Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu Reporting
Edo State, Nigeria
On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, will assume the helm of a significant regional gathering as he leads Governors from the South South States for the BRACED (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, and Delta) Commission Governors Council meeting, set to convene in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The forthcoming meeting is poised to delve into a spectrum of pivotal issues resonating with regional interests and critical challenges afflicting the area. Among the focal points slated for deliberation are matters concerning power distribution, security apparatus, agricultural financing mechanisms, and strategies for youth empowerment, among others.
In a statement released by the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Chris Nehikhare, it was elucidated that Governor Obaseki, in his capacity as the incumbent chairman of the Council, will preside over the proceedings. Attending alongside him will be Governors representing Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Delta States, underscoring the collective commitment to address pertinent regional concerns.
Highlighting the significance of the impending assembly, Nehikhare remarked, “The BRACED Commission Governor’s Council, comprising the Governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, and Delta States will convene on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Yenegoa, Bayelsa state.”
He further delineated the agenda, stating, “The meeting will encompass discussions on crucial issues affecting the region, including security dynamics and the prevailing power landscape in the south south. Additionally, the dialogue will traverse matters pertaining to agricultural financing mechanisms and initiatives geared towards the empowerment of youths and women in the region.”
Nehikhare emphasized the overarching objective behind the gathering, articulating, “The meeting, to be chaired by His Excellency Godwin Obaseki, the Governor of Edo State and incumbent chairman of the council, epitomizes the steadfast commitment to reinvigorate and fortify the BRACED Commission, which was established in 2009 subsequent to the inaugural South-South Economic Summit held in Calabar, Cross River State.”