BENIN CITY — Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has announced his administration’s commitment to partnering with telecom and laptop dealers in the state to establish a structured, purpose-built tech hub, including a proposed Edo Computer Village.
The governor made this disclosure at the Government House in Benin City while playing host to a delegation of the Telecom and Laptop Dealers Union, Edo State, led by their Chairman, Akhile Ighalo Rodney.
Addressing the delegation, Governor Okpebholo drew from his own personal background as an early-stage entrepreneur, stating that he deeply understands the operational hurdles faced by small and medium-scale business owners. He lauded the union for adopting a professional and structured approach in engaging the government rather than operating haphazardly.
Recalling the organic evolution of the famous Computer Village in Lagos from a modest trade association into a massive national economic force, Okpebholo expressed confidence that tech traders in Edo State can replicate a similar success story with the right governmental backing.
Responding to the union’s appeal for land allocations across strategic locations, the governor assured that the state government will evaluate suitable sites for the project. He emphasized that a dedicated commercial cluster will significantly drive down shop rents, optimize security surveillance, streamline regulatory monitoring, and help weed out criminal elements masquerading as traders.
Earlier, the union’s chairman, Akhile Ighalo Rodney, urged the state government to facilitate modern tech and phone markets across the state’s three senatorial districts. Rodney explained that a self-managed, government-backed land allocation model would cushion members from skyrocketing commercial rents, enhance consumer safety, and create a thriving environment for digital commerce.
The union further requested the appointment of industry-specific special advisers and the institutionalization of a formal framework to drive investment and mass employment within Edo’s tech ecosystem.
High-ranking state officials present at the interactive session included the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa; the Edo State APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe; and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Yakubu Musa, JP, among others.
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