BENIN CITY, Edo State — The Edo State Government has entered into a strategic development partnership with the State of the African Diaspora (SOAD) to attract investment and accelerate development in critical sectors of the state.
The partnership, which was formalised during a meeting between Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the Prime Minister of SOAD, Dr. Louis-Georges Tin, covers areas including the proposed Gele Seaport, agriculture, railway infrastructure and other projects considered capable of driving economic growth.
Receiving Tin and his delegation at the Government House in Benin City, Governor Okpebholo welcomed the partnership, expressing appreciation to SOAD for selecting Nigeria, and particularly Edo State, as a destination for its proposed investments.
The governor said the initiative would also provide an opportunity for people of African descent living abroad to reconnect with their ancestral homeland while contributing to its development.
“We thank you for coming and also choosing Nigeria. Not just choosing Nigeria in Africa, but Edo State,” Okpebholo said.
He stressed the importance of Diaspora investment, noting that Edo must create an enabling environment for Africans living abroad to return and participate in the development of the state.
“Investment back home is the most important. Because these people actually took our people. But now, our people want to come back home,” the governor said.
Okpebholo also highlighted the role of the Edo State Diaspora Agency in strengthening the relationship between the state and its citizens and people of African descent living outside Nigeria.
According to him, although the agency was established by legislation before his administration, it was not fully operationalised by the previous administration.
He said his government had taken steps to strengthen the agency because of the significant role Diaspora engagement and remittances could play in the state’s development.
“Looking at the remittances back home, I feel we should give them a chance. That is why you see the Diaspora agency that we have today. And we hope to expand on it,” he said.
Partnership goes beyond investment
Speaking on the initiative, Tin said the proposed partnership was not solely about economic development but also about reconnecting people of African descent with their ancestral homeland.
He said SOAD represents an estimated 350 million people of African descent across the world.
“For us, it is not just about development, it is also spiritual. Because the State of the African Diaspora represents 350 million people of African descendants,” Tin said.
He explained that many members of the Diaspora were descendants of Africans who were forcibly taken from the continent, stressing that their return should be regarded as a process of reconnection rather than tourism.
“People who came out of Africa, who were deported from Africa, most of them were actually here before. So, when we come back to Africa, we are not doing tourism, we are meeting families. It’s reconnection,” he said.
Tin disclosed that his delegation had visited several locations and examined existing and proposed projects in Edo State to identify areas where SOAD could contribute.
He specifically listed the proposed seaport, railway development and agriculture as priority areas of interest.
“We also saw the seaport where we would like to contribute as well and bring development. The railway from Gele to the north as well. Agriculture, of course, is also on the table,” he said.
According to Tin, joint teams comprising representatives of the Edo State Government and SOAD have been constituted to work on the identified projects.
He added that SOAD had commenced the process of nominating its representatives, while he had also signed an executive decree to facilitate the nomination of members of his team.
“The members of your team and members of my team are going to be working together. I’m glad to know that you have already made a nomination. On my side, I also signed an executive decree so that they can be nominated and work together,” Tin said.
He further disclosed that the joint teams had identified a number of projects considered to be of interest to Edo State, with the list of priority projects forwarded to the Attorney-General for legal review.
Legal review underway
The Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Roland Otaru, reviewed the proposed agreement and identified areas requiring clarification and possible amendments before full implementation.
Otaru said the areas of disagreement were being subjected to legal consideration to ensure that the final agreement adequately protects the interests of Edo State while providing a workable framework for the proposed investments.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Edo State Diaspora Agency, Loretta Oduware Ogboro-Okoro, said the visit was aimed at deepening collaboration between Edo State and SOAD in pursuit of sustainable development.
She said SOAD comprises people and institutions working with the United Nations Alliance for Sustainable Development Goals to promote strategic partnerships and development initiatives aimed at advancing Africa’s future.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Edo State Government, including the Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Yakubu Musa; and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, among others.
The partnership is expected to provide a framework for attracting investment, developing critical infrastructure and creating new economic opportunities for residents of Edo State.
