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Tag Edo Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu

  • Mar, Thu, 2020
Sport

Edo govt advises UNIBEN authorities on maintenance of Edo 2020 facilities

Facilities
By Monday Ajogun
Benin, March 5, 2020 (NAN) The Edo deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, on Thursday called on the authorities of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) to ensure they properly maintain the institution’s sports facilities.

Shaibu, who made the call shortly after inspecting the hostels of UNIBEN and the Ekewan campus in Benin, said the state government would be very happy to see proper maintenance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the hostels on both campuses would be used to camp athletes during the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) tagged “Edo 2020’’.

“It’s very sad to see that UNIBEN cannot maintain its facilities. It’s very sad to see that this is where our brothers, sisters and sons are being accommodated.

“The past leadership has failed this institution. They didn’t do their work. It’s not about teaching these students in the classrooms. It is also about their behaviour in the hostels.

“And if they have to live in this kind of environment, you can imagine the attitude they will graduate with.

“For me, this is not acceptable that we have to allow these facilities to run down this way before seeking intervention.

“The management of this institution will have to redefine how this university will live up to expectations not only in terms of academic performance, but also in infrastructure.

“I am appealing to the new Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami, to up her game and not behave like previous vice-chancellors,’’ the deputy governor said.

He however said he was still worried about how the university was going to ensure a proper maintenance of the facilities.

“My fear now is that state government is bringing tax-payers money to maintain these facilities. After fixing these facilities, what is the guarantee that we will not go back to this same situation,’’ Shaibu said.

The deputy governor, who also expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of renovation of Queen Idia Hall 1 hostel in UNIBEN, called on the contractor to step up the level of work.

In his reaction, Olanrewaju Adeleke, who is a representative of the contractors handling the hostels’ renovation, Peculiar Ultimate Consult, reiterated the assurances earlier given.

He said the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has assured that the hostel would be ready for the Festival in the next 14 days.(NAN)
AJOM/ASS/OLAL
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(Edited by Saidu Adamu and Olawale Alabi)

  • Feb, Thu, 2020
Sport

We will camp you for NSF at our own time, deputy governor tells Edo athletes

Protest
By Monday Ajogun
Benin, Feb. 20, 2020 (NAN) The Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has assured that athletes of Team Edo would be camped for the upcoming 2020 National Sports Festival (NSF) when the state government was ready.

Shaibu gave the assurance on Thursday while addressing some of the athletes who protested in front of the Edo Government House in Benin about late camping and payment of allowances.

“If we have not defaulted in paying you in any tournament you have participated, is it now that we are hosting that we will default?

“We have made up our mind on what to do, and you have to act in line with that. We want you to be of good discipline and that is key in the effort to win medals for us,’’ he said.

The deputy governor reminded the athletes of similar incidents in the past and the effects they had on their performance, saying they should be comfortable with past efforts by the state government.

“You remember that during the 19th NSF in Abuja, I spoke to you guys like this. I appealed to you all, assured you that your allowances will be paid, but your delay in listening to me caused us three gold medals.

“The era of your allowances being paid to coaches is gone. We are going to use the same template as it was during the last festival, where money was paid directly into athletes’ accounts.’’

On the issue of closed camping for the athletes, the deputy governor assured that the actual period of camping of athletes would be strictly adhered to.

“You will go into camp at our own time, and we will communicate this to you, as well as what you will get when you win a medal. We will tell you what you are getting for winning and for participating,’’ he said.

Shaibu, however, warned that athletes should not allow themselves to be used by those he described as dishonest people.

“They want your allowances to be paid to them and not directly to you,’’ he said.

The spokesperson for the protesting athletes, Friday Aigbagben, assured the deputy governor that they were not sponsored to protest.

“We are only interested in knowing the number of days we will spend in camp, and what are our allowances during the camping period and during the festival.

“Also, we want to know what our reward is at the end of the event. Those are the things that brought us here,’’ he said.(NAN)
AJOM/ERO/OLAL
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Put your professionalism, wealth of experience at disposal of NSF 2020, Shaibu advises LOC members

Members
By Monday Ajogun
Benin, Aug. 9, 2019 (NAN) Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, on Friday advised members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2020 National Sports Festival (NSF) to make available their professionalism and wealth of experience.

