An educationist and humanist, Mr Ernest Abegbe, has said that he would contest for the governorship seat of Edo State in 2024 in a bid to enthrone paradigm shift in governance of the State.
Abegbe, who made his intention to occupy the Dennis Osadebe Avenue seat of power under the platform of the Labour Party (LP), spoke in a chat with journalists Thursday in Benin City, Edo State capital.
He said the paradigm shift would make the people the center point of his government.
He further explained that part of the paradigm shift was to adopt bottom-top approach for the people at the grassroot level to feel the impact of government.
The educationist said that the sham called education reform in Edo State would give way for affordable and quality education across all spectrum of the society.
He said that his government would focus on good governance, nfrastructural development, security, economy, education and youth development.
While noting that security and infrastructural development would enhance economy of the state, he said he would partner with relevant stakeholders to achieve the desired security level as well as infrastructural development that would engender economy prosperity in the state.
“We are going to run a government with human face and ensure that the needed jobs are created to gainfully engage our unemployed youths.
“Since the issue of security, infrastructure and economy development are interwoven, we will partner with relevant stakeholders to achieve this while also ensuring the judicious application of the state monies in these areas,” he stated.
He said once elected as governor of Edo State in 2024, he would hit the ground running as he was not coming to start learning the ropes.
According to him, “My experience in both the public and private sectors have prepared me for the task ahead and we won’t waste time trying to figure out where and when to start from or what to do.”
Abegbe is a seasoned professional with a wide range of experience in both the private and public sectors.
He has managed several projects for the State and Federal governments, World Bank and European Union in the areas of Treasury Management, Value for Money Audit, Monitoring and Evaluation, Taxation, Financial Services, Asset Management and Recovery, Corporate Re-Organization, Entrepreneurship Development and Capacity Building.
Owing to his vast experience, Federal Government of Nigeria in 2020 appointed him as a member of the Technical Working Group (TWG) to prepare the Medium Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2021-2025, 2026-2030, and Nigeria Agenda 2050.
Presently, Abegbe is the Managing Partner of Ernest O Abegbe & Co (Chartered Accountants and Consultants), Ega Consulting Ltd, President of the Organisation for Global Restoration, and Director of EOAC International Schools Benin City.
He is a philanthropist who has impacted the lives of the less-privileged and involved in several community development projects
