CONCORD ONLINE NEWS

 Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre, Imadiyi (inset) Hendrix Oliomogbe  Special Senior Assistant to Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo on Media, Ambassador Uwa Imadiyi has lauded the state government for the handing over of Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre, Benin City to the Oba of Benin, Omo N'Oba Ewuare II. Ambassador Imadiyi, a cultural enthusiast and the proprietor of Aróse Arts Gallery, Benin City said that the return was proper considering the fact that the iconic cultural centre is situated in the heart of the ancient palace grounds of the Oba of Benin before the British punitive expedition of 1897 against the reigning monarch, Oba Ovonranmwen. He expressed hope that the edifice will once again be a beehive of cultural activities and other events to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Benin people and Edo State in general. He added: "I will like to commend Governor Monday Okpebholo for returning Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre to the Benin monarch. It's the proper thing conside...

Hendrix Oliomogbe  Edo State government has heaped the blame for the bad roads in the Government Reserved Area (GRA)  of Benin City and other parts of the state on immediate past Governor Godwin Obaseki. Washed away by torrential rains and littered with potholes, several roads in Benin metropolis, especially in the GRA neighbourhood and other parts of the state are presently in a very sorry state, resulting in untold hardship on commuters.  Speaking at a press briefing Wednesday in Benin City, the commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Kasim Afegbua said that the poor quality of the jobs which were hurriedly rehabilitated and constructed by former governor Obaseki are responsible for the situation. Prince Afegbua said that the roads, which were commissioned amidst fanfare and trumpeted as one of the major achievements of former Governor Obaseki's administration lacked proper drains and were constructed with substandard asphalt. Among several poorly construct...

.        Programme Lead ,Ms. Ugolor (2nd left), Rev               Ugolor (3rd left), others at the event  Hendrix Oliomogbe  How to promote knowledge, creativity, enterprise and intellectual engagement among young people took the centre stage weekend in Benun City, Edo State at the inaugural edition of the DeeMoat Books & Ideas programme. At the inaugural  ceremony which featured Nigerian writer and publisher, Dr. Eghosa Imasuen, author of a non-fiction book, "The Challengers", the Programme Lead of DeeMoat Books and Ideas, Ms. Onome Tovia Ugolor said that the initiative was born out of a strong conviction that communities can only grow when people have access to knowledge, opportunities and spaces for the free exchange of ideas. Ms. Ugolor said that the platform aimed to reconnect young and upwardly mobile readers with books, authors and ideas through public conversation. Sounding upbeat, she noted that the ...

                    Queen Erediauwa  Hendrix Oliomogbe  The famous lyrics of Michael Jackson’s hit song, Man in the Mirror seemed to capture the essence of the life and times of Her Royal Highness Oloi (Queen) Evbagharu Erediauwa (the Obarisiuwa N’Erie). Oloi Evbagharu Erediauwa was one of the beloved queen consorts of His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa. The king and the queen both joined their ancestors in 2016. Man in the Mirror, one of Jackson's most memorable songs, called for deep moral accountability, urging listeners to stop waiting for others to fix the world and instead take steps in their own ways to make the world a better place. The lyrics further painted poverty, the homeless, and a world in deep distress, conceding how easy it is for the haves to luxuriate in the castles of their skins, look away or pretend not to see the struggles of others. In parts of the deeply emotional lyrics, the late King of Pop music sang: ...

Hendrix Oliomogbe  Buoyed by its recent restructuring and re-christening as the Peoples' Assembly for Good Governance (PAGG) due to what it described as a sponsored petition against its name by Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to the Department of State Security (DSS), the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has vowed to vigorously pursue its advocacy for the betterment of Edo people through good governance. In a joint statement by the national chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor and the general secretary, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nkama, PAGG assured Edo people that it will never let them down but remained focused in its quest to move Edo  forward and take its rightful place in the committee of developed states, being one of the oldest states in Nigeria. Isibor and Nkama explained that the CRPP executive council resolved to change its name from CRPP to PAGG to meet the expectation of its teeming admirers, associates, particularly the impoverished masses of Edo State whom it's ...

.               Ehimuan Ahead of the commencement of full campaign for the 2027 election, the immediate past chairperson, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Edo State Chapter, Hon. Adesuwa Ehimuan, has been appointed National Director of Engagement, Edo State Chapter, Tinubu Torch Bearers (TTB). The appointment of Hon. Ehimuan, a former aspirant for the Edo State House of Assembly, Oredo East Constituency in the recent primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was contained in a list of National Directors of Engagement approved by the National Woman Leader of the APC and Convener of the Tinubu Torch Bearers, Hon. Dr. Mary Alile Idele. A source explained that the appointment is part of efforts by the Tinubu Torch Bearers to strengthen its engagement structure across Nigeria, deepen grassroots interaction and advance its mobilisation and advocacy activities. As National Director of Engagement, Edo State Chapter, the ace journali...

.              Okiye Hendrix Oliomogbe  Authorities of Edo State Gaming and Lottery Regulatory Commission (ESGLRC) in collaboration with the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN) have declared all gaming operations of Stake.com unlawful in the state and throughout the 24 member states of the federation. In a statement weekend in Benin City by the chairman, Hon. Frank Okiye and made available to journalists, he explained that  the action became necessary due to the failure of State.com to register, declare its operations and remit applicable gaming taxes and levies despite receiving multiple compliance notices over the past two years.  Hon. Okiye, a former speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly disclosed that Stake.com is neither licensed by ESGLRC nor any of the 24 member states that make up FSGRN. He advised members of the public to stop wagering on Stake.com and use only duly licensed operators, while banks, fint...