Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, have reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating the development of the state as Edo marks its 35th anniversary.
In separate messages released on Thursday, the governor and his deputy described the anniversary as an opportunity to celebrate the resilience, unity and achievements of Edo people while renewing the collective commitment to building a more prosperous state.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Patrick Ebojele, Okpebholo congratulated Edo people at home and in the diaspora on the anniversary, while acknowledging the contributions of successive administrations, traditional institutions, the private sector and other stakeholders to the state’s growth.
Edo State was created on August 27, 1991, following its separation from the former Bendel State.
Reflecting on the state’s 35-year journey, Okpebholo said the anniversary provided an opportunity to assess the progress made so far, consolidate existing gains and strengthen efforts towards further development.
“Edo’s 35 years represent both an achievement and a responsibility. We inherit a state with deep cultural roots, economic potential and people with proven capacity. Our task is to translate these assets into tangible improvements in the lives of Edo citizens,” he said.
The governor said his administration remained committed to driving development through its SHINE Agenda, with particular attention to security, healthcare, education, infrastructure, energy and economic growth.
On security, Okpebholo said the government had strengthened collaboration with security agencies to tackle criminal activities and improve safety across the state.
He said healthcare remained another priority, noting that the administration was upgrading facilities and training healthcare workers, particularly those serving in primary healthcare centres.
The governor also highlighted interventions in the education sector, saying his administration had increased subventions to Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, and Edo State University, Uzairue, to strengthen the institutions and improve teaching and learning.
He disclosed that the government had also commenced the recruitment of teachers to address manpower shortages in public schools and improve access to quality education across the state.
On infrastructure, Okpebholo said road rehabilitation projects were ongoing across Edo, while construction work had commenced on the state’s first flyovers at Ikpoba Hill and Sapele Road in Benin City.
He added that the government was pursuing urban renewal projects aimed at improving major cities and communities across the state.
The governor also identified energy as a critical component of his administration’s economic development strategy.
He said the government was taking steps to expand power generation and improve electricity supply to households, businesses and industries.
Okpebholo specifically cited the 100-megawatt power project at Ologbo and associated energy infrastructure being developed at the Taihu Industrial Park.
According to him, the projects would strengthen Edo’s power capacity while providing a more reliable electricity base for industrial development.
He said improved electricity supply would help reduce operational constraints for businesses, attract new investments, support existing industries and create employment opportunities for residents.
“Reliable energy is critical to industrialization and economic growth. We will continue to support investments that expand power generation and create the infrastructure required for businesses to thrive in Edo,” the governor said.
Okpebholo commended Edo people and other stakeholders for their contributions to the state’s development and urged residents to continue supporting government efforts.
“This anniversary is an opportunity for introspection and recommitment. Edo’s future depends on our collective will to do the work — not in slogans, but in concrete action,” he said.
He wished residents peace, progress and prosperity, while calling for unity and collective commitment to building a stronger state.
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In his own goodwill message issued by his media aide, Friday Aghedo, Deputy Governor Idahosa described the creation of Edo State as a defining moment in the history and collective journey of its people.
He said the 35 years of statehood had witnessed significant contributions by Edo people to Nigeria and the global community in areas including education, agriculture, commerce, politics, sports, entertainment and the professions.
Idahosa also acknowledged the contributions of successive administrations, saying their efforts had provided foundations upon which the present government was building.
According to him, the Okpebholo administration was accelerating development through the SHINE Agenda, with renewed attention to infrastructure, healthcare, education, security, human capital development and economic growth.
“The work may be enormous, but our determination is greater,” Idahosa said, stressing that the administration remained focused on creating an environment where businesses could thrive and citizens could prosper.
The deputy governor said Edo’s greatest asset remained its people, describing their resilience, diversity and contributions as central to the state’s progress.
He called on residents to strengthen unity and collectively work towards creating a better future for generations yet unborn.
Idahosa urged Edo people to use the 35th anniversary to reflect on the state’s achievements, learn from its challenges and renew their commitment to building the Edo State they envision.