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BENIN – The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said with the support of teachers and other stakeholders in the education ecosystem as well as the institutional buffers emplaced by his government, the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) programme, and other reforms that have transformed the State’s education system will be sustained.
Obaseki gave the assurance while making his remarks at the Education Ecosystem Interdenominational Thanksgiving Service held at the Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Noting that teachers in the State are the pillars on which his government’s reforms rest, Obaseki said with the gains recorded in the last eight years, the State will never go back to the era of educational system decay.
According to him, “It’s almost impossible to kill a good idea. It will be difficult to kill EdoBEST as what you have started will be sustained. We started it with you and you own it. Never again will Edo go back to the era of 2016 where we started from.
“The idea of EdoBEST and the educational reform was not our doing but spiritually driven. It’s your doing. The idea of our education will not die. I thank you teachers for all your efforts as you are the pillars on which our reforms are resting on.”
Obaseki continued: “It was clear from the beginning that if teachers are not trained, the children will not learn. We thank you because you didn’t reject our reforms and our training for you made our reforms possible.
“EdoBEST would not have been successful without the parents, teachers, and communities as they have contributed to the sustenance of the reforms. Our teachers are amazing as they have taken a personal interest in the lives of the children.”
Noting that the education ecosystem in Edo State, like most parts of the world, interacts with the largest number of the population, the governor noted, “Through the ecosystem, we are able to connect 15,000 teachers, 500,000 pupils in our schools and other tertiary institutions of learning.
“It connects with over one million citizens in the State. It shows how important this sector is to us, which was why we made it our priority.”
He added, “We came in 2016 when the system had failed. The biggest business in Edo South at the time was human trafficking and our children never wanted to go to school. The system only produced and rewarded lions and tigers.”
Obaseki further stated, “I am finishing my term, but not finishing from Edo State as we will continue to provide leadership for Edo State and continue to advise to ensure Edo forward.
“We have a lot of work to do, as our work for 8 years is just a scratch on the surface. The whole idea of the education reforms we have undertaken is for a better society. We had to create an environment where our people will find work.”
On her part, the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Oviawe, who thanked the governor, all Edo teachers, and other stakeholders in the education ecosystem said, “We have done so much over the last eight years. The work we have done has been very wonderful due to the support of the Almighty.”
Guests at the occasion include the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Engr. Marvelous Godwins Omobayo; Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), Blessing Agbebaku; Commissioner for Digital Economy, Science and Technology, Hon. Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor; Commissioner for Roads and Bridges, Ethan Uzamere; Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi.
Others are the chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Edo State’s chapter, Apostle Irekpono Omoike; Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Edo State’s chapter, Pastor Mrs. Margaret Agbonifo; representatives of Catholic Church, party leaders, teachers and leaders and stakeholders of the education ecosystem in the State, amongst others.
