Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has restated his administration’s unwavering resolve to create more opportunities for women empowerment, strengthen families, and build resilient communities across the State.
The Governor made this known at the New Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City, during the inauguration of the new executives of market leaders in Edo State, led by Pastor Josephine Ibhaguezejele as the new Iyeki.
Represented by the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Edesili Anani, Governor Okpebholo said his administration’s vision is to promote thriving marketplaces where peace, fairness, and mutual support become the foundation of commerce.
He noted that women remain the heartbeat of Edo’s commerce, stressing that their empowerment is central to the growth and prosperity of communities.
“Our administration places a premium on women’s economic advancement. We are determined to lift women, strengthen families, and build stronger communities. Your leadership will shape the peace and productivity of our markets,” the Governor said.
Okpebholo pledged continued government support for market leaders and traders across Edo, assuring that markets would become true hubs of economic growth, cultural pride, and sustainable development under his watch.
In her remarks, the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Chief Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, emphasized that no leader was unseated in the process, clarifying that the Iyeki position had been vacant for years. She urged the new leaders to serve with dignity and represent Edo traders honorably.
According to her, “We don’t unseat anyone unless there is gross misconduct. The position is monarchical in nature. I am here to formally inaugurate Pastor Josephine Ibhaguezejele as the new Iyeki of Edo State.”
The newly inaugurated Iyeki, Pastor Josephine Ibhaguezejele, expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in her, pledging to justify the trust. She revealed that the Iyeki seat had been vacant for 12 years, adding that leaders of 151 of the 152 markets in Edo attended her inauguration.
Commissioner for Women Affairs, Barr. Bisi Idaomi, assured the Iyaloja General that Edo women would continue to play a pivotal role in national politics, promising that a significant portion of the votes pledged to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 would come from women in Edo.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshomohole, described the inauguration as a celebration of women as the backbone of the economy. He urged the new leaders to embody accountability, fairness, and unity in advancing the interests of market women.