1. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki was born on 1 July 1957 and is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as the governor of Edo State from 2016 to 2024.
32 Facts About Godwin Obaseki
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Godwin Obaseki holds post graduate degrees in both Finance and International Business, and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers, Nigeria.
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Godwin Obaseki served as an executive board member of several private companies including Afrinvest.
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Godwin Obaseki is the recipient of the Nigerian Union of Teachers award for best performing Governor of the year in October 2019.
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Godwin Obaseki was born in Benin City, Western Region, Nigeria.
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Godwin Obaseki is the third child of Late Pa Roland Obaseki and Gbinigie of Owina Street, Ogbelaka Quarters, Benin City.
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Godwin Obaseki, thereafter proceeded to the University of Ibadan where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Classics.
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Godwin Obaseki later left Nigeria for the United States to attend Columbia University and Pace University in New York, where he obtained an MBA in Finance and International Business.
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Godwin Obaseki began his career as a stockbroker in 1983 with Capital Trust Brokers Limited, Lagos.
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Godwin Obaseki later transferred his services to the International Merchant Bank.
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Godwin Obaseki moved to AVC Funds Limited, Lagos, in 1988, where he served as a Project Manager.
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Godwin Obaseki moved back to New York and worked as a Principal of Equatorial Finance Company, a Financial Advisory firm.
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Godwin Obaseki focused on Africa and provided Structured Trade Finance for African-related transactions.
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Godwin Obaseki later stepped down from his position as chairman of the board of directors of Afrinvest in September 2016, to contest the gubernatorial election in Edo State.
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Godwin Obaseki was instrumental in attracting the Edo-Azura power project, with support from World Bank to the state.
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Godwin Obaseki served in the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission Committee on the Re-activation of the Nigerian Bond Market and the review of the Investment and Securities Act.
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Godwin Obaseki is a Trustee of the Dr Jackson Owen Obaseki Foundation, a family-owned Non-Governmental Organization.
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Godwin Obaseki publicly stated in October 2019 that he will be running for a second term in the State's Gubernatorial election coming up in 2020 stating that his re-election is non-negotiable.
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Godwin Obaseki was controversially disqualified from contesting in the APC primary elections by the screening committee due to his disagreements with the National chairman of the party and his predecessor in office comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
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Godwin Obaseki's focus in the health sector is to develop a viable primary healthcare system to provide affordable and accessible health care services to people in the state.
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Godwin Obaseki is pioneering a state-backed Health insurance scheme to provide a robust sector that will attract private investors.
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In education, Godwin Obaseki launched the Edo Basic Education Transformation programme, an initiative to train and equip public school teachers with top-of-the-range skills and expertise for deploying Information and Communication Technologies in classrooms to improve learning outcomes.
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Godwin Obaseki has vigorously pushed Edo state as a viable investment destination.
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Godwin Obaseki has contributed to the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration.
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Godwin Obaseki embarked on a massive reconstruction of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium to host the 2020 National Sports Festival.
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On 29 September 2016, Godwin Obaseki was elected as the Governor of Edo State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
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Godwin Obaseki said the ruling was victory for truth, and victory rule of law.
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Godwin Obaseki said the case against him was a most needless attempt by desperate individuals trying to undo the will of the people through the backdoor.
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On 16 June 2020, Godwin Obaseki resigned his membership from the All Progressives Congress.
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On 19 June 2020, Godwin Obaseki decamped to the People's Democratic Party and declared his intentions to seek re-election on the platform.
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Godwin Obaseki is married to Betsy Bene Godwin Obaseki, a financial expert.
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Godwin Obaseki holds a Bachelor and Master's degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos, and an alumna of the Kellog's School of Business Executive Management Programme, USA.