Edo State Government of Nigeria, Dennis Osadeby Way, GRA, Bénin (2026)

04/09/2026

Edo State Govt Partners Correctional Service on Enhancing Inmates’ Rehabilitation for Reintegration

By. Daisy Osunde

The Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has commenced plans to establish a strategic partnership with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) on strengthening the rehabilitation, empowerment and reintegration of inmates, particularly women and young persons in conflict with the law.

The partnership was discussed when the Controller of Corrections, Edo State Command, CCS Julius Osemwegie, led a delegation on an official visit to the Ministry in Benin City, where both institutions explored areas of collaboration in vocational training, education, sports, recreation, social welfare and non-custodial services.

Receiving the delegation the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Eugenia Abdallah, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Joy Ihensekhien, described the visit as timely and significant. She noted that the mandates of both institutions were closely aligned in promoting rehabilitation, welfare and restoration of vulnerable persons to productive lives.

The Commissioner said the Ministry was particularly interested in interventions targeted at female inmates, vulnerable youths and juveniles in conflict with the law. She assured the Correctional Service of the Ministry's willingness to explore practical areas of collaboration. She proposed the utilisation of the Ministry's existing skills acquisition centres to provide inmates with vocational and entrepreneurial skills that would enhance their chances of becoming self-reliant upon release.

According to the Commissioner, the Ministry would work with the Correctional Service to obtain relevant data on inmates and determine how existing programmes could be extended to the custodial centres, including the ones on Sapele Road in Benin City, and the one in Auchi. She also expressed the Ministry's readiness to strengthen interventions at the Children Correctional Centre, particularly through sports, recreation, education and other programmes aimed at supporting the rehabilitation and positive development of juveniles.

The Commissioner recalled an earlier engagement between the two institutions concerning support for the juvenile correctional facility. She noted that the relationship was particularly significant, citing the Controller's previous academic research at the Edo State Juvenile Facility during his doctoral studies.

Earlier, the Controller of Corrections, CCS Osemwegie, said the visit was aimed at establishing a sustainable institutional relationship between the NCoS and the Ministry, stressing the importance of collaboration in achieving effective reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration. He highlighted the growing importance of non-custodial measures, including community service and suspended sentences, as modern approaches to correcting offenders, particularly first-time offenders, to reduce unnecessary custodial congestion.

The Controller emphasised the need for the proposed partnership to be institutionalised so that it would remain sustainable beyond changes in leadership or individual tenures. Both institutions agreed to pursue follow-up technical engagements to identify priority areas, assess the needs and population of inmates, to develop a framework with clear timelines for implementation.

Photo Caption
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Joy Ihensekhien(Middle) , the Controller of Corrections CCS Julius Osemwegie (7th Right), with other delegation from the Nigerian Correctional Service and ministry of women affairs, during the meeting held at the Ministry's premises in Benin city.

04/09/2026

Anani Applauds Preventive Physiotherapy Drive for Women’s Health

By Gloria Osemudiamhen

The Coordinator, Office of the Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, has applauded the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy for its preventive physiotherapy drive aimed at improving women’s health in Edo State.

Receiving a delegation from the Society at the Government House in Benin City, Mrs. Anani described the initiative as innovative and timely, noting that shifting focus from treatment to prevention will save lives, especially among women who bear the greatest burden in homes and communities.

She cited data from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) showing that 30 out of 40 stroke patients are women, and stressed that early screening and education are critical. Mrs. Anani pledged the full support of her Office for the Society's forth coming programme themed, “The Role of Physiotherapy in the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke.”

Earlier, the Team Lead of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy, Dr. Iyen Osbem, said the drive marks a deliberate shift to preventive medicine. As part of activities lined up for their forth coming programme, he stated that the Team will conduct free blood pressure screenings, assess stroke risk factors in markets, educate women on lifestyle changes, and donate Blood pressure (BP) apparatus to women identified as high-risk.

Dr. Osbem requested the Coordinator to serve as Mother of the Day and partner with the Society on expanding the campaign’s reach.

The engagement ended with agreements on collaboration for the September, 2026 outreach, on the areas of joint awareness campaigns in markets and support for free screenings aimed at promoting preventive care for women across Edo State.

Photo Caption
A group photograph of the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani and the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy Team during a meeting at the Government House in Benin City.

