Edo State Governor and Oba of Benin to Lead N500m Education and Security Trust Fund Launch for Uneme Communities

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Ewuare II, are set to spearhead the launch of a N500 million education and security trust fund dedicated to the Uneme communities in northern Edo State. The event is scheduled to take place on September 14, 2024, at the La VOD Hotel in Benin City.

The initiative aims to address the pressing educational and security challenges faced by nine Uneme communities. It also seeks to honor distinguished sons and daughters who have significantly contributed to the development of their communities.

Babatunde Obabori, President of the Uneme National Development Association (UNDA), highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating that the deteriorating conditions in Uneme have become a major concern for both residents and those in the diaspora. The trust fund represents a critical intervention by the national body.

Governor Obaseki will be the Chief Guest of Honour at the event, with the Oba of Benin serving as the Grand Royal Father. The occasion will also be graced by traditional rulers from the Uneme communities, including the Chairman of the Uneme Traditional Rulers Council, the Oliola of Anegbette, and the Clan Head of South Uneme, Alhaji Yakubu Ugbodaga. The Ogienoruele of Erhurun and Clan Head of Central Uneme, Oba Moses Braimoh, will also be in attendance.

Obabori explained that the N500 million fund will be utilized for several key projects, including the renovation and furnishing of classrooms and residential accommodations for teachers, the provision of classroom furniture, the construction of libraries, and the purchase of library materials. The fund will also support the recruitment and sponsorship of community teachers for schools in the various communities.

Additionally, the money will be allocated towards scholarships, grants, and bursaries for students in tertiary institutions, the establishment of a pan-Uneme security architecture, and the provision of vehicles and motorcycles for vigilante groups in the communities.

Obabori called on Uneme indigenes worldwide to support and donate towards these vital projects. He emphasized that while communities often rely on the government to provide essential amenities, it is crucial for indigenes to contribute in areas that may not be receiving adequate attention. "A lot is on the table of governments, and sometimes we cannot continue to wait," he said, stressing the importance of community-led interventions to ensure the well-being and future of their young ones.

The nine benefiting communities include Uneme-Anegbette, Uneme-Akiosu, Uneme-Apama, Uneme-Ekpedo, Uneme-Enekhua, Uneme-Erhurun, Imiava-Oghomeze, Uneme-Udochi, and Uneme-Uzanu.