Niger Delta
Guinness, Edo Partner On Women Empowerment
Guinness Nigeria Plc says it is ready to collaborate with Edo State Government for empowerment of women, and Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) in schools.
Its Managing Director, John Musunga, made this known in Benin, during a courtesy visit to the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.
Musunga said Guinness team in Benin would work with Edo State Government on the partnership arrangement for the empowerment of women into its “Plan W” women’s empowerment programme to create more jobs for Edo people.
“You got the right team to address the issue of school TVET, park beautification and logistics. We can craft responses shortly as to what we can do in the medium and long term”, he told Obaseki.
He said that doing business in Edo had been fairly stable, commending the Obaseki-led administration for its infrastructure development.
“For the last six years, we have seen infrastructure development. You have lit up the streets and movement is much easier.
“We did not have disruption in Benin during the election cycle; we were still able to produce and move our goods across the country.
“Our business has been fairly stable in Benin and giving us the confidence to continue to invest here”, Musunga said.
He also intimated the Governor about the company’s investment drives and corporate social responsibilities in the state.
“We have put in about four million pounds and we will be commissioning our new water treatment plant. It will be ready for full commissioning in the next few weeks.
“The plant treats about 80 per cent of all our effluent water and it is recycled back to a point where you can drink it.
“However, we will only be using it in ancillary functions like cleaning.
“We have the Water for Life programme and have given water to communities in Benin in the last 20 years. We are here to stay”, the Managing Director said.
He, however, noted that forex was a challenge to the company’s business investment plan in the country.
In his remarks, Obaseki said his administration was working round the clock to make the state conducive for investors to do business.
“As a government, we are encouraging people to come and do business in the state. We are putting a transport hub together; we are building parks to organise transportation better”, the Governor said.
He continued that his administration was concerned about skills and capacity building, urging the Guinness Benin factory to adopt Western Boys High School as a TVET centre.
“We are emphasising TVET and you have a school opposite your factory which we would like you to adopt.
“We would like to build a TVET centre; we will like kids to go there, train kids who will one day work within your factory as senior engineers.
“We are trying to make our city beautiful and attractive. We are building more parks and greening the city.
“You have a park close to you; we can come up with a design so that you can adopt that space”, Obaseki said.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Rt Hon Evans Bipi, has eulogised Gen Gabriel Asabuja over his recent birthday celebration in Port Harcourt.
Bipi said Asabuja is worth celebrating following his numerous contributions and support to the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He described Asabuja as a strong pillar of governance in Rivers State, adding that the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning is happy working with him.
He noted that Asabuja’s position as a team leader of the Ministry’s taskforce has been amazing, saying the Ministry is proud associating with him.
The former lawmaker hinted that since Asabuja assumed office as leader of the taskforce, the Ministry has witnessed tremendous improvement.
Bipi said the Ministry will always stand by him to ensure that the dreams of the Governor Fubara-led government are achieved.
On his part, the celebrant, Gen Gabriel Asabuja expressed gratitude to God and the Commissioner for the honour done him.
Gen Asabuja also commended Governor Fubara for his tremendous and good leadership in the State, saying his group will continue to give the Governor maximum support in order to achieve more for Rivers people.
Gen Asabuja described Rt Hon Evans Bipi as one of the best brains working with the Governor, saying under Bipi, the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning has shown capacity to leverage on the Governor’s mantra of Rivers First.
He said both the personnel of the Ministry, the Directors and adhoc staff are happy with his style of leadership.
The Joint Provincial Council, East of the Niger, Anglican Communion, held its 2025 Annual General Meeting at St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery, Diocese of Evo from Saturday 15th — Sunday 16th February, 2025.
The meeting which had the theme, “Kept By His Mercies”, with text from Lamentations 3:22-23, had the Archbishops, Bishops, their wives, Chancellors, Financial Secretaries and Synod Clerical Secretaries of the 58 Dioceses as delegates.
At the opening ceremony on Saturday, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Chairman of the Council, Most Rev Blessing Enyindah, charged delegates to stay focused and committed to the matters for discussion and implement decisions reached for the growth of the Church in the region and the advancement of the business of God’s Kingdom.
Most Rev Enyindah, who is also the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre, lauded the Diocese of Evo for the giant strides recorded in just 15 years of existence while tasking the leadership not to rest on its oars but to strive further to complete the work of the Kingdom in their hands.
Addressing the council in his welcome address, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo and host of the Joint Council, The Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, welcomed the delegates, and reminded them that the theme is apt and fit as it reminds the Church of God’s inexplicable and instructible mercy towards mankind, which supersedes His righteous judgements.
Bishop Ordu further lamented the many challenges bedeviling the country, such as skyrocketing cost of living, ravaging sicknesses and ailments, proliferation of harmful drugs, natural disasters, high level corruption in public offices, inept political leadership, amongst others, which he said could not consume mankind because of God’s mercies.
In their separate speeches, delegates saluted the Diocese of Evo for willingly accepting to host the council and the comfort they enjoyed during their stay.
Earlier, the council appointed the Synod’s Clerical Secretary of the Diocese of Evo, Rev (Canon) (Dr) Ebenezer Owhor as the Assistant Secretary of the Joint Council.
Also, before the commencement of plenary, the women of St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery thrilled delegates to good traditional tunes and dance steps while His Royal Highness Eze( Sir) Raymond Chinda led the chiefs and elders of Rumuomasi community in Oropotoma Kingdom, to appreciate the council for choosing the community to host the meeting.
They solicited for prayers of peace, unity and development from the council.
The meeting ended on Sunday evening while the Archbishops and Bishops worshipped in various churches in the Diocese of Evo.