The Edo State Diaspora Agency (EDSDA) and the Edo State Tourism Agency (EDTA) have assured prospective visitors that Edo State is safe, vibrant, and fully prepared to deliver an exciting and memorable Yuletide experience, just as the State Government intensifies measures to guarantee security, leisure, and cultural engagement during the festive season.
This assurances was made known by the Director-General (DG) of EDSDA, Dr. Loretta Oduware Ogboro-Okor, and her EDTA counterpart, Lady Vivian Elabor, in Benin City during a joint press briefing.
Lady Elabor commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for his unwavering commitment to security and governance, noting that the administration’s proactive security investments have significantly strengthened public confidence.
She urged visitors to approach the festive season in Edo with assurance, stressing that robust measures have been put in place to safeguard lives and property.
Dr. Ogboro-Okor corroborated the position, disclosing that the State Government has made substantial investments in security infrastructure, with strategic interventions deployed across key corridors and destinations to ensure the safety of residents, returnees, and tourists throughout the Yuletide period.
Speaking on tourism development, Lady Elabor said the EDTA is advancing the Okpebholo administration’s SHINE Agenda by repositioning Edo State with a renewed and compelling tourism narrative.
“The progressive and aggressive commitment to ‘Edo Rising’ is the wind beneath the agency’s wings,” she said, adding that the agency is consolidating Edo’s cultural identity while expanding its appeal as a leading tourism destination.
Providing an account of the agency’s 2025 stewardship, the EDTA Director-General explained that institutional capacity has been strengthened, heritage assets preserved, and strategic collaborations forged to celebrate and project the rich cultural history of the Edo people.
On her part, Dr. Ogboro-Okor highlighted the EDSDA’s institutional and operational advancements, including the launch of a Diaspora Help Desk, which recorded over 20,000 documented diaspora interactions within its first two weeks. She said the platform addresses inquiries on investment opportunities, reintegration, identity documentation, and general support services.
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She further disclosed that the agency has mapped over 300 volunteers globally, enabling the creation of a comprehensive diaspora database, while also engaging key national institutions such as the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other relevant agencies to deepen collaboration.
“We have sustained global outreach and advocacy, engaging Edo diaspora communities in Italy, Canada, and the United Kingdom to promote reintegration, collaboration, and sustainable partnerships targeted at Edo State’s socio-economic development,” Dr. Ogboro-Okor said.
She added that the agency has also engaged traditional institutions and local government chairmen to facilitate community-based diaspora initiatives, reintegration programmes, and collaborative development projects that strengthen the bond between Edo citizens abroad and their home communities.
Both agencies reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Governor Okpebholo’s vision of a secure, culturally vibrant, and economically attractive Edo State, assuring visitors that the Yuletide season presents an ideal opportunity to experience the State’s safety, heritage, and hospitality.
