UNEMPLOYMENT IN EDO STATE

Nigeria’s unemployment rate has constantly been on the rise since Q2 2015, with the population of unemployed Nigerians rising from 518,000 to 1.45 million between December 2015 and March 2016, even though the actual population of people willing, able and actively looking for work increased by 1.99 per cent, from 76.9 million in fourth quarter of 2015 to 78.4 million in the first quarter of 2016. This was worsened, as reported by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, by the failure of government to meet its target of creating a minimum of 1.5 million jobs required for the period to keep the unemployment rate constant at 10.4 per cent before the end of December 2015.

 Edo state is blessed with Crude Oil and Arable land but has not fully harnessed this potential even though the Present Government is doing a lot in that respect. This situation has led to a menace of heightened cultism, thuggery and taunting in the state as able-bodied adults still depend on their ageing and struggling parents for survival. It is important that any government that would be voted in at the upcoming elections understand the science of what to do in order to stimulate the state’s economy towards job creation and adopts this as one of its major tasks. It should be the thrust or anchor of their political campaign promises and must be the benchmark upon which their faithfulness is measured. This is so because the ultimate emergence of new jobs or plugging of the high rates of unemployment would be indications of a redounding or healthy economy for the state. The people of Edo must endeavour to look out for someone with a caring attitude, a government official who knows how to receive and solve complaints from business owners, and understands the importance of building enduring partnership with small and medium scale enterprises which are key drivers in every economy.

GODWIN OBASEKI (PROFILE)

EARLY LIFE

Mr. Godwin Obaseki was born in Benin City, Nigeria to the famous and illustrious Obaseki family.

EDUCATION

He had his early education in St. Matthews Anglican Primary School Benin City from where he proceeded to Eghosa Anglican Grammer School, Benin City for his secondary school education. He attended the University of Ibadan where he obtained a BA in Classics.

Mr. Obaseki attended the Columbia University and Pace University in New York and has an MBA in Finance and International Business. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers, Nigeria and an alumnus of the Lagos Business School Chief Executive Program.

He was nominated a Global Leader for Tomorrow (GLT) by the World Economic Forum in 2001.

CAREER

Godwin Obaseki began his career over 30 years ago and has established track records in Investment Banking, Asset Management, Securities Trading and the Public Sector both internationally and in Nigeria. He started out in 1983 with Capital Trust Brokers Limited Lagos as a stockbroker where he excelled and subsequently worked with International Merchant Bank (an affiliate of First Chicago Bank). In 1988 he joined AVC Funds Limited, Lagos where he served as a Project Manager and led the core team that set up two of the new generation banks which eventually reshaped the face of the banking industry in Nigeria. Between 1993 and 1995 he worked in New York as a principal of Equatorial Finance Co, a Financial Advisory firm with a focus on Africa and providing Structured Trade Finance for African related transactions through credit, financial advisory and risk insurance.

Mr. Godwin Obaseki founded Afrinvest West Africa Limited (formerly Securities Transactions & Trust Company Limited (SecTrust)) in 1995, and was the pioneer Managing Director. The firm has since grown to become a leading Investment Banking and Investment Management firm in Nigeria. In 1995 SecTrust was appointed the correspondent stockbroker for Nigeria by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). In 1996, SecTrust established the first derivative product, the Nigerian International Debt Fund (NIDF) on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, which allowed Nigerians invest local savings in US Dollar instrument. This fund has outperformed projections on returns.

SecTrust pioneered and was local adviser on the first global offering by a Nigerian bank through the issuance of Global Depositary Shares (GDS) to raise UD$50 million from the international Capital market. Afrinvest has acted as advisers on some of the largest and most significant transactions in the Nigerian capital market since 2005.

