Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo state

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has advised his friends and well-wishers who may want to place congratulatory advertisements across the various media platforms for his birthday to donate the expenses to charity.

The Governor who would be 58 on July 1, advised those who intend to wish him well to direct the funds to WeCare Trust.

A statement issued and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. John Mayaki, noted that the Governor was unhappy with the rate of helpless children in the State and he had been making moves to curb the spread and rectify the social damage.

“Governor Obaseki has been worried and taking steps to end the societal stigma of helpless children living of the streets and witnessing the worst parts of life before they have even had a chance to live. He will not rest until he has addressed this satisfactorily.

“He has met with religious leaders and has tried to upswing education in the state, he has also decided that funds that should have been directed to advertising felicitations for his birthday be donated to charity and orphanages in the State,” the statement read.

It added that it would be disheartening to the Governor to see celebration advertisements instead of notifications that funds had been donated to the charity organisation.

This is even as it called on well-meaning Nigerians who would not have been able to afford advertisements, to also donate to charity foundations in the State.

It recalled that WeCare Trust is a charity foundation owned by Iara, wife of former Governor of the State, Adams Oshiomhole, adding that it is the same foundation for which Governor Obaseki ran the 10 kilometer Okpekpe Road Race.

According to the statement, Governor Obaseki is presently formulating policies to profile residents and visitors in the State, and that census would be taken to record demographics and help the State plan accordingly in economy, culture, security, education, and other key sectors.