Obaseki Offers Automatic Employment to 12 First Class Graduates of Edo Varsity

•Pledges completion of teaching hospital, others in 2024

•Edo gov planning to unveil successor at Alaghodaro summit, group alleges

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has offered automatic employment to 12 first class graduating students of the Edo State University, Uzairue.

The governor, at the school’s fifth convocation ceremony in Etsako West Local Government Area of the State, reaffirmed his government’s commitment to building quality manpower to sustain the ongoing reforms in the State’s civil and public service to drive development in the State.

A statement quoted him to have said, “As usual, all those 12 students that made a first class in this set have automatic employment into Edo State Civil Service; your job is waiting for you.

“We have made it a standard that any graduate from any of our universities in Edo State who makes a first-class should be given automatic employment in our public and civil service. We want to build quality manpower.”

He continued: “As we mark the fifth convocation, the institution has continued to blaze the trail in teaching and research in Nigeria. This academic year has been challenging but we are, today, celebrating the first set of our nine doctorate degree students.

“The university has played an indispensable role in shaping the academic and personal growth of all of you who have graduated today. This university has nurtured your mind and infused values of critical thinking, and integrity and has propelled you to become responsible citizens of our State and country.”

“It is not just celebrating your individual successes but also about acknowledging the responsibilities that come with the knowledge that you have acquired. The knowledge and education we have given you is to enable you to navigate the very difficult but inspirational times ahead of you.”

Commending the governor’s sustained investment in the education sector, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Engr. Emmanuel Aluyor, linked the successes recorded in the institution to the governor, who is the visitor of the university.

Earlier in his message, the Chancellor of the school and Chairman of the occasion, Prof Emeritus Thomas Okpo K. Audu lauded the governor for creating an enabling environment and the needed support for the institution to thrive.

Meanwhile, a group, the Rescue Edo Movement, has alleged that Obaseki was planning to use this year’s Alaghodaro Economic Summit slated for today in Benin, to unveil, market and get corporate endorsement for the Chairman of the Summit, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, as his preferred candidate for the Edo 2024 governorship election.

Its Convener and the immediate past Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Andrew Emwanta, made the allegation yesterday, while addressing a press conference in Abuja.

He noted that as the state moves into the electoral season of the 2024 governorship election, it became imperative to address certain topical issues that would help the people of Edo make the right choice.

Emwanta, emphasised that from the time Edo was known as Midwest, the State has never been as backward as under the present administration.

He stressed that while other states in Nigeria were celebrating visible development in critical sectors, Edo State was experiencing visible underdevelopment in almost every sector.  The former commissioner noted that  the only visible development was the renovation of the abandoned civil/public service buildings and the digitisation of the work environment of civil/public service offices within Benin City.

He alleged that N50 billion of Edo State fund was spent on this project, with only one foreign building contractor engaged in the entire exercise.

Emwanta pointed out that Obaseki had no doubt set a new benchmark of underdevelopment within the subnational sphere in Nigeria, when the economy of Edo State is x-rayed without the aid of the propaganda lenses. 

He stated: “From Wednesday, which is the 8th day of November 2023, the Governor will assemble some members of his government, fellow technocrats, his consultants, his Lagos paddies, business partners, fellow golfers, his political party members, some family members and inlaws in Government Benin city, to celebrate what he named some years ago as “Alaghodaro summit”.

“His main plan for this year’s Alaghodaro summit is to unveil, market and get corporate endorsement for the Chairman of Alaghodaro Economic Summit (Nig)Ltd/Gte, Mr. Asue Ighodalo as his preferred candidate for the Edo 2024 governorship election.”

Emwanta, noted that Edo people were too sophisticated to fall for the lie that Obaseki prefers the governorship of the State should shift to Edo Central.

He stressed that Edo was at a crossroads, looking for redemption, adding that the group would search for a person who has what it takes to lift Edo State from its present state.

The former commissioner said the state cannot be held down by the primordial fault-lines of the past, stressing that they would  do everything that is possible, within the constitutional limits, to reclaim the State from the jaws of those who have swallowed it up.