The National Economic Council (NEC) headed by the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbanjo, has heaped encomiums on the Edo State Government led by Governor Godwin Obaseki for implementing impactful development projects in line with the resolutions of the Council.
The Director of Special Duties Federal Ministry of Finance Budget and National Planning, Dr. Gloria Ahmed who led the NEC’s delegation to Edo announced the Council’s verdict on the development in Edo after visiting some of the projects completed by the Obaseki administration.
The monitoring team was visibly impressed when it visited Emotan Grammar School and saw for themselves EdoBEST in full swing with the use of technology to aid learning. The lesson teachers were on-hand to walk the team through their daily schedule, conduct roll calls, and assess the performance of students with the use of their tablets and smartphones.
They also visited the remodeled and upgraded Edo State College of Nursing Sciences with its world-class facilities that include a science laboratory fully equipped with simulation mannequins, an ICT room, a digital library, a fully equipped auditorium, and the serene hostel accommodation. The Nigerian Observer Printing Machine with a 20,000-copies per hour production capacity, the only surviving State government-owned newspaper in the country was their next port of call.
The NEC monitoring team also visited the John Odigie Oyegun Staff Training Center (JOOPSA), the transformed Edo State Government Secretariat buildings including the Treasury House, Benin Mall, Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, and the Stella Obasanjo Hospital.
The visit was born out of the need for the Council to physically verify the level of implementation of the NEC’s resolutions, to ascertain the level of compliance from states. The Edo state ministry of Finance, Budget, Planning and Economic Development received the delegation and led them on a courtesy call to the Governor.
While receiving the team, at the Government House in Benin, Governor Godwin Obaseki stated that he is focused on opening the doors for investments by creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the State.
According to him “the reason why we have modernised most of our institutions and facilities such as the College of Agriculture ighuoriakhi, to standards is to change the orientation by training the student, preparing them for the world of work and not just to obtain the certificate but open up the opportunity to be engaged upon their completion of the degree.”
He also said that his administration has been able to address security and land grabbing in the State through Edo GIS, thereby attracting more investors and giving the Edo diaspora the confidence to invest in real estate back home.
