Taps Barr Musa Ikhilor As SSG
By Abiola Olawale
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has wasted no time in taking steps to name some persons into his administration by swiftly appointing and nominating individuals to form his cabinet.
This is as the newly inaugurated governor announced the appointment of Barr. Musa U. Ikhilor as Secretary to State Government (SSG); and the nominations of Hon. Samson Osagie PhD as Attorney General and Commissioner For Justice; and Dr Cyril Adams Oshiomhole as Commissioner for Health. The later is the son of. Former Edo state governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
This was made available in a statement issued on Tuesday by Okpebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Fred Itua.
Itua, in the statement, revealed that the nomination of Osagie and Oshiomhole will be confirmed by the Edo State House of Assembly when they are forwarded soon by Okpebholo.
This comes hours after Okpebholo was administered the oath of office at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State.
The New Diplomat reports that Ikhilor was born on the 6th of August 1980 at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State. Barr. Ikhilor attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained an LL.B in 2008 (Second class Upper Division). In 2009, he obtained a B.L. (Second class Upper Division) at the Nigerian Law School and was enrolled as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In 2017, Barr. Ikhilor proceeded to acquire his Masters degree in Telecommunications Law (LL.M) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Ikhilor has over 11 years of experience in Legislative Drafting, Parliamentary Administration, Lawmaking procedures and processes, Constitutional drafting and amendment, and general Legislative Governance issues, working in various capacities at the National Assembly.
In 2019, he was appointed as a Consultant to the Federal House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the review of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where he has been closely analysing and reviewing matters on Gender Equity, Human Rights, and strengthening Institutions of Government and creating efficient and transparent processes and systems to deliver Good Governance.
Also in 2019, he was appointed as Senior Special Assistant and later Special Adviser to the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who also doubled as the 1st Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.
On the other hand, Osagie, the nominee for the Edo State Attorney-General, is a private legal practitioner having been called to the Nigerian Bar on March 22nd, 1995.
He is also the current vice president of the African Bar Association (West African Region).
Born on November 11, 1967, Dr. Osagie hails from Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State.
He was a two-term member of the Edo State House of Assembly and also the House of Representatives, where he rose to the position of Minority Whip.
He has been involved in intensive Legal practice across Nigeria and the African continent.
He holds a First degree in Law from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, a qualifying Certificate for Law practice from the Nigerian Law School, and a triple Master’s degree in Law, Public Administration and International Relations. He also bagged a Doctorate Degree in Political Economy and Development Studies.
He has been a Legal Adviser, Solicitor, and Consultant to many Corporate Organizations and development partners.
Also, Oshiomhole’s academic journey began at St. Anne’s Primary School, followed by Command Secondary School, where. He later pursued higher education at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery (MBBS).
Oshiomhole enrolled at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA. Where he obtained a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH, majoring in Environmental Health, Toxicology, and Disaster Management).
His academic pursuits continued at Harvard University, Boston, where he underwent postgraduate training in Clinical Research and at Queen Mary University, London.
