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From Chris Akhabue, Edo   A mental health expert, Dr. Okonkwo Bartholomew, has reiterated the critical role of mental health awareness in driving productivity and national development, warning that untreated psychological conditions continue to undermine workforce efficiency and economic growth. Dr. Bartholomew, a Senior Registrar at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Benin City, made this assertion while delivering a keynote lecture titled “Knowing Your Mental Health Status: A Pre-requisite for a Robust and Productive Economy” at a one-day programme in Benin City, Edo State. The event was organized by the Federated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, in collaboration with the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital (FNPH), Uselu, with a particular focus on commercial drivers. According to the mental health specialist, regular screening, early diagnosis, and timely intervention are essential steps in addressing mental health challen...

As the  COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc and ravaged unprepared humanity across the globe, many leaders were preoccupied with their own personal provisions and safety while many affluent individuals and politicians hid in the comfort of their well secured palaces with every provision in stock,  turning a blind eye to the suffering of the majority. However, Honourable Joseph Ikpea, a man of remarkable character and compassion, rather than locking himself and his family members in the safety of his home, came out with a truck load of food stuff looking for the downtrodden in his constituency, demonstrating  the strategic virtue of love in its purest form by shouldering the responsibility of making available the much-needed relief to the vulnerable at that critical period. While many of his contemporaries were securing and providing only for their immediate families, Honourable Joseph Ikpea exhibited a rare profound sense of empathy by distributing thousands of ba...

From Chris Akhabue, Edo  No fewer than 68 passengers narrowly escaped death on Thursday after an Enugu Air aircraft crash-landed at the Benin Airport in Edo State. The aircraft, with registration number 5N-ENR, was said to have been operating on the Enugu–Benin–Lagos route when the incident occurred. A source at the Benin Airport, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claims the aircraft overshot the runway after landing and veered into a nearby bush. The source said officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) responded promptly to the incident and safely evacuated all passengers from the aircraft. “The aircraft overshot the runway and entered the nearby bush. FAAN officials immediately swung into action and evacuated all the passengers. No casualty was recorded,” the source said. The exact number of crew members on board the aircraft could not be confirmed as of the time of filing this report. Authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the c...

_By Professor Charles Oyakhilome Amadin, Public Affairs Analyst_ Leadership is best measured by who it carries along. In Edo Central today, * Hon. Senator Joseph Ogiagbe Ikpea * has made his choice clear. His agenda puts three groups at the front: the youth, the women, and the workers. To him, these are not just voter blocks. They are the engine room of our society. #### * The Youth: Energy That Must Be Harnessed *   Edo Central is blessed with young people who are smart, creative, and ready to work. What they need now is not empty praise, but real opportunity.  Senator Ikpea believes the future of Esanland will be built by young entrepreneurs, skilled artisans, and tech-savvy graduates. That is why his focus is on skills acquisition, vocational training, and access to small business support. He is also pushing for more digital hubs and partnerships that can link our youth to jobs and funding.  “Our young people are not waiting for tomorrow to lead,” Se...

_By Professor Charles Oyakhilome Amadin, Public Affairs Analyst_ Leadership is best measured by who it carries along. In Edo Central today, * Hon. Senator Joseph Ogiagbe Ikpea * has made his choice clear. His agenda puts three groups at the front: the youth, the women, and the workers. To him, these are not just voter blocks. They are the engine room of our society. #### * The Youth: Energy That Must Be Harnessed *   Edo Central is blessed with young people who are smart, creative, and ready to work. What they need now is not empty praise, but real opportunity.  Senator Ikpea believes the future of Esanland will be built by young entrepreneurs, skilled artisans, and tech-savvy graduates. That is why his focus is on skills acquisition, vocational training, and access to small business support. He is also pushing for more digital hubs and partnerships that can link our youth to jobs and funding.  “Our young people are not waiting for tomorrow to lead,” Se...

From Chris Akhabue, Benin City The Edo State Government has paid N800 million as counterpart funding to the European Union to tackle persistent erosion and flooding, particularly within the Benin metropolis, in a renewed push to revive critical infrastructure projects. The Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Nosa Adams, disclosed this on Wednesday during the Ministry of Information and Strategy’s bi-monthly press briefing. He explained that the initiative represents a continuation of the Benin Storm Water Project originally initiated by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole. Adams noted that the project, conceived in 2012 with an estimated cost of N30 billion, was designed to address perennial flooding through extensive drainage construction, including a 13-foot-deep channel along New Lagos Road linking key canals across the city. However, the project was halted by the immediate past administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki, which had raised concerns over its viabi...