Students of Edo State origin in Nigerian universities are soon to benefit from the government’s lifeline to augment their education as Governor Monday Okpebholo reintroduces bursary awards.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that towards this end, one billion Naira has been released to the state bursary commission which is working on the database and other modalities for the exercise.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by the commissioner for Information and Strategy Prince Kassim Afegbua at a media parley where he rendered an account of Governor Okpebholo’s stewardship in the past 18 months amidst knocks by critics for alleged non-performance.
Dismissing such critics as “faceless individuals” who lack political credibility, Afegbua pooh-poohed recent protests and allegations of poor governance by giving sector-by-sector breakdown of the governor’s performance which he described as “significant”.
He emphasised that the administration has approached governance by providing solutions to nagging problems and critical infrastructure of the state in the period under review.
Under education, Afegbua said “Only recently, the governor made a grant of two billion naira to Edo State University, Iyamho, to improve its infrastructure, and also raised its monthly subvention from N100 million to N250 million, beside promising to donate buses to the institution.
“Now, we have also put in one billion Naira into the bursary commission headed by the former chairman of Etsako Central Local Government, and in no time, students of Edo State descent will be receiving bursary awards in their different universities once the database is fully established.
“The governor also gave one billion Naira interest-free loan to market women to boost their daily enterprise and help them to sit on proper footing with respect to their businesses.”
Lamenting that the state inherited schools without roofs and chairs from the previous administration, the commissioner stated that the situation has changed for the better with nearly 80 schools rehabilitated and equipped with basic facilities such as desks and chairs, across the state.
He further revealed that about 6,500 teachers have been employed by the government with a plan to recruit more to ensure that every sector of education in the state is catered for.
On road infrastructure, Afegbua said the government had embarked on aggressive road construction and rehabilitation projects across the state, disclosing that it recently awarded contracts for the construction of 17 roads across the state.
“Very soon, the government will be commissioning Ramat Park Flyover”, he announced.
While stating that the Okpebholo administration has completed several roads in the three senatorial districts while others were under construction, Afegbua also announced the commencement of construction work on the Adesuwa Junction Flyover, Ekehuan-Gelegele Road, and other critical infrastructure, including Temboga Road which he said was nearing completion.
Furthermore, he disclosed that the state government recently handed over road construction equipment to the 18 Local Government Councils in the state to help open up the rural areas and also took steps to set up a Rapid Response Agency for road maintenance in the state. He said the equipment has been provided for the agency, which has since commenced work.
In the health sector, the Commissioner said the state government has built and equipped 75 Primary Health Centres with a target of 160 by the end of its first tenure, adding that many of the facilities have been equipped to provide immediate services, particularly in rural communities.
According to him, “We have also equipped a large chunk of those primary health care centres to provide immediate health services to people in rural areas who are in need of those kinds of interventions before seeking secondary attention to health care needs and services.”
“We are also ensuring that specialist and general hospitals are also well equipped to take care of the health needs of our people in the urban areas.
Towards this end, he said work has commenced on the Stella Obasanjo Hospital which he claimed this administration inherited at 75 percent completion. He said the government was ensuring that the State Specialist Hospital caters to the needs of the people of the state.
Expressing relief that insecurity has “reduced maximally” as government has equipped the security agencies with 100 vehicles and 300 motorcycles, he appealed to the people to cooperate with the government as security was a task for all.
The government’s spokesperson highlighted other achievements by Governor Okpebholo to include the construction of Jattu, Ekpoma markets and Oba Market which construction work is now at 85 percent.
Afegbua also appealed to Edo people and residents to pay their taxes promptly to avail the government the necessary resources to provide social amenities.
Commenting on Nigerians’ apprehension that Nigeria is sliding into a one-party State, the Information Commissioner said, “For those crying one-party State, there are 21 political parties in the country. It is not the business of the APC to help the opposition parties grow their parties”.