Afrinvest is one of the most trusted advisory firms in the domestic corporate finance market, pioneering major innovations and providing leadership in the Nigerian Securities market. The Firm has advised on numerous landmark transactions including the first Eurobond Issue by a Sub-Saharan Africa Corporate (outside South Africa); the first ever simultaneous merger and tender offer transaction in Sub-Saharan Africa and the largest ever listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Afrinvest has been ranked as a major Investment Research firm which is at the forefront of playing instrumental roles in the introduction of new financing products such as Eurobonds and Global Depository Receipts to Nigerian Companies. Mr. Obaseki is presently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the firm which won the Best Asset Management Firm in Nigeria (2014) Award by the Wealth & Finance International Magazine Finance Awards.

Mr. Godwin Obaseki currently serves as the Chairman of the Edo State Government’s Economic and Strategy Team (EST), a position he has held since March 17, 2009 Pro bono publico.

Key achievements as chairman of the economic team of Edo state Government include: Documentation of State Economic Development framework through Sectors’ Strategic Planning which is reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis; Introduction and enculturation of retreats as a platform to ensure all parties engagement not only in planning and executing state development initiatives but also in monitoring and evaluation of outcomes; N25 Billion Infrastructure Development Bond from the Nigerian Capital Market in 2010; $225 Million Concessionary rates Development Loan from the World Bank with the 1st Tranche of $75 Million already accessed; Successfully hosted Sector based Economic Summits and Policy Dialogue Series including the Power Round Table in 2010, 2011 Education Round Table and 2012 Agribusiness Round Table.

These summits have translated in measurable and desired outcomes including:

  i.      Azura-Edo IPP project with over $1 billion in FDI currently under development in Ihovbor, Uhunwode LGA;

ii.      Education Reforms which have translated to significant improvement in Educational Infrastructure and student performance in WAEC and other Exams;

iii.      Following the 2012 Agribusiness Summit, the state has attracted investment in the Rubber Sub-sector for the development of the single largest Rubber Plantation project in Nigeria in Sokponba in Orhiomwon LGA under a privately developed and financed initiative;

iv.      A framework for Local Economic Empowerment through out-growers schemes is being finalized to attract funding into the development of key crops for which Edo State has natural endowment including Oil Palm, Rubber, Cassava, Cocoa, Rice and other grains.

Other Committee activities in Edo State Government

1.   Tax Assessment Review Committee for Edo State Internal Revenue Service (TARC) – Chairman.

2.   Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) – Chairman.

3.   Committee on the Implementation of the Law Establishing the Edo State University of Science and Technology, Uzaire – Secretary.

4.   Committee on Contributory Pension Scheme – Member.

5.   Edo SEEFOR/DPO Steering Committee – Member.

6.   Committee on the Report of the Audit of the Credentials of Teaching Staff in Public Schools in Edo State.

7.   Land Use Charge Committee – Chairman.

8.   State Steering Committee on the European Union Assisted Niger-Delta Support Programme (NDSP) Component 3 (Development of Edo State Water & Sanitation Policy and Law.

Professionally, Mr. Obaseki has served on the Presidential Committee on the Reform of the Nigerian Pension System. He also served on the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission Committee on the Re-activation of the Nigerian Bond Market and the review of the Investment and Securities Act. He served as a member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange Council between 2006 and 2009. He also serves on the board of some companies such as Dorman Long Engineering Limited, Pillar Oil Limited, Seric Impianti International Limited.

He was the founding secretary of a New York based US Africa Chamber of Commerce in 1992, which promoted US organizations doing business in Africa. He was a Director in Junior Achievement of Nigeria - the local affiliate of the worldwide Not for Profit organization which trains students to appreciate market economy values. He also participates actively and serves as Trustee, in the Dr. Jackson Owen Obaseki Foundation, a family owned NGO which is involved in providing free educational and health services to the less privileged. He is a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and has participated actively in all elections since 2009 and was Chairman, Fund Raising Committee for the Oshiomhole-Odubu re-election bid in 2012.

