CHIEF EDEBIRI’S BIRTHDAY WISH

By Barr. Kingsley Idahosa

Chief Iyobosa Solomon Edebiri, MON on Friday, April 22, 2016 rather than throw a lavish party for his birthday as is customary, preferred to spend his time with the less privileged and the disadvantaged in our society. He started his day by paying a visit to the Irrua Specialist Hospital where he met lots of indigent Edos who were unable to pay their medical bills and had been abandoned by their family and friends. Chief Edebiri as part of his good deeds helped pay off hospital bills so patients could be discharged. One of such cases was a three-month old baby whose mother had passed away during child birth and the father had abandoned in the hospital.

Chief Edebiri also visited the Abeni Orphanage Home in Benin City and the Oronsaye Maternity and Orphanage Home where he donated cash and gift items to assist in the well-being of the children.

ISE as he is fondly called visited the Oronsaye Skills Acquisition Center where he promised that the Solomon Edebiri Centre for Change will partner with them to help the youths acquire the needed skills to prepare them to succeed in life.

Over the years, Chief Edebiri has distinguished himself as a politician with a difference and worth emulating by others. With the likes of him, the world will no doubt be a better place for mankind. A flash back on some of his activities over the years include but are not limited to the following: Between 2002 to 2003 Chief Edebiri gave more than 2 million Naira to support local farmers in Edo south; In 2012 he supported widows in Edo state with startup capital up to the tune of 2 million Naira; In 2012 immediately after the governorship election which Chief Edebiri lost to the incumbent governor, he bought drugs and paid hospital bills running into millions for indigent patients at both the Central Hospital in Benin City and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital; In 2013, Chief Edebiri sponsored more than 30 students from various secondary schools in Edo State to South Africa for a discovery tour.

Between 2011 to 2013, Chief Edebiri sponsored the annual “Catch Them Young” Quiz Competition, an intellectual program worth 3 million Naira; In 2013, Chief Edebiri donated towards the construction of hostels at the Catholic Mental Health Challenge Centre in Esan West Local Government in Edo Central. In 2013, Chief Edebiri built a standard Student Common Room worth Millions of Naira for the College of Education, Ekiadolor, Edo state.

Between 2011 to 2013 Chief Edebiri bought drugs running into millions for Sickle Cell patients in Edo state; More than 50 less privileged persons currently enjoy scholarship from Chief Edebiri. Chief Edebiri Solely organized the centenary celebration of the last independent Oba of the Benin Kingdom, Oba Ovonramen N’Ogbaisi in January, 2014. Chief Edebiri also donated towards the construction of the Auchi Polytechnic building for Catholic students in 2013.

Between 2000 and 2004 Chief Edebiri solely sponsored Bendel United Football Club having over 300 Edo state indigenes on his payroll in Edo state. Chief Edebiri was also the sole sponsor of the then Edo Football League cutting across the 18 local government councils in an effort geared towards catching them young.

As the President of the West African Welding Federation, Chief Dr. Solomon Edebiri used his position and influence in the organization to site the Nigerian Institute of Welding in Edo State currently under construction. The Centre will play host to most Welding activities in the West African Sub Region. It is Located at Obayantor near Ologbo in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government area of Edo State. The Centre will be second to none in Africa when completed.

Chief Edebiri is a known philanthropist per excellence no one can deny.

We wish Chief Iyobosa Solomon Edebiri, Edo State’s illustrious son a happy birthday once again. It’s our prayer that God in His infinite mercy will preserve his life, grant his heart desires and give him many more fruitful years, in Jesus Name, Ise.