Shaibu, who is also the LOC Chairman, while speaking at their inaugural meeting in Benin, said this would help to ensure a successful hosting.

He assured that the government and people of the state were ready to give the festival a befitting hosting.

“You are all aware that our late icon, Samuel Ogbemudia, hosted the first edition of the festival, which was used to foster unity among Nigerians.

“Today, history is about to be made again. We are all aware of all the issues happening in our country. Therefore, Edo is ready to host a festival that will help foster unity and help us all to imbibe the spirit of oneness.

“It’s going to be the first NSF to be hosted by a state after a long break before the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development reintroduced it in Abuja in 2018.
“So, there are a lot of things we need to put together to have a very memorable festival which will set new standards,’’ the deputy governor said.

He assured that Gov. Godwin Obaseki was ready to give Nigeria a befitting and historic hosting of the festival.

“At the end of the festival, we will all be united like when the festival started many years ago.

“So, I want to charge all of us to please put in our time and our intellect for this tournament. Remember it’s not about the festival alone, but about our great country.

“Edo is known for sports. This is where it all started, and we have never placed last, in terms of this tournament and history of sports,’’ Shaibu said.

He said a lot had been done to ensure Edo 2020, which is the festival’s 20th edition, was one of the best ever.

“You all know that our facilities are being upgraded, and new ones are being built. All this is to reintroduce what we are known for in terms of sports activities and youth engagement.

“We promise to engage our youths in different fields through the festival,” the LOC Chairman said.(NAN)
AJOM/DE/OLAL
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(Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Bendel Insurance, Edo Queens, present FA Cup trophies to Acting Governor

Trophies
By Monday Ajogun
Benin, April 29, 2019 (NAN) Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin and Edo Queens FC of Benin on Monday presented the Edo FA Cup trophies they won on Sunday to the state’s Acting Governor, Philip Shaibu.

Bendel Insurance’s Technical Adviser, Monday Odigie, who presented the Edo Men’s FA Cup trophy before Shaibu, thanked him for his fatherly support.

“We thank you for your support. We are committed to winning trophies and making you proud,’’ he said.

Edo Queens’ Technical Director, Godwin Izilien, said they were impressed by Shaibu’s support and dedication to the development of sports in the state.

“We are so impressed with the way you take care of our welfare, which has really motivated us.

“It has really made the girls to be on top of their game. Your support will also convince our girls playing outside the state to come back home.”

Shaibu then assured the two clubs of Gov. Godwin Obaseki’s support, adding that his target was to see them playing at the national level.

“Our target is to see you play in the Aiteo Cup final match in both the male and female categories. Your welfare won’t be a challenge.

“All you need do is to remain disciplined both on the pitch and off the pitch. Whatever you do wrongly off the pitch can affect negatively in the field of play.

“I want you all to be a role model to our younger generation. Avoid engaging yourselves in social vices, “he said.

The acting governor also thanked their fans and the Supporters Clubs of both teams for their massive support, assuring that government would not withdraw its support from them.(NAN)
AJOM/DE/OLAL
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(Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

We’ll use sports to engage youths productively, Edo Deputy Governor says

Youths
By Igbaugba Ehigimetor
Benin, May 12, 2018 (NAN) Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, on Saturday in Benin said the state government was ready to use sports as a veritable tool to get the youths productively engaged.

Shaibu, while speaking with newsmen, said the state government would invest in the development of sports to curb the issue of illegal migration.

“Aside the current renovation and upgrading of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin to an international standard, government has concluded plans to also build a mini-stadium in each of the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

“We have a renewed commitment to invest massively in sports development because of its numerous benefits to the government and people of the state.

“The state has the challenge of illegal migration. We have therefore resolved to use sports not only to check this, but put a final stop to it.

“We will be using sports to productively engage the youths and, as such, keep them off things that will pose danger to their lives and the society.

“This is where the plan of building a mini-stadium across the council areas comes in. With sports facilities close to them, they will be kept busy at all times,” he pointed out.

The deputy governor also said the recent rebranding of Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin, was part of government’s renewed commitment to sports development in the state.(NAN)
ESI/KOLE/OLAL
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(Edited by Remi Koleoso and Olawale Alabi)