adding that they came out to demonstrate that they cannot afford any reversals or slowdown in the pace of the achievements comrade Adams Oshiomhole has made in Edo state.

Another sweeper,  the member representing etsako central local government in Edo state house assembly, Barr.Damian Lawani,  described the symbolic sweeping of the roads as a clear indication that edo people cannot afford to go back to Egypt, the era of PDP in the state.