Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the Governor of Edo State, has been praised for using science, technology, and innovation to propel the state’s education, health, security, and governance sectors to new heights.
Osayande Igiehon, the Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Holdings Oil and Gas, received the award while speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop on science, technology, and innovation in Benin City, the state capital, on Tuesday.
“Edo State has proven to be excellent amongst other States in the country in terms of technical advancement and innovation, and this is as a result of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s constant endeavor to transform Edo into a technology hub,” Igiehon stated.
The expert praised, among other things, the Obaseki administration’s investment in civil and public servant training and retraining, the introduction of tablets in public primary schools through the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation program (EdoBEST), and the establishment of an innovation hub in the State.
The CEO emphasized the importance of every state embracing technology and innovation, stating that any civilization that does not aim to improve its affairs through technology and innovation will not achieve greatness.
According to the guest professor, if current efforts are maintained by subsequent governments, Edo would realize its aim of becoming one of the greatest places to live and do business.
In his remarks, Obaseki stated that his administration has put in place the necessary mechanisms to develop 15,000 software engineers for the burgeoning global information and communication technology sector over the next five years.
The event’s theme was “Arousing the Collective Views of All for Sustainable Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy,” which was organized by the Edo State Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation in collaboration with Heirs Holdings Oil and Gas.
The goal of the session, according to the organizers, was to establish and implement effective science, technology, and innovation policy through collaboration in order to meet the Obaseki administration’s Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) agenda.
According to the Governor, technology and innovation drive the success of any administration since they serve as a catalyst for economic growth and productivity in all areas of the state.
Education, healthcare, governance, security, and revenue collection are among the fields where science, technology, and innovation have been used to provide value to Edo citizens, according to him.
“Science is the beginning of our lives, and science is the beginning of our lives.”
Technology is at the heart of science, and we’ve used it to steer our government.”
We have proved in the education sector, through our EdoBEST program, that technology can be used to boost learning for our children.
Today, I can use technology to keep track of the actions of instructors across the state. My government has trained over 15,000 teachers and provided them with tablets to aid in our children’s learning.
We are also an electricity hub in the state because we operate the CCECC-Ossiomo Power Plant, which we will enhance. Edo State is the only state in Nigeria that will do it properly.”
“As we pursue our objectives of Making Edo State Great Again,” he said, “the conclusion of this discourse will embody the hopes, aspirations, and yearnings of all stakeholders.”
Bartholomew Brai, the Commissioner for Science, Technology, and Innovation, thanked the Governor for his commitment to using science, technology, and innovation to drive industrialization in the state.
“Science, technology, and innovation are acknowledged globally as vital drivers of change and development, and they fuel advancement that moves the world ahead,” the Commissioner continued.
The potentials are immeasurable, and if properly utilized, they will result in a quick economic revolution, which we anticipate in Edo State.”