Obaseki Swears In New SSG, Makes Two Other Appointments

GOVERNOR Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, yesterday, swore in Mr Osarodion Ogie as the new Secretary to the State Government, SSG. The governor also appointed Mr. Taiwo Akerele as the Chief of Staff, Government House, and Mr. John Mayaki as his interim Chief Press Secretary, CPS. Obaseki, while administering the oath of office, said he and Ogie had been an integral part of the Edo Project, which they started together nine years ago.

The governor, who said he would always be comfortable and secured with the SSG, described the Edo Project as God’s own project. Obaseki said he understood the citizen’s high expectations from his administration especially during the current economic recession.

He said it would require hard work, commitment and sacrifice from all to surmount the challenges and deliver the promises he made during his electioneering. The governor disclosed that his administration would place more emphasis on governance and would work closely with the Permanent Secretaries in the next six weeks to cut down cost of governance.

Obaseki said the state government under his watch would not sack any of its staff but rather, would try and get more inputs from them through optimal productivity.

Responding, Ogie said the Edo Project was still on course. He urged the governor not to betray the confidence reposed in him by the people of the state that voted him to power. Ogie, until his appointment as SSG, was a former Commissioner for Works under Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s administration, former Vice Chairman, Economic and Strategy Team and former Chief of Staff during the first tenure of the Oshiomhole administration. Mr. Akerele, until now, was the Project Coordinator for the World Bank Public Financial Management and Youth Employment Program for Edo State. He was trained at the Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts USA. Carlton University, Ottawa, Canada, Stellenbosch University Cape Town, World Bank Institute Washington DC, University of Ibadan and University of Benin.

A trained banker, Akerele previously worked at the UBA (Strategy Group), FCMB (credit), Afribank (market intelligence) the old Fidelity Union Merchant Bank where he did his NYSC and the Lagos Business School. He was founding member of Center for Values in Leadership. Mayaki, before his appointment, was Executive Director, Media and Public Affairs during the Adams Oshiomhole administration.

He was former Senior Special Assistant on Media and was twice appointed Chief Press Secretary, Akoko-Edo Local Government Council in 2003.

Mayaki studied journalism at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos and holds a BA in International Studies and Diplomacy, University of Benin, Benin City.