04/09/2026

Commissioner for Education Pledges Stronger Collaboration with NANS

By Osobase A. Oseremen

The Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Washington Osifo, has reaffirmed the Ministry of Education’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and other student bodies on unionism in higher institutions of learning in the State.

Dr. Osifo made the pledge when he received the NANS leadership led by Comrade Yakubu Peter Odion, who were on a courtesy visit to the Ministry’s premises in Benin City.

The Commissioner appreciated the executives of NANS for the visit. He commended Comrade Odion for his intelligence and manner of presentation, saying he confident that there will be no leadership vacuum after their exit. He urged the leadership to prioritize the welfare of students they are called to lead, including matters such as students’ accommodation, students’ rights, and the conduciveness of the learning environment, noting that mobility support would naturally follow once students’ welfare is well catered for.

Dr. Osifo concluded by charging the NANS executives to focus on their studies and be of good character. He wished them the best in their tenure.

In his remarks, Comrade Odion said he came with his executive members to congratulate the Commissioner on his appointment by the Governor of Edo State, Distinguished Sen. Monday Okpebholo. He thanked the Governor for the appointment and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the introduction of NELFUND to support Nigerian students.

Comrade Odion described the Commissioner as a man of capacity and leadership qualities who will deliver on the job. He solicited for mobility on behalf of the Association, decrying the challenges they experience concerning transportation on their operational responsibilities.

Highpoint of the engagement was the presentation of a congratulatory photo to the Commissioner by the NANS Chairman. In attendance were the NANS Vice Chairman, Comrade Igbo Osato Joseph; the SUG Secretary-General, Comrade Alex Moses, ESPU, Ugiagbe Ogbinosa; the Chief of Staff to the Secretary-General, among others.

04/09/2026

Edo State Govt Recommits to Zero Tolerance for Sexual Crimes
..Vows Stiffer Penalties for Sexual Crimes

By Gloria Osemudiamhen

In a renewed commitment to upholding the safety of residents, the Edo State Government through the Office of the First Lady, has declared zero tolerance for sexual violence and all forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) assuring that anyone found culpable will be prosecuted to the full extent of the Law.

Responding to questions on sexual and GBV from the press in her Office at the Government House in Benin City, the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady and Chairperson of the Edo State GBV Management Committee, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, reiterated the administration’s position that such offences are no longer treated as private matters, but as crimes against humanity that demand swift justice. She also outlined the measures introduced at curbing the menace to ensure adequate protection and support for victims.

“Zero tolerance means zero tolerance. If you are caught and proven guilty, you will face the full weight of the law. The State will not shield anyone, no matter who you are,” the Coordinator stated.

Mrs. Anani attributed the rise in reported GBV cases over the past 18 months to increased awareness and public confidence in the system, not to an increase in the crime itself. According to her, “GBV has always existed. The difference now is that survivors have the courage to speak out because they understand it is a crime with consequences. Silence is no longer an option.” She disclosed that in response, the Committee has ramped up sensitization and advocacy across churches, markets, schools, and traditional institutions with one core message that GBV is a crime and must be reported.

To tackle the disturbing trend of younger victims, she mentioned that the Committee has established GBV clubs in primary schools. She stated that statistics show children as young as four are being abused, while some perpetrators are also minors who do not yet understand the wrong in their actions.

On prosecution, Mrs. Anani said the Committee was working with the State Attorney General to establish special and speedy courts dedicated solely to GBV cases, similar to the courts set up for kidnapping. She also highlighted the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, which prescribes up to 12 years imprisonment for r**e and for accomplices. To ensure widespread understanding, she emphasized that the Law has been translated into five major languages: English, Pidgin, Bini, Esan, and Etsako. “The VAPP Law covers sexual violence, financial deprivation, and harmful traditional practices. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse,” she submitted.

Mrs. Anani added that the crackdown aligns with the SHINE Agenda of the Sen. Monday Okpebholo-led administration, where Security and Justice are key pillars designed to guarantee that every Edo resident lives free from violence.

04/09/2026

Edo State Govt Inaugurates Committee to Review Extant Civil Service Rules

By Violet Osatohanmwen Obamwonyi

The Edo State Government under the leadership of Sen. Monday Okpebholo, has inaugurated a committee to review the 2,000 Extant Civil Service Rules, with a view to aligning the regulations with contemporary realities and the demands of a 21st-century public service.