PASTOR OSAGIE IZE-IYAMU (PROFILE)

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, (Born in June 21, 1962 in Benin City, Edo State) is a Nigerian pastor, political figure, former Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Edo State Government. He is the gubernatorial nominee of the Edo State People's Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2016 Edo State gubernatorial election. He was previously a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He was the National Vice Chairman, South-South Zone of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He served as Director General of Adams Oshiomhole’s 2nd term Campaign Organisation. He was also the Coordinator of Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation. Recently, he was honoured by the Benson Idahosa University with an honorary doctorate degree in Public Administration.

PERSONAL LIFE AND EDUCATION

He is from Iguododo, Orhionmwon, Edo State and was born into the upper middle-class family of Late Chief Robert Osayande Ize-Iyamu, the highly respected Benin chief with the highly reverend title of Esogban of Benin Kingdom and Mrs. Magdalene N. Ize-Iyamu (nee Obasohan). Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu had his primary education at St. Joseph Primary School and Ebenezer Nursery and Primary School, Benin City, where he obtained the best result in the common entrance in the then Midwestern region and had his Secondary education at Edo College, the premier secondary school in Edo State in 1979, where he obtained the best result in the art class in West Africa Certificate Examination passed out with grade I. He chose to study Political Science, and was admitted into the University of Benin, Benin City in 1980 but later changed his course of study to Law the following academic session, and soon became one of the pioneering students in the faculty. He graduated with an LLB (Hons) in 1985/1986 and proceeded to the Nigeria Law School where he bagged the Bachelor of Law (BL) and was called to the Nigerian Bar afterward in 1987. Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu met God in 1995 through a harrowing experience
when he had an almost fatal accident that changed the course of his life forever, consequently joining the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). Osagie Ize-Iyamu is happily married to Pastor (Dr) Idia Ize-Iyamu, a Consultant Orthodontist with the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and a Senior Lecturer in the University of Benin. They are blessed with four children.

CAREER

In 1998, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu was made Pastor of the Upper Room Parish of the Church, located at Adesuwa Road, G.R.A., Benin City which grew to become the biggest RCCG church in Edo State under his leadership. He was later appointed the Area pastor of the GRA 1 Area church, overseeing three parishes with headquarters at the Upper Room parish. Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is the District Pastor, Overseeing Zonal, Area and individual Parishes of the Redeem Christian Church of God, in Edo State. Besides, he is in charge of the provincial
regional headquarters parish in Benin City. He started political activism during his university days as a vibrant member of the Student Union Congress and was highly instrumental to the election of several presidents and Executive members of the Student Union. After a sojourn into private legal practice and business, he was appointed as the Chief of Staff, Government House, Edo State (between 1999 – 2003), under the administration of Dr. Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, Executive Governor of Edo State. During this period, he set up the I.O Farms Training Institute – a model farm settlement at Ugbor-Amagba communities, Benin City, Edo State with the triple objective of agricultural training, skill acquisitions and youth empowerment as veritable mechanism to reduce youth restiveness, organized crime and unemployment.

POLITICS

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu was one of the operational planks that saw to the election of Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, as the then Chairman of Oredo Local Government Council, Benin City, in 1983, under the zero party system. He was appointed as the Chief of Staff, Government House, Edo State, under the administration of Dr. Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, Executive Governor of Edo State from 1999 – 2003, and was secretary to the state government under the same administration from 2003 – 2007. He was the National Vice Chairman, South-South Zone of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN),
was the Director-General of Adams Oshiomhole’s 2nd term Campaign Organisation in 2012, and was also the Coordinator of the Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation in 2011.

OSARO “DON” PEDRO OBASEKI (PROFILE)

Osaro Agbonifo Pedro Obaseki, (Born in December 31, 1967 in Benin City, Edo) popularly known as “Don Pedro”, is a Playwright, Poet, Screenwriter, Film Director, international Television content provider, seasoned lecturer and one of the pioneer founders of Nigeria's Nollywood Film industry. He served as Managing Director of DAAR Digital Services (DAARsat) and Executive Director of DAAR Communications Plc., and was President of The Filmmakers Cooperative of Nigeria (FCON). He is the Founder/CEO of ACC Broadcast Multimedia Ltd and is currently the flag bearer of the Accord Party, in the September 2016 Edo State Governorship Elections.

