Governor Godwin Obaseki proudly declared that his administration has significantly transformed the education sector in Edo State through various innovative interventions and initiatives.
Governor Obaseki emphasized the pivotal role of technology in this transformation, particularly through the implementation of e-learning to enhance educational outcomes.
“If a society is going to digitise, it starts from the government. Right now, in Edo, our teachers cannot teach without digital devices. Each teacher in Edo has a tablet,” he stated, highlighting the distribution of teaching tablets to all instructors as a crucial step in improving learning.
The governor’s commitment to a technology-driven educational reform has garnered recognition, as he was awarded the 2024 Digital Governor of the Year (Public Sector Automation) by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR).
He noted, “Much could be achieved in all sectors through digitisation,” underscoring the importance of sustaining these efforts in education.
Obaseki pointed out the vital role teachers play in this transformative process, mentioning that his administration has successfully reduced absenteeism rates among educators.
The EdoBEST initiative, which has received both national and international acclaim, was introduced to address significant issues in the state’s education system. “When I came in 2016, one of the biggest issues confronting the state was human trafficking and illegal migration,” he explained.
He further elaborated on the alarming statistics from the International Office on Migration, which reported over 30,000 Edo boys and girls attempting to cross into Libya in February 2017.
“We discovered that poor education was the root cause of the migration,” he said, emphasizing the need for educational reform.
Obaseki noted the positive changes that have taken place since the inception of the EdoBEST initiative, stating, “There was so much absenteeism. The teachers were recruited politically. Once we started, we changed the pedagogy—the way we teach the children in schools. No corporal punishment; we are talking about almost 400,000 children.”
Returning from the Global Partnership on Education event, a side event of the World Bank, he shared that Edo is the only sub-national entity recognized among countries nominated as accelerator countries in education reform. “Edo is the only sub-national on that list, like a proxy for Nigeria,” he remarked proudly.
Governor Obaseki also highlighted improvements in healthcare, noting that the Edo Health Insurance Scheme has made healthcare more accessible. “The biggest issue about healthcare today in Nigeria is cost. Today, we have one of the largest state insurance schemes in the country. We have almost 350,000 enrollees,” he stated.
Additionally, he discussed agricultural development, describing agriculture as a risky business that requires governmental support to mitigate risks for farmers. “We are providing an enabling environment for farming to boost food production and the local economy,” he affirmed.
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