News View Digest

SWAN COMMENDS EBS, ALENKHE FOR HISTORIC LIVE BROADCAST OF EDO QUEENS’ WAFU-B FINAL The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Edo State Chapter, warmly commends the Management and staff of the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS), led by the Acting Managing Director,  Dr. Festus Alenkhe, for the station’s outstanding and historic live broadcast of the CAF Women’s Champions League WAFU-B Final between Edo Queens and Ampem Darkoa FC of Ghana in Burkina Faso on Saturday. We consider the feat a remarkable demonstration of professional excellence, technological ingenuity and an unwavering commitment to the promotion of sports in Edo State  At a time when millions of football-loving Nigerians were eager to witness the historic continental encounter, EBS rose magnificently to the occasion as the only television station in Nigeria to beam the decisive encounter live, thereby placing the state at the centre of national and continental spotlight. SWAN Edo particularly salutes Dr. Festu...

SSA to Gov. Okpebholo, Razak Zekeri Celebrates Birthday with Children of Corner Stone of Hope Orphanage By Admin  For the Senior Special Assistant to Edo State Governor on Public Affairs, Hon. Razak Zekeri, September 6th is not just about cake and celebrations. It is a day of giving back. For years, the Governor’s aide has made it a tradition to mark his birthday at the Corner Stone of Hope Orphanage Home in Benin City, spending the day with children who have little but hope. This year’s celebration on Saturday, September 6, 2026, was no different. Hon. Zekeri arrived at the orphanage with food items, toiletries, clothes, school materials and other relief materials to support the home. Addressing the children and caregivers, Zekeri said his decision to celebrate with the orphans yearly is borne out of gratitude to God and a commitment to put smiles on vulnerable faces. “Every September 6, I remind myself that life is about service. God has been faithful to me, and the best way to t...

NEWS EDITORIAL   By Festus Alenkhe Regular Pay, Regular Promotions: Governor Okpebholo Restores Dignity to Edo Workers and Pensioners There is no greater sign that a government is working than when the people who keep it running can plan their lives with certainty.  Since November 2024, Governor Monday Okpebholo has given Edo state workers and pensioners that certainty. Salaries and pensions now land every 25th of the month. Like clockwork. And promotions for civil servants are no longer a story of "waiting for next year." It is  now very regular as preparation for 2027 promotion is ongoing. .  This is not small. This is governance. *What This Means for Edo Families* For too long, "salary delay" was part of our vocabulary. Workers borrowed to survive. Pensioners who served the state for 35 years were left to beg. That uncertainty broke homes and killed morale. Today, the story has changed.    *Predictability*: When you know your pay will come on the 25...

 * REJOINDER*  *RE: THE SHALLOW SMEAR AGAINST THE REBIRTH OF EBS* *Setting the Records Straight*  It has become necessary to set the records straight following a misleading and mischievous publication currently in circulation concerning the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS). The publication is replete with conjecture, insinuations and sweeping claims that do little to advance meaningful discussion about the state-owned broadcast station. Rather than dwell on personalities or engage in needless mudslinging, it is important to place the facts before the public. The reality is that EBS is undergoing significant changes aimed at improving its editorial operations, security, financial accountability, digital presence and overall effectiveness. *Editorial Transformation*  Over the past three months, EBS has embarked on a comprehensive redesign of its editorial operations. Reporters now file live reports for News Now at 12 noon daily, enabling listeners to receive timely infor...

G ov. Okpebholo Inaugurates 4 Boards, Urges Members to Prioritize Service and Integrity  From: Razak Zekeri, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs  Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has inaugurated four key boards and committees, charging the new appointees to be guided by integrity, humility and commitment to public good. The boards inaugurated at Government House, Benin City are: the Edo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Consumer Protection Committee, and the Edo State Rural Access Roads Agency, RARA. Addressing the appointees, Governor Okpebholo congratulated them and reminded them that their roles go beyond politics. “This appointment is not just a service to Edo people. It is also a sacred trust before God,” he said. He called on the members to work with one purpose, rise above personal interests, and ensure their actions deliver tangible benefits to citizens across the state. “I urge you to operate in ...

 * NEWS EDITORIAL*   6,000 Teachers Employed: Governor Okpebholo Restores Hope To Edo Classrooms *By Festus Alenkhe* Education is the foundation upon which every thriving society is built. And at the heart of that foundation are teachers. In a landmark decision, the Edo State Governor, *Senator Monday Okpebholo*, has approved the employment of *6,000 teachers* into the state’s public school system. This is not just a recruitment exercise. It is a rescue mission for basic education in Edo State. For too long, many of our schools, especially in the rural areas, operated with skeletal staff. Some schools had more pupils than teachers. Others depended on PTA teachers and volunteers just to keep classes running. The result was predictable: poor learning outcomes, teacher burnout, and declining confidence in public schools. That narrative is changing. Reports from across the state confirm that *most schools in rural areas now have teachers working in their schools*. For communi...