LONDON, United Kingdom — Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has called on Edo indigenes living abroad to return home as investors, professionals and development partners, saying his administration is creating a safer, more prosperous and investment-friendly environment for business and growth.
The governor made the appeal on Friday during a diaspora engagement tagged “Shine Beyond Borders” in London, where he urged Edo people abroad to move beyond remittances and become active contributors to the state’s development through investment, innovation and professional expertise.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, Okpebholo described the gathering as a family conversation rather than a formal government event, acknowledging the enduring emotional connection many Edo indigenes in the diaspora maintain with their ancestral home.
“Some of you left Edo as children. Some of you have never even seen Edo, but you grew up hearing the names of your communities from your parents. That is true love that has survived oceans,” the governor said.
He extended a personal invitation to those who have never visited Edo State, urging them to return not merely as tourists but as stakeholders.
“To those of you here who have never seen your ancestral home, I invite you to come back, not as visitors, but as owners,” he said.
Okpebholo said his administration is strengthening engagement with Edo communities across Europe, North America and other parts of the world through the establishment of a Diaspora Agency and the appointment of a Special Adviser on Diaspora Affairs, adding that more appointments would follow.
He said the government is seeking long-term partnerships that would encourage diaspora professionals to contribute to sectors including healthcare, education, technology, agriculture, manufacturing and entrepreneurship, while creating opportunities for younger Edo citizens.
The governor reiterated that his administration’s development drive is anchored on the SHINE Agenda, a five-pillar framework focusing on security, health, infrastructure, natural resources and agriculture, and education.
Highlighting ongoing infrastructure projects, he cited the Ramat Park Flyover in Benin City as the state’s first flyover and described it as evidence of the government’s commitment to modern infrastructure.
He also referenced the reconstruction of the Ekpoma-Auchi section of the Benin-Okene Highway with concrete pavement and said the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway had been extended by 100 kilometres through Edo after the state was initially omitted from the alignment.
According to him, the projects are expected to improve connectivity, stimulate economic activities, facilitate the movement of goods and attract private investment.
Okpebholo also credited President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies, with improving the financial capacity of state governments to execute development projects.
“The era of governors queuing up for bailouts in Abuja before they could pay workers’ salaries is over. Today, states have more money not only for salaries but enough to undertake infrastructural development as can be witnessed in Edo State in recent times,” he said.
On security, the governor said his administration had prioritised efforts to curb cult-related violence, kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities through enhanced collaboration with federal security agencies.
He listed the approval of an Army Forward Operation Base, the establishment of MOPOL 82 Squadron, the recruitment of 500 Forest Guards and the federal government’s approval for a new Army Division in Edo State as key security initiatives.
According to him, improved security is critical to attracting both local and foreign investment because businesses can only thrive where lives and property are protected.
The governor also urged Edo indigenes abroad to become ambassadors of the state by promoting its opportunities while offering constructive criticism.
“Avoid always speaking negative about the land of your forefathers because there is no place like home,” he said.
He urged the diaspora to assess his administration based on tangible projects rather than what he described as misinformation on social media.
“Judge our administration by our performance and not from online mischiefs and propaganda,” he added.
Okpebholo acknowledged that no government has all the answers, stressing that sustainable development requires collaboration between government, the private sector and citizens both at home and abroad.
“We do not claim to have all the answers, and we know that no administration is perfect. But we remain committed to doing our best with the resources available to us,” he said.
The London meeting also provided an opportunity for Edo professionals and investors in the diaspora to engage directly with the governor, raise concerns and explore areas of partnership with the state government.
Okpebholo said the diaspora represents a valuable pool of professionals, entrepreneurs and investors whose expertise, international networks and financial resources can significantly contribute to Edo State’s long-term development.
“Edo State belongs to all of us, and there is no better place than home. We were not raised to destroy our home; we were raised to build it,” the governor said.
The London engagement forms part of the Edo State Government’s broader strategy to strengthen ties with Edo communities abroad and encourage greater participation in the state’s economic and social development through investment, knowledge transfer and professional collaboration.
