All roads lead to the Muson Center, Onikan, Lagos on Sunday, December 21, 2025, as the Association of Esan Professionals (AEP) holds its 2025 End of Year Party and Awards Gala.

The AEP, in a statement sent to Thebladengr, indicated that the highpoint of the event will be the double honours to be bestowed on the Executive Governor of Edo State, His Excellency Senaror Monday Okpebholo.

According to the nomination letter signed by the association’s President, Dr. Henry Ehi Egbiki and Engr. Obehi Okosun, AEP Vice President and Chairman Planning/Organising and Awards Committee, the governor will be honoured for his “development strides in road infrastructure and education as the governor of Edo State.”

Governor Okpebholo will also be specially acknowledged for his excellent performance in the office of the governor as a worthy son and Ambassador of Esanland.

Road infrastructure in Edo State, has also seen unprecedented improvement under Gov. Okpebholo. He has reactivated abandoned projects, made massive repairs on critical highways like the Benin-Auchi-Abuja Expressway, as well as flagging off new road and bridge constructions such as the Temboga Road & Ramat Park Flyover, and tackling urban congestion, earning praise for tangible progress and commitment to connectivity.

In just one year as governor, Senator Okpebholo has made a significant impact in the education sector. His achievements in education include declaring a state of emergency on the sector, leading to a significant increase in funding for Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, and the construction of over 68 new schools and numerous school renovation projects across the state. He has also focused on teacher welfare by hiring 5,000 new teachers, reinstating illegally disengaged staff, and regularizing the terms of appointment for over 4,000 contract teachers.

Senator Okpebholo’s administration is implementing policies to improve student learnin, such as the EDU-Rescue Programme, reviving vocational training, and making Edo indigenous languages compulsory in schools. The programme also provides funds to support quality education for underprivileged children, bursary scheme for indigent students, and the signing of strategic partnerships with foreign organisations and institutions aimed at benefiting state-owned higher institutions.

Apart from the star-studded executive team members of the AEP and its event organising ommittee, a prominent Esan leader and and accomplished business mogul, Dr. Leemon Ikpea, will be on hand to welcome the governor to the event.

Dr. Lemon Ikpea is the Chief Executive Officer of Lee Engineering & Construction Company Limited, with investment in other sectors of the economy, including oil and gas, aviation, real estate and logistics.

The Association of Esan Professionals, established in 2001, is made up of distinguished Esan sons and daughters spread all over the world who are accomplished professionals and have excelled in various fields of human endeavours.

These Esan sons and daughters are also united in confronting challenges of liberating their motherland from the vicious cycle of poverty, illiteracy, insecurity and under development, and are determined to deploy their professional competencies and skills to improve the living standard of their communities and motherland.