CONCORD ONLINE NEWS

Hendrix Oliomogbe  A leading chairmanship aspirant for this year's Local Government Council election in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Ms. Bosede Iruagbonemi Edgal has called on Christians to use the lent period to pray fervently for peace, tranquillity and smooth conduct of the forthcoming council poll. Ms. Edgal who joined the Catholic Christian faithful to evaluate the spiritual benefit of the Ash Wednesday which signals the commencement of the 40 days fasting, reminded that it was a period to abstain from unchastity, immoral acts, enmity and other heinous acts capable of impeding the speedy answers to prayers by God. She said: "The holy month of lent is very important to renew strength and deepens ones faith in the sanctity of Christ sacrifice on the cross." A trained nurse, the chairmanship hopeful reiterated her desire to work faithfully with all religious bodies no matter the denominations to promote, peace and tranquillity in Owan West if given the ...

         Ize-Iyamu (l) shaking hands with Prof. Omoregie after the inauguration  Hendrix Oliomogbe  In its quest to reposition the University of Benin (UNIBEN), authorities of the tertiary institution have instituted a Trust Development Fund Board of Trustees to carry out major Infrastructural and academic projects. The Trustee under the chairmanship of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is saddled with the responsibility of mobilizing and sourcing for fund for the development of the tertiary institution.  Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Prof. Shuaibu Umaru, said the tertiary institution has made history being the first university to establish and inaugurate a trust development fund in the country Prof. Umaru said the fund was born out of the idea that institutions all over the world need to harvest their largest asset which undoubtedly is the alumna. He noted that it is a global practice that alumna...

Sister Odunnukwe speaking at the mass Hendrix Oliomogbe  Determined to curtail the rising c tvases of human trafficking in Edo State, a group, Committee for the Support of the Dignity of Women (COSUDOW), has taken its crusade against the scourge to the church. Speaking to the congregation shortly after a Sunday mass on February 15, 2026 at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Benin, the coordinator, Rev. Sr. Justina Odunnukwe admonished parents to keep a close tab on their children so that they will not fall prey to the antics of human traffickers. Rev. Sr. Odunnukwe decried the activities of human traffickers, noting that young and promising girls aged between 20 and 25 are the prime targets. The clergywoman said that the traffickers, with sugar coated tongues trick their victims with promises of an easy life of fame and mega fortunes in Europe, only for them to end up as prostitutes, subjected to the worst form of sex slavery. The coordinator lamented that most of the victims ended up ...

Hendrix Oliomogbe                                               Worried by the rising cases of human trafficking, scores of people recently took to the main streets of the Edo State capital of Benin City to kick against the scourge. The road walkers who included officials of the National Agency Against Prohibition in Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and members of the civil society chanted songs against human trafficking. Led by Rev. Sister Helen Omeya, the programme manager of the Committee for the Support of Dignity of Women and the coordinator, Rev. Sr. Justina Odunnukwe, the walkers who were armed with placards and banners with different inscriptions, denouncing human trafficking, trekked though Igbesamwan, Akpakpava, downtown Ring Road, Sapele Road and Reservation Road for about a kilometre before terminating at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Press Centre,...

Edo ADC secretariat after the shock attack  Hendrix Oliomogbe  A top member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Edo State, Hon. Murphy Osaro Omoruyi has called on the party's faithful and members of the Obidient Movement to remain calm and focused in spite of the unprovoked attack on the party's secretariat.  Hon. Omoruyi, the member representing Egor/Ikpoba-Okha federal constituency of Edo state in the National Assembly spoke weekend in Benin City shortly after inspecting the extent of damage done to the ADC state secretariat located at Ogbelaka Street by the hoodlums.  The federal lawmaker, who decried the level of destruction and act of arson carried out on the secretariat building by elements he described as enemies of democracy, declared that the barbaric act underscores the panic mode of some desperate politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections.  Addressing party supporters who accompanied him to the secretariat, Hon. Omoruyi said he came spec...

  Hon. Odion with Brig-Gen. Balogun Hendrix Oliomogbe  A group, Goods Drivers and Taxi-Cabs Owners Association of Nigeria (GATAN) has reiterated its determination to collaborate with the Nigeria Army to tackle security challenges in Edo State. In a statement in Benin City by the Edo State chairman of the association, Comrade Odion Prince Abumenre after a meeting with the commander of the Nigeria Army 4 Brigade Command, Benin City, Brig-Gen. AO Balogun, he said that GATAN will partner with the military to address insecurity in Edo State. Hon. Abumenre told Brig-Gen. Balogun that the association will live up to its aims and objectives by engaging in information gathering for security agencies and the government general in order to ensure the security of lives and properties of Edo people. He assured: "GATAN members operating within Benin metropolis and rural areas will compliment the efforts of the army in tackling security challenges through information gathering." Comrade Abu...

   Prof. Ize-Iyamu (m), Afegbua (l) and others at the ceremony  Hendrix Oliomogbe  Citing the achievements and exceptional leadership demonstrated by women like the late former vice chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams and the current Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua has emphasized the need for Nigeria to consider women for serious leadership roles. Prince Afegbua said the two outstanding women have demonstrated exceptional leadership in their respective fields. Prince Afegbua spoke recently in Benin City during the commissioning of UBTH Media Office urged Nigerians to recognize the potentials of women in governance and create opportunities for them to contribute to the nation's development He said' "We need to continuously look in the direction of women when it comes to leadership because some ...