Governor Monday Okpebholo backs plans for an Edo Computer Village, promising to work with telecom and laptop dealers to establish a modern market

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has expressed support for plans to establish a modern market for telecom and laptop dealers, including a proposed Edo Computer Village, to create better trading conditions and boost business activities in the state.

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Okpebholo made the commitment on Tuesday at the Government House in Benin City while receiving members of the Telecom and Laptop Dealers Union, Edo State, led by its chairman, Akhile Rodney.

According to the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Patrick Ebojele, Okpebholo said he understood the challenges facing traders in the sector because he had previously worked in the business.

He commended the union for seeking a structured relationship with the state government and urged members to remain focused on growing their businesses.

“I am one of you because I started the way you are today. One thing is to have something doing; another thing is to be focused. However, I am also proposing a computer village like what is in Lagos,” he said.

The governor recalled how the Computer Village in Lagos developed from a small association into a major centre for telecommunications and computer-related businesses, expressing confidence that traders in Edo could achieve a similar development.

Responding to the union’s request for land, Okpebholo said the government would consider an appropriate location for the proposed market.

He explained that a purpose-built trading centre would reduce rental costs, improve security and make it easier for authorities to monitor commercial activities and identify criminal elements.

“We should be able to do that so that you can pay less rent and be highly protected,” he said.

Okpebholo reiterated the state government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses to grow.

He also linked the relative stability of the naira under President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms to improved prospects for operators in the telecom and computer industry, which relies heavily on imported products.

According to him, a more stable exchange rate would ease foreign exchange pressures and help traders plan their businesses more effectively.

The governor urged the union members to support Tinubu’s re-election bid, arguing that the continuation of the reforms would create further opportunities for businesses.

Earlier, Rodney appealed to the state government to establish modern telecom and laptop markets across the three senatorial districts of Edo State.

He asked the government to allocate land in strategic locations for the union to develop and manage, saying the arrangement would reduce shop rental costs, strengthen security and provide traders with a more suitable working environment.

Rodney also called for the appointment of special advisers from the industry to improve communication between the government and operators, as well as a permanent partnership framework to address challenges facing the sector.

He said the union was prepared to support efforts to attract investment, create jobs and increase the contribution of the telecom and computer industry to Edo State’s economy.

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The meeting was attended by Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa, Edo APC Chairman Jarrett Tenebe, Chief of Staff Yakubu Musa and other government officials.