Dr. Tom Obaseki: Setting the template for a new Oredo

Oredo is a Government Council of Edo State, Nigeria, with its headquarters in Benin City.

Dr. Tom Obaseki is the Executive Chairman, of the council, where he assumed the seat of power in September after he was democratically elected.

Despite facing the tasks of reforming administrative orderliness, Dr Tom Obaseki has demonstrated commendable resilience and determination in creating innovative ventures, in the administrative and economic transformation of the council.

Evidence is his knowledge of, cultivation techniques and sustainable practices which has become invaluable in ensuring the availability and diversity of workable ideas.

Administrative professionals thrive when empowered to make independent decisions and take ownership of their work.

Granting them autonomy not only improves job satisfaction but also increases their dedication to maintaining high standards.

By involving them in decision-making processes and providing opportunities for professional growth, organizations can harness the full potential of their administrative staff and foster a culture of excellence.

REGULAR COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH STAFF, STAKEHOLDERS

This is a good place to pause and ask why the regular engagement with staff, stakeholders, and all relevant bodies.

Dr. Tom believes that all lives have equal value, and evidence suggests that with the right support, it will create better lives for themselves and the office community.

He is poised to play a significant role in the economic boom to come through building administrative structures, agriculture, and women empowerment, as they are dominant players in the food value chain from source to fork.

Oredo’s Chairman understands that organizations must communicate their goals clearly and align them with daily tasks.

By understanding how their work contributes to the larger picture, administration staff can connect their efforts to the overall success of the council.

His regular feedback sessions and transparent communication channels are second to none and have become vital to building trust, motivating teams, and fostering a sense of purpose in the new Oredo.

OREDO ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION EXERCISE.

One of the cardinal priorities set by the administration of Dr. Tom Obaseki is the safe and habitable environment for the people of the council.

Knowing the value of engagements,  the council chairman brought to play the Environmental Health Officials of the council where six groups were formed to marshall flash spots in the cleaning exercise around the Oredo areas, under the project, “BEAT PLASTIC WASTE”.

Speaking during the exercise, the Executive Chairman, of Oredo Government Council, Pharmacist Tom Obaseki said the initiative is one among several measures put in place by the government to improve the State’s ecosystem.

The outcome was massive, where over 1,750 staff participated including school Children during the five-day Cleaning exercise geared toward obtaining a safe and habitable environment for the people.

Also, 108 Students across primary and Secondary Schools in Oredo Government Council took turns to join Operation Beat Plastic Waste Project, an initiative of Dr. Tom Obaseki-led administration.

The successful participation climaxed the event which was supervised by Council workers including Environmental Health officials during the clean-up exercise.

BUILDING MORE TRADE CENTERS

With biting economic situations in the country, men and women, young, middle-aged, and old- mount rickety tables at small street sides to scrape a living.

A lot of them say street trading is their only means of making an honest living which tends to pose a demanding challenge to the environment.

A rough survey of these street traders in the Oredo Government Council shows that close to 12,000 street traders are involved in hawking.

There are four major markets in Oredo Government Council; Oba market, New Benin market, New Market, and Ekiosa market

For close to a decade, a major market, the Ogba Market, was constructed through the collaborative efforts of the community and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Ltd, NPDC, and left un-operated by successive administrations.

At the Ogba market opening ceremony, where the Council Chairman took delivery of 40 lock-up shops emphasized his total commitment to building a decent trading center.

Similarly, In a recent engagement with traders in the Ekiosa market, the Council chairman was clear about his intention to remove the about 12,000 traders from the street, on completion of the ongoing rebuilding of the fire-razed Ekiosa Market at the second east circular road, Benin City.

The Ekiosa and Part of the Oba market which fire razed some years ago are under construction and soon, local traders will resume trading activities, going by the top-gear collaborative efforts of the state government and the Oredo Government Council to complete the building projects.

With Dr. Tom Obaseki’s initiatives, there is hope that a new Oredo is possible.