PERSONAL LIFE AND EDUCATION

Don P, as he is fondly called, is the first son of 5 children, and had his secondary education at the Unity School, Agbarho, in Warri, Delta State (1983), and tertiary education at the University of Benin, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Theatre/Theatre Arts Management (1983 – 1987). He holds a Masters’ degree in Business Administration and two Doctorate Degrees - a Doctorate degree in Performance Theory & Praxis and a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA).

He is the convener of the Edo Peoples’ Assembly, a socio-economic and cultural group (now a political sub party) with about 20,000 registered members and is married to Uchenna Obaseki. He uses Facebook and Twitter to interact with his followers.

CAREER

As a 10-year-old kid, Don Pedro presented “Children’s Time” for NTA Benin in 1977, wrote a story; “Days of Rage” which won the National Essay Competition in 1979, which later became a TV series, and was the smallest and youngest member of the crew during the shooting of “Things Fall Apart”.

An erudite scholar, visionary and speaker, Dr. Pedro worked as a Media Arts and Directing lecturer in the University of Benin for 6 years and 4 months (March 1989 – June 1995), as the General Manager, Programmes and Production at Degue Broadcasting Network (DBN TV) (1995 – 1997), as the Managing Director of DAAR Digital Services (DAARsat) and Executive Director of DAAR Communications Plc. (Owners of African Independent Television – AIT) (2011 – 2013), and Founder/CEO of ACC Broadcast Multimedia Ltd (Operators of WAWOO TV, ACCMOBILETV, PidginTV and the MTN-MobileTV Turnkey Project) (June 2010 – Present).

He is a Consultant to both the African Broadcast Network London, and the Kennedy Centre, Washington DC.

FILMOGRAPHY

He is a prolific writer of plays, and poetry and directed an international television documentary “Oshogbo and Adunni Olorisha Susanne Wenger” with Dr. Adama Ulrich for ORB Brandenburg, Berlin, and with Thorolf Lipp (a German documentary film maker) a documentary on “Adire Batik” in 1996. Other works for which he is known for include IGODO, EZIZA, OBASEKI, LOVE, WELCOME TO NOLLYWOOD, & AZAGIDI.

AWARDS

Dr. Obaseki is a 2-time recipient of the OBA Erediauwa Award for Excellence (in 2011 & 2013), and was awarded “Nollywood Distinguished Veteran” in 2013. He was also awarded an Honorary Award for “Service to Nigerian Broadcasting” at the National Innovation Awards, 2015.

POLITICS

On the 3^rd of December, 2015, Dr. Obaseki publicly declared his intention to seek nomination as the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the September 2016, Edo State Governorship Elections. However, on the 6^th of June, 2016, 48 hours after the leadership of the All Progressives Congress assured aspirants in Edo State of a level playing ground in its governorship primaries, he elected to withdraw his intention to contest the primaries of the APC, stating that “he had lost faith in the primary process, and would not be running for the election as an APC candidate anymore, but as an EDO candidate”. On the 4^th of July, 2016, Dr. Obaseki was unanimously adopted by over 300 delegates of the Accord Party as its flag bearer, at the party’s convention held in New Lagos Road, Benin City.

THE MANDATE - Edo State Governorship Debate

Armed with the objective of showcasing the plans, agenda and manifesto of individuals and political parties seeking public office and position, THE MANDATE is a platform organized and propagated by EGGHEADS LIMITED, a development and management company with services around social change, transformational projects, public relations and capacity development. With the Edo State Gubernatorial Elections fast approaching, the EGGHEADS LIMITED has designed a Governorship debate slated for the 16^th of August, which would facilitate an in-depth discussion of the leading issues facing the state, whilst availing flag bearers of the contesting political parties with an opportunity to highlight their manifestos to the electorate. This would help the public learn about the positions of the leading candidates on critical issues facing the state.
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