The Head of Service (HOS), Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, while presiding over the inauguration ceremony at the State Government House in Benin City, stressed the importance of having an effective and responsive regulatory framework for the administration of the Civil Service.

Dr. Okungbowa maintained that effective governance cannot be achieved without an enabling set of rules to guide the conduct and operations of the Public Service. According to him, it was an aberration for the Edo State Civil Service to continue to operate with rules developed more than two decades ago when the realities, expectations and operational demands of the Service have significantly changed.

The HOS explained that the review had become necessary to ensure that the rules reflect emerging realities in public administration, technological advancement, changing workplace dynamics and the evolving expectations of citizens from government. He urged the Committee to undertake a comprehensive review of the existing rules, taking cognisance of developments at the Federal level and the proposed reviews worked upon earlier, while ensuring that the peculiarities and aspirations of the Edo State Public Service are adequately captured.

Dr. Okungbowa said Edo State, as an emerging leader in sub-national public service reforms, must have a modern regulatory framework capable of supporting its reform initiatives and sustaining institutional development. He charged members of the Committee to approach the assignment with diligence and ensure that the outcome provides a clear, relevant and practical framework for the effective administration of the Civil Service.

Speaking on behalf of the Committee, the Chairman, Dr. Peter Osagie, appreciated the HOS for the confidence reposed in the Committee and pledged the commitment of members to diligently undertake the assignment. He assured that the Committee would work collaboratively to produce a reviewed set of Civil Service Rules that would strengthen administrative processes and support the ongoing transformation of the Edo State Civil Service.

The Committee members included Dr. Peter Osagie as Chairman, Mrs. Esohe Igbinovia as Secretary, with Dr. Joy Akhigbe, Irusota Pauline Ighoomo Esq., and Mr. Joel Edionwe, as members.

04/09/2026

Goodluck Assumes Office as RARA Director-General, Pledges Fresh Direction

By Franca Aifesehi

The Edo State Rural Access Road Agency (RARA) has entered a new phase of leadership with the swearing-in of Engr. Momodu Oghenakhoghie Goodluck as its Director-General by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Edo State.

The ceremony, which marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Agency, ended on a positive and hopeful note, as family members, staff and well-wishers rallied around the new Director-General, expressing confidence in his ability to provide purposeful leadership and contribute meaningfully to the development of rural road infrastructure across the State.

They also wished him a successful and impactful tenure in office.

03/09/2026

Oil and Gas Ministry Engages Edo Petroleum Task Force on Sector Development

By Joyce Odion Akhigbe

The Edo State Ministry of Oil and Gas Resources has called for stronger collaboration and synergy with the Edo Petroleum Task Force on promoting effective regulation, safety, investment and sustainable development in the State’s Oil and Gas Sector.

The Honourable Commissioner for Oil and Gas Resources, Prof. Ikponmwosa Ignatius Omorodion, made the call when he received the Edo Petroleum Task Force delegation, led by its Chairman, Mr. Usifoh Daniel, on a courtesy visit to the Ministry in Benin City.

Prof. Omorodion noted that Edo State is endowed with vast Oil and Gas deposits and stressed the need for stakeholders in the Sector to work together towards harnessing the State’s enormous Oil and Gas potentials. He sought further information on the operations of the Task Force and emphasised the importance of enforcing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), effective oversight and appropriate standards in regulating activities within the Sector.

The Commissioner stressed the need for proper documentation and verification of operational licences, as well as compliance with approved procedures for the siting of facilities and environmental standards. Expressing concerns over the indiscriminate siting of facilities and its environmental impact, he stated that safety is key, and stressed the need for appropriate procedures in addressing and prosecuting violators. He commended the Task Force for its efforts in the State and charged it on the need for Teamwork.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. (Mrs.) Joy Akhigbe, appreciated the Edo Petroleum Task Force for the visit and reiterated the Ministry’s readiness to synergise and collaborate with it on achieving development in the State’s Oil and Gas Sector. She emphasised that the Ministry and the Task Force have a shared responsibility to protect the interests of the people and ensure the sustainable development of the Sector, assuring the delegation of the Ministry’s commitment to working together for the progress of Edo State.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Edo Petroleum Task Force, Mr. Usifoh, while congratulating the Commissioner on his appointment, explained that the visit was aimed at familiarising the Task Force with the Ministry and strengthening working relationship. He assured the Commissioner of the Task Force’s readiness to work closely and collaborate with the Ministry towards advancing the development of the Edo State Oil and Gas Sector.

