Secretary to the State Government || Edo State Goverment

Secretary to the State Government

BIO-DATA ON DR. J.E. AKHIGBE, DVM, FCVSN, JP

Dr. Joseph Edeoghon Akhigbe was born on July 22nd 1948. He hails Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State. He attended St. Paul’s Anglican, School, Iruekpen, (1953-1959); Hussey College, Warri, (1961-1965), Edo College, Benin City, (1966-1967); Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1969-1974); University of Benin, Benin City, (1992-1994).

Dr. Akhigbe is a public Servant appointed into the Bendel State Civil Service on the 28th day of August, 1975.
He established a Government Poultry Farm and constructed a functional incubator (Hatchery) with chicks, which then formed the source of day-old –chicks to back yard poultry farms and schools.
In 1977, he was posted to Government Special Farm (former Kikachuckwu farms) Ogwashi-Uku as the Chief Executive to reactivate the complex made up of Poultry, piggery and arable crops.
He was instrumental to the successes of Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) as he reared to maturity, chicks which were sold to farmers as point of lay birds.
In 1981, he headed the Bendel Livestock Farms Limited as the General Manager and Chief executive and produced day-old chicks in millions, broilers in million and eggs in millions. Bendel State was then referred to as a food basket of Nigeria.
In 1991, he was recommended by Bendel State Military government for a National MERIT AWARD for his contributions to Veterinary practice in the nation.
Acquired a specialist qualification, a Masters degree in Animal Parasitological and was granted a Consultancy status in Veterinary practice in Nigeria in Accordance with the Veterinary Surgeons Degree No. 40 of 1987.
Appointed Permanent Secretary in 2001 and served in that capacity till the 4th of June, 2007 when he was appointed the Secretary to the Edo State Government.
Appointed Consultant on Avian Flu. This appointment was vested on him in absentia as a result of his well-known antecedent of excellence in veterinary practice.

Functions of SSG

The office of the Secretary to the State Government is the policy nerve center of
Government and deals with substantive issues of policy design, policy
Implementation and policy coordination. The specific function include:-

Co-coordinating the activities of Ministries and other Governmental Agencies.
Handling matters concerning relationship with the Federal and state Government including non-Governmental bodies.
Preparing correspondences and addresses for the Governor.
Handling matters and correspondence concerning the Presidency including the Office of the Vice-President.
Undertakes the constitution and appointments of members of Boards, Parastatals, Corporations, Government-owned companies, Commissions and Committees.
Constitution of Judicial Commissions of Enquiry by Government and drafting the terms of reference.
Processing request for approvals for overseas tours, attendance of international inter-governmental meetings/conferences by all categories of Public Officers.
Directs supervisory role on the following offices:

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Agency for Community Based Poverty Reduction Project and Computerization Unit. Any other duties that may be assigned to it from time to time.