The Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Umar Musa Ikhilor, on Friday explained that the three-day retreat for political appointees and public servants was about better service delivery to Edo people by equipping officials with the necessary tools and strategies to effectively drive the SHINE agenda of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration.
Addressing journalists during the retreat at Udomi townhall in Esan Central local government area, the SSG said the theme, “High Performing Public Service for Sustainable Development of Edo State,” was informed by the government’s desire to give more to Edo people through maximising the potential of political appointees across ministries, departments and agencies.
Ikhilor said, “Basically, it is to see how we can give more to Edo people. We want to maximise the potentialities of all political appointees and give them the necessary tools and strategies that will enable them to discharge the functions of their office and promote the SHINE agenda of this administration.”
According to him, the retreat was designed to ensure that appointees were properly guided to discharge their duties in ways that would translate the administration’s development agenda into visible results.
He noted that the programme provided a platform for participants to interact with facilitators on practical governance issues, adding that their experience in the field had made discussions more engaging and relatable beyond theory.
He explained, “It is different when you are talking about theory. Now, people have been in the field, so when facilitators speak, participants can relate with real experiences from their ministries and agencies.”
Ikhilor also addressed questions on why the retreat was taking place nearly a year after the administration came on board, attributing the timing to the delay in completing the constitution of the cabinet.
He said the governor initially appointed commissioners in critical sectors such as infrastructure, education and health, but chose to wait until the full cabinet was in place before organising a comprehensive retreat, rather than holding multiple sessions that would increase costs and waste state resources.
He said, “We wanted the full cabinet to be completed so that we don’t organise multiple retreats. In doing so, we are able to save state resources. And it is never too late — this administration is still very early; it is a four-year mandate.”
Explaining the administration’s guiding philosophy of “Edo Building Edo,” the SSG said it reflected the governor’s commitment to keeping Edo’s resources within the state by empowering local professionals, public servants and contractors instead of relying heavily on foreign consultants.
According to him, “Edo Building Edo means we will keep Edo resources in Edo. You will not bring foreign consultants to come and do the work of Edo people. It is about empowering our teachers, our public servants, and ensuring that resources circulate within the state.”
He stressed that the approach prioritised job protection, fair benefits for workers, and local capacity development, adding that the administration would only seek external expertise when highly technical work is beyond local capacity.
He further stated that the choice of a serene rural community as the retreat venue was deliberate, providing a secure and distraction-free environment while also boosting the economy of host communities.
He said, “This place is serene, secure and free of distractions. It will also boost the economy of our local communities. The governor has set a precedent, and it will be difficult for future administrations to take Edo resources to Dubai or Kenya for retreats.”
In his remarks, the Head of Service, Dr Anthony Okungbowa, praised the uniqueness of the setting, noting that the rural environment enhanced focus and engagement among participants.
Okungbowa said, “The rural setting the governor chose makes this retreat quite unique. We are relating with the community in a manner that allows us to remain focused. I believe that at the end of this session, we are going home much more impacted than ever before.”
Other participants who aired their views at the retreat included the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, and his Justice counterpart, Prof Roland Otaru, senior advocate of Nigeria, SAN, among others.