Obaseki, Ighodalo Hail Edo Teachers’ Role In Education Revolution In Edo

By Adesuwa Louisa

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has commended Edo teachers for their immense role in the success recorded in transforming the State’s education sector over the past eight years.

The governor, who spoke during a meeting with the teachers at the Government House, in Benin City, the Edo State capital, said the teachers have by their invaluable service continued to contribute to creating a brighter future for the State and children in the State

He was joined by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 21 governorship election in the State, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.

The governor took the teachers down memory lane, recalling the times they were disgraced, humiliated, and intimidated by the previous administration, noting that his government has changed the narrative and has continued to prioritise the welfare and well-being of the teachers.

Obaseki said, “How many of you remember in 2016 when they said you should come and do an examination? They humiliated you nationally and internationally. Those who didn’t even go to school humiliating our teachers.

“Here you are today; you are the one still teaching the children today. The children are learning and you have transformed the sector, making the State a learning ground for other States and sub-nationals who are using our EdoBEST programme as a platform to transform their education system. You are rewarded effectively for your contributions to the development of the State.

“It takes two to tangle. As a government, we believe in our teachers and their abilities and we have demonstrated it and we will continue to demonstrate it. Just do your part and leave the rest to us.

“God will continue to bless you because you are touching and changing lives, creating a better tomorrow for our children and state by taking care of the children and pupils under your care as teachers in our schools.”

The governor added, “I am here today to sit down to check if you have done your own part and if you have done it, then you need to be promoted.

“You have worked from January till December;
let’s test and check if you have done well as we know you all have done well, you then will be promoted. You don’t need to know anybody before you are promoted. That is the kind of government we wish to continue to run in Edo State.

“The teachers own the land and know what to do in this election. I have almost 400,000 children in your care and those children have parents and they have seen what you have done in the lives of their children and want more for them.”

Urging the teachers to come out en masse to vote for the PDP and its candidate to ensure the sustainability of gains, and successes, the governor stated, “People who did not go to school can’t be interested in you as all the APC people don’t have meaningful education and will not want to continue with great reforms we have embarked on.

“The next governor you will have known much about the administration and all the policies and reforms we have taken in the last 8 years. The day we launched the EdoBEST programme in the State, Asue Ighodalo called me to say that we have started a revolution in Edo State.

“Asue Ighodalo’s interest in education has not changed since the first day we launched EdoBEST and he will continue from where we stop.”

“I have over 15,000 teachers and I am handing them over to you and you need to take care of them because they are responsible for shaping the lives of our children,” he added.

Ighodalo, on his part, commended the teachers for their support and collaboration with the Edo State Government to change the face of education in Edo State.

He said, “I saw that we are creating a revolution from the first day we launched the EdoBEST programme, and with the programme, we are taking over the hearts and minds of young people, moulding and making it competently and realistically strong, preparing them to take over the leadership of the State.

“I was part of the economic team for former Governor Adams Oshiomhole when Governor Obaseki was the chairman and I know how we struggled on the education front but with Obaseki in the leadership position, we have seen the difference.

“We are creating a competent and capable workforce in Edo State that will immediately attract businesses, creating an enabling environment and a prosperous economy by a revolution.”

Ighodalo added, “I thank the teachers for their determination in remoulding the minds and hearts of our young people to start the greatness of our State.”