The Bight of Benin is metaphorical of the economic exploit of the ancient empire before the greed of Europe vanquished the empire.
Notwithstanding the European invasion and the epic battle for the economic soul of the empire, the modern Benin City, and, indeed, the entire Edo State, is synonymous with artistic ingenuity.The creative works in the forms of sculptures, paintings, bronzes and many others are as rich as the history of civilisation, earning it “the Great City of Benin” as far back as the 17th century. Benin is one of the first cities to have a form of street lighting.
These walls, it quoted Pearce “extended for some 16,000 km in all, in a mosaic of more than 500 interconnected settlement boundaries. They covered 6,500sq km and were all dug by the Edo people… They took an estimated 150 million hours of digging to construct, and are perhaps the largest single archaeological phenomenon on the planet.”From one dynasty to another, Benin’s political structure was among the most advanced.
“We are a people with a rich cultural heritage. Ours was one of the most advanced societies as at the time we had the first contact with the Portuguese. They were impressed with the thinking that went into the planning of our cities and towns. As a people, we are aspirational, enterprising, strong and regal. The famed Benin artifacts are enough evidence of this glorious past. Over time, especially after the discovery of oil in Nigeria, we lost a lot due to lack of planning,” he recalled.
About three years ago, the governor was in China to sign a memorandum of understanding for the construction of a modular refinery. Despite the COVID-19 slowdown, the project has been completed awaiting production. The company – Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited – has created a new vibe in the hitherto restive Ologbo community where it is sited.
The Edo Production Centre, which is supported by the Ossisioma facility, is an example of the possibility of reliable and affordable energy. Sprawling across the old facility of the old Bendel Printing Press, the production centre houses about 42 small-scale businesses , some of which operate round the clock.
The cottage industry hub has become a mecca of sorts for individuals, ranging from school leavers to young graduates who are desperate to make something meaningful of their lives. Young Valerie Osawe, a graduate of art and design from the University of Port Harcourt, has built a flourishing shoe-making factory at the centre while taking more young girls off the streets.
The majority of the trainees, Akingbade said, are secondary leavers who are yet to gain admission into higher institutions and students. He said the majority of the cohorts make enough money to take care of their expenses while in school. Decagon is run such that students can access loans and pay when they start work. A 2008 geology graduate from the University of Benin, Ehis Ehinma, told The Guardian that the programme was an answer to his dream job.
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