The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has promised to complete the Education Hub project situated within the old premises of the State Ministry of Education by May 2024.
He made the promise while performing the groundbreaking ceremony for the Hub on Friday, February 3, 2023, in Iyaro, Benin City, adding that although it is not in his nature to commission projects, he will officially commission the hub upon completion.
The Governor appreciated the legacies of some past leaders in the State like the late Brigadier General Osaigbovo Ogbemudia (Rtd.), who built the infrastructures of the old Ministry of Education in the era of the defunct Bendel State almost 50 years ago.
Equating the decrepit state of the old ministry of education premises to the state of the education sector when he came into office, the Governor said if past administrations didn’t neglect the legacies of past progressive leaders like Ogbemudia, their successors would have had a better foundation to build on.
Listing out the features of the hub, Mr Obaseki revealed that the world-class facilities would include the Ministry of Education, the Iyaro Primary Health Centre, a sports arena, a green area, the State Universal Basic Education Board, a 500-sitting capacity conference hall, the Board for Technical and Vocational Education Training, the State Secondary Education Board, the Quality Assurance Office, amongst others.
Similarly, while delivering his goodwill message, the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, appreciated Obaseki for his visionary leadership, adding that the facilities in the Education Hub will be fully digitised like other existing government facilities with reliable backup servers, to ensure that all its content will be well protected for posterity.
While appreciating the Governor, the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe called for the support and collaboration of all stakeholders in the education ecosystem to make the reforms sustainable. Of particular mention was the Chief Judge of the State, Justice J. Acha, who has established a court to cater for cases of recalcitrant parents or guardians on the issue of pupils who are out of school or those loitering during school hours and the Chief of Staff to the Edo State Governor, who has given tremendous support to the physically challenged pupils in the State.
Dr. Oviawe also solicited the cooperation of the residents in Oredo Ward Six which hosts the Education Hub.
The Highlight of the event was the groundbreaking performed by Governor Godwin Obaseki, as the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, and top government officials including the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq, the representative of the Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, commissioners, political, traditional, and religious leaders witnessed the event.