The Deputy Chairman of the Task Force, Mr. Mohammed Jamiu Gavin, provided an overview of the activities and operations of the Task Force to include its role in monitoring petroleum-related activities, promoting compliance with relevant operational and safety requirements, and identifying irregularities within the Sector. He noted that the Task Force carries out its responsibilities through engagement, monitoring and collaboration with relevant stakeholders and institutions to ensure adherence to established standards.

02/09/2026

Edo State Govt Partners NOFIC to Eradicate Obstetric Fistula in South-South
..Urges South-South women to Access Federal Government Support

By Gloria Osemudiamhen

The Edo State Government, through its Office of the First Lady, has pledged strategic partnership with the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, (NOFIC) Benin City, to eliminate obstetric fistula across the South-South geopolitical zone through advocacy, treatment and prevention.

The Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, gave the assurance during a tour of the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Ugbor, Benin City. She expressed her commitment to women’s health, noting that it remains a key pillar of the administration’s SHINE Agenda.

She announced plans to convene a stakeholders’ meeting with local government chairmen and their wives in October to drive grassroots sensitization and prevention. To scale the impact, she pledged to engage the Wives of South-South Governors to replicate the campaign across the zone, emphasizing that increased awareness is key to reducing the burden of the condition.

The Coordinator urged women living with fistula to come forward without fear of stigma, stressing that the Federal Government has made treatment completely free, including surgery and a ₦20,000 transportation allowance.
“Prevention is better than cure. For those who already have it, treatment is free. You are not paying. We must ensure our women access this care,” she said. She also accepted to serve as an ambassador for the Centre and to champion the eradication drive across the South-South.

In conclusion, the Coordinator commended the Federal Government for the establishment of the Centre and the Edo State Government for its generous donation of 18 hectares of land for the permanent site. She appreciated the management, doctors, nurses and staff of the Centre for their dedication to restoring dignity to women.

Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of the Centre, Prof. Ileogben Sunday-Adeoye, said the facility is the youngest of Nigeria’s four national fistula hospitals and was established to serve the South-South zone. He explained that the Federal Government’s intervention makes care practically free and is aimed at addressing Nigeria’s status as the country with the highest burden of obstetric fistula globally.

Prof. Sunday-Adeoye appealed to the Coordinator to provide political leadership as the face and driver of eradication efforts in the South-South by mobilizing women at the community level. He noted that such leadership, working with the Centre’s technical team, would help to identify and bring in existing cases for repair while putting structures in place to prevent new ones.

Beyond fistula, he proposed collaboration in two related areas of women’s health. The first is the management of gynecological complications arising from Female Ge***al Mutilation, where the Centre can provide surgical intervention if consumables are provided. The second is pelvic organ prolapse, a childbirth-related condition that often leaves women with severe discomfort.

He commended the Edo State Government for donating 18 hectares of land for the Centre’s permanent site and thanked the Federal Government for its commitment to free treatment and care.

The tour provided first-hand insight into the Centre’s operations, the free treatment services available to women, and the level of care being delivered by the management and staff. It also reaffirmed the state’s commitment to partner with the Centre in advocacy, prevention, and grassroots mobilization to ensure affected women access care without stigma.

Photo Caption
A Photograph of the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, the Chief Managing Director, National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Benin City, Prof. Ileogben Sunday-Adeoye and other Stakeholders, during a tour around the facility, at Ugbor Benin City.

02/09/2026

Putting People First: How Okpebholo and SDGs Office Affect Lives in a Community at a Time

By Ogbebor Tony Ikponmwosa

The Edo State Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo made a promise when he took office; that every Edo citizen would feel the benefits of good governance. Today, that promise is showing up in construction and renovation of schools’ infrastructure, advocacy on university campuses, in primary healthcare centres and health outreaches, security, among other interventions in the State.

Leading this work on the ground is the Director-General of the Edo State Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Office, Hon. Julius Ogieva-Okunbor, who has built a reputation for getting things done quickly and reaching the people who need help the most. Under his watch, the office has run one programme after another that touches everyday life of residents in communities across the State.

