News

Obaseki, Rema Perform Groundbreaking For 6000 Capacity Edo Arena

Published

2 years ago

August 28, 2024

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and afrobeats sensation, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, on Wednesday, performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the Edo Arena, a state-of-the-art conference hall and event centre.

The Edo Arena which is to be called ‘The Dome’ is sited at former Garrick Memorial School Ground, Ekehuan Road, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Rema arrived in his hometown of Benin, Edo State, on Tuesday, ahead of his highly anticipated homecoming concert scheduled for Friday, August 30, 2024.

Obaseki and Rema were joined by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Asue Ighodalo and the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, Culture and Diaspora Affairs, Uyi Oduwa Malaka, among other top government functionaries.

The elated music sensation thanked the people of the State for their relentless love and support, commending Governor Obaseki for his bold reforms and projects that have improved the lives of the people and transformed the State in the last eight years.

“I am happy to be here. I thank Edo people for their prayers and support. I am proud of the State, especially the growth recorded so far. I am proud of the togetherness, passion and zeal to make it greater.”

Commending the governor for the project, Rema said, “I am proud of the youths and ready to take part in anything that will give a drive to the youths, strengthen and motivate them. This is a blessing and I will see to it that this project is finished well.”

On the idea behind the development of the project, Governor Obaseki stated, “When we came into government in 2016, we didn’t have a venue for events but rather we were hiring canopies for events and renting places for large events, especially when we invite people out of the State. It became clear that we needed to have a venue where we could host large events.

“In the course of our planning, we realized that Edo has a unique advantage. They don’t call us the heartbeat of Nigeria for nothing. Edo enjoys tremendous traffic as most Nigerians move through Edo State and we noticed that it’s a huge economic advantage for us.

“We have the capacity to host national events and attract all Nigerians here. We made strategic plans as we began to sell our culture and position ourselves to attract more people to our State.

“We are using sports to attract people to our State as we remodeled the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium into a world-class sports center. We can boast today of the best sporting facility in Nigeria. To host cultural and entertainment events, we used the old Observer premises into a world-class sound stage that can host about 2,000 to 3,000 guests.”

He continued: “This is limiting because we can’t hold events larger than 3,000 people. So, we saw the urgent need to create a larger venue to host events, be it concerts, conferences, symposiums, or conventions. This has been the driving force behind the government acquiring this piece of property 5 years ago from the Garrick family.

“This premises, which is about 5 hectares of land, is supposed to be an entertainment hub, hosting many events, from concerts, to national conferences, symposiums and other larger events.”

Noting that the Dome will drive the influx of people into the State in line with the government’s vision to make the state a tourist destination, the governor said: “The number of large people that will come will enjoy the culture and what the people of the State can offer. Hotels will spring up in different locations in the State, creating room for the employment of more youths.

“This is what many countries in the world live on, not petroleum or crude oil but tourism. These countries don’t have the fraction of what we have in the State in terms of tourism. What they have is the infrastructure to support tourism as this is what we have started to build in Edo State.

“When completed, this will be one of the biggest and largest spaces that would attract events into the State. This project is important to us as most of our projects embarked on by our administration have opened the State for more investors to come in.

“The ones we have built are fully occupied as the government has no doing business but creating the enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the State. It will be made available to citizens who want to run them. Just like we did with the Radisson Hotel.”

According to him, “The role of government is to be an enabler to allow things to happen. This property is prime in the city. We want to make it attractive by beginning this development. We are using this opportunity to create the awareness that this facility exists and using the opportunity to have our global superstar, Rema to be part of this event.

“When you have people like Rema associated with a project like this it becomes a global project.”

News

Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes

Published

4 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Giving is Healing Foundation, has sensitised residents of Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to embrace legal travel procedures.

Speaking during a sensitisation programme held at Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association in Ayobo, the founder of Giving is Healing Foundation, Mr. Gbolahan Ayediran, warned intending migrants against using illegal travel routes.

Ayediran said many Nigerians desire to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities but often ignore proper procedures, thereby exposing themselves to several dangers.

“Lots of people want to migrate and most of them do it in the wrong direction. The reason for the programme is for us to advise people on how they can migrate in the right way. As much as migration is their right, they should do it correctly,” he said.

He advised intending travellers to obtain the necessary travel documents before embarking on any journey, noting that such documents include international passports, visas, flight tickets and yellow cards, depending on the destination country.

According to him, migrants should also gather adequate information about their destination countries to enable them make informed decisions before travelling.

Ayediran further highlighted some of the dangers associated with irregular migration, including abuse, exploitation, discrimination and forced labour.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association, Elder Mathews Amusan, commended the organisers for enlightening members of the community on safe migration practices.

He urged residents planning to travel abroad to always follow legal migration procedures to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and other migration-related challenges.

One of the participants, Mr. Kolawole Adenoko, said the programme enlightened him on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of travelling through the proper channels.

He added that he would also educate his relatives and friends on the risks associated with illegal migration.

News

Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan

Published

7 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.

Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.

He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.

Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.

“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”

He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.

He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.

Watch the video here

News

Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint

Published

23 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.

The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.
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‎ A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”
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‎Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.

READ ALSO:Children’s Day: Edo Commits To Child Protection
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It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.
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‎Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.
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‎The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.
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‎Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.

He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.

Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.

“The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.

“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”
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