Omobayo Godwins, 38, the new Edo deputy governor
Thirty-eight-year-old Omobayo Godwins has been sworn in as the new Edo State Deputy Governor on 8 April 2024.
The Chief Judge of Edo State, Daniel Okungbowa, administered the oath of office at the Government House in Benin City, the capital of Edo in southern Nigeria.
Mr. Godwins, appointed by Governor Godwin Obaseki, hails from Akoko-Edo Local Government Area. The new deputy governor, born on 19 July 1986, is an engineer with professional experience in the oil and gas sector.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Public Administration, both from the University of Benin (UNIBEN).
He is a registered member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). Omobayo Godwins also served as a Senior Maintenance Engineer at Dresser Wayne West Africa Limited.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Godwins expressed his gratitude to Obaseki for finding him worthy to serve as his deputy.
“In the few critical months left to tidy up the work of this administration, my job as the deputy governor is clear and well cut out. I understand it very clearly. In line with the oath of office to which I have just subscribed, I make a solemn pledge to do all in my power, with God’s guidance, to live up to expectations. I will give all it takes to meet the expectations of my principal, the party, and above all, the good people of Edo State”, he said.
Governor Godwin Obaseki is serving the last year of his second term and will exit office on 12 November. His recently appointed deputy said it does not matter how long he will stay as deputy but the impact he can make within a few months.
Speaking further, Mr. Godwins pledged his total loyalty to the governor in the few months they will work together.
“It’s okay with me. Life is a process. At 37+, I am already a deputy governor; it has improved my political outlook, and I am not in a rush to drag with my governor. Whatever he said I should do is what I will do. He knows my strength. So, I will dwell on my strengths and add value. Politically, I am learning on the job.”