One of the standout programmes was the World Menstrual Hygiene Day Outreach at Oredo Girls Secondary School in Benin City, where Girls were taught how to make their own reusable sanitary pads. Partners including the YALI Network Edo State, the Red Cross Society of Nigeria, the National Association of Nigerian Students, were part of the efforts that produced immediate impact of acquainting girls with new skills, new confidence, and one less reason to miss school.

The office also took on a much tougher challenge of cultism following the Governor signing of the Law, which carries 21 years in prison for anyone who supports cult related activities, and Death Penalty for cult-related killings. Against the backdrop that laws only works if people understood it, the SDGs Office ran the “ ” campaign for 14 days, taking the message to schools, hostels, hotels and lodges across Edo State. It was a clear, practical way of making sure the law reached the people it was meant to protect.

Healthcare has not been left out either. In 2026, the office organised a large Health and Medical Outreach, working with YALI Network Edo, VisionSpring, and the Edo State Ministry of Health. Residents received free medical checks, malaria testing, eye examinations, and free eyeglasses, the kind of support that changes daily life for families who could not otherwise afford it.

On environment, the office again showed it could bring people together through the “I Stand For A Cleaner Edo” campaign, which rallied over 1,000 young people to take pride in keeping their communities clean, linking that effort with the State's monthly Environmental Sanitation Day.

Taken together, the programmes tell a simple story that the Governor sets a clear direction where no community is forgotten the State. Hon. Julius Ogieva-Okunbor and his Team at the SDGs Office turned that directive into action in ways that ordinary people can see and feel. The steady, people-first leadership is consistently transforming Edo State for the better.

02/09/2026

EDOHERMA SHUTS DOWN JESS ROYAL HOSPITAL OVER ALLEGED REGISTRATION VIOLATION

,,, CLARIFIES THAT ANPMP MEMBERSHIP DOES NOT AUTHORISE HEALTH FACILITY OPERATIONS

By Igene Eromosele Stephen

The Edo State Healthcare Regulation and Monitoring Agency (EDOHERMA) has directed the Jess Royal Hospital to immediately cease all healthcare operations following alleged discovery that the Health Facility had operated for over 10 years without registration with the Edo State Ministry of Health and was not also registered with EDOHERMA.

According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EDOHERMA, Dr. Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin, the initial discovery was made during the Agency's monitoring exercise at an orphanage located within the same building, where the CEO engaged the Hospital owner, who informed her that the Facility was not registered with the Edo State Government but that he was a member of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP). The CEO immediately clarified that membership of ANPMP does not constitute statutory registration and does not authorise anyone to operate a health facility in Edo State.

Subsequently, the CEO directed the EDOHERMA Medical Services Department to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the Hospital. During the follow-up inspection led by the Agency's Director of Medical Services, Dr. Peter Evbuomwan, the Hospital Operator explained that health challenges had prevented him from completing the registration of the Facility. The EDOHERMA Team, however, noted that since the hospital had remained operational despite the stated health challenges, and that the Facility is required by Law to fulfil the statutory registration necessary for its continued operation.

Beyond the registration violation, the inspection revealed alleged significant health-standard deficiencies requiring urgent corrective action, including poor Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices, visible cobwebs on ceilings and walls, rusted and deteriorated ward equipment, severely degraded mattresses with damaged covers, and absence of evidence of routine fumigation or pest-control activities.

It was also alleged that the Facility had no valid and serviceable fire extinguisher, no emergency preparedness plan and no established referral system, which raised further concerns about patient safety and the Facility's preparedness to respond appropriately to emergencies.

Consequently, EDOHERMA directed the immediate cessation of medical operations at Jess Royal Hospital and gave it two weeks to commence the official registration with EDOHERMA, while correcting all identified infrastructural, environmental, equipment and health-standard deficiencies.

The CEO stated that a follow-up inspection will be conducted to assess compliance, and that the Facility will not be permitted to resume healthcare operations until the applicable regulatory requirements have been satisfactorily addressed.

Reaffirming the Agency's position, Dr. Urhoghide-Edigin emphasised that patient safety remains EDOHERMA's overriding priority and no health facility will be permitted to compromise established health, sanitary and operational standards in Edo State.

EDOHERMA therefore reminds owners and operators of private clinics and hospitals across Edo State that membership of ANPMP does not constitute approval or authorisation to operate a health facility. It added that Statutory registration with EDOHERMA is mandatory to ensure that healthcare is delivered in an appropriate environment, within an approved scope of services and by suitably qualified personnel.

Edo State Government of Nigeria

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