By Kingsley Ohens

As Edo State marks 35 years of its creation on August 27, 2026, the anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect not only on the state’s journey, but also on the direction of its development and the emerging priorities of the present administration.

Under Governor Monday Okpebholo, the government has anchored its development vision on the SHINE Agenda, with emphasis on security, healthcare, infrastructure, natural resources and agriculture, and education.

One of the defining features of the administration has been its emphasis on partnerships as a vehicle for expanding development opportunities. Collaborations with institutions such as Fujian Jiangxia University are opening new frontiers in education, while partnerships with the Niger Delta Development Commission are supporting infrastructure development, including the internal road network at Edo State Polytechnic, Usen.

The administration is also placing increasing emphasis on technology-driven education and public services. The Edo State Educational Certificate Generation and Verification Platform, EdoCert, is designed to make certificate access and verification easier by allowing students to create accounts, access certificates linked to their unique identification details, download digital copies and share them electronically.

Beyond infrastructure and technology, healthcare remains a major component of the administration’s forward-looking agenda.

Governor Okpebholo has stated a commitment to ensuring that all 192 wards in Edo have functional, World Bank-standard Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres. With 61 centres already completed, the objective is to progressively extend quality primary healthcare services across the state and reduce the distance residents must travel to access essential care.

The administration has also expressed an ambition to strengthen tertiary healthcare access across Edo, either through institutions in every local government area or, at minimum, across the three senatorial districts.

Education and human capital development remain equally important to the state’s future. The administration’s broader vision is to strengthen primary education infrastructure, deepen institutional partnerships and create an environment where young people can acquire the knowledge and skills required to participate meaningfully in a changing economy.

The protection of the girl child is another dimension of the emerging social-development agenda, with campaigns encouraging residents to report cases of sexual abuse and protect vulnerable children.

At the centre of these initiatives is the administration’s stated commitment to making governance more visible, measurable and people-centred.

As Edo enters its 36th year, the challenge is no longer simply to celebrate how far the state has travelled, but to build on its strengths and confront the demands of the future. For the Okpebholo administration, that future is being framed around stronger institutions, strategic partnerships, improved healthcare, better education, infrastructure expansion, digital innovation and inclusive economic growth.

The task ahead will require consistency, transparency and sustained implementation. But the direction is clear: to build an Edo State where development is not concentrated in a few areas, but increasingly reaches communities, institutions and citizens across the state.

That, ultimately, is the significance of Edo @35—a celebration of the journey so far, and a renewed commitment to the work still ahead.

About the Writer

Kingsley Ohens is a Nigerian journalist, writer and public affairs commentator with a strong interest in governance, development, politics and community affairs, particularly in Edo State. He writes on public policy, political developments and issues affecting communities, with a focus on presenting public affairs in a clear, accessible and engaging manner.

Through his journalism and commentary, Ohens contributes to conversations around governance, leadership, development and the future of Edo State.