Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to formulating and implementing policies and programmes that will secure a better future for youths in the state.
Okpebholo stated this on Wednesday when a delegation of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), led by its representative, Brig.-Gen. Abdulrahman Idris, paid him a courtesy visit.
The governor, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, expressed appreciation to the delegation for recognising Edo State’s longstanding contributions to Nigeria’s entertainment, sports and creative sectors.
He also announced that the state government would sponsor some students to participate in programmes at NIPSS, while promising to consider other requests made by the institute and determine areas where Edo could support its activities.
Speaking during the visit, Idris described Edo State as the “headquarters of the orange economy” among Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the position was reached following an NIPSS study on the “Orange Economy and Sustainable Growth in Nigeria.”
According to him, the institute initially regarded Lagos as the headquarters of Nigeria’s orange economy but changed its position after assessing Edo’s contributions to sports, entertainment and the creative industry.
“Back at the institute, we were arguing that Lagos is the headquarters of the orange economy. I said no, Edo is the headquarters of the orange economy; Lagos is just the route through which we channel our products to the outside world,” Idris said.
He added that the delegation’s three-day tour of different parts of Edo State further strengthened its conviction about the state’s leading role in the creative economy.
Idris noted that Edo had produced several personalities who made significant contributions to Nigeria’s sports and entertainment industries.
He recalled that nine Nigerian internationals from New Nigerian Bank (NNB) and Bendel Insurance represented the country as members of the national football team in the 1980s.
He also listed former Super Eagles coaches, including the late Stephen Keshi, Paul Bazuaye and Amodu Shuaibu, among notable football personalities produced by the state.
Idris further highlighted the contributions of contemporary entertainers from Edo, including Afrobeats star Rema, whose global success, he said, had continued to project the state internationally.
The NIPSS delegation leader commended the Edo State Government for its initiatives aimed at strengthening the creative economy and urged other state governments to emulate the administration.
He said the delegation was particularly impressed by developments witnessed across the state in the areas of security, healthcare, education and infrastructure.
The visit further underscored the growing recognition of Edo State’s cultural and creative assets as key drivers of economic development and opportunities for its younger population.
