Etsako Lauds Dekeri’s Impact As Scorecard Surpasses Second-Term Peers
By DADA AYOKHAI
The recent decision by the member representing Etsako Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Sunday Anamero Dekeri, to renovate more schools across the three Local Government Areas in his constituency has continued to generate mixed reactions.
Though his initiatives have attracted commendation, they have also degenerated backlash from some quarters who erroneously regard it as bait for his re-election bid.
However, stakeholders and constituents who have followed his trajectory insist that Hon. Dekeri, popularly known as Danco, has redefined representation within three years, surpassing the records of many of his colleagues who are on second, third and fourth terms.
Hon. Dekeri, who hails from Okpella in Etsako East LGA, is the only first-term member out of the three representing Edo North Senatorial District. He was inaugurated on June 13, 2023, while the Owan and Akoko-Edo representatives are on second and fourth terms respectively.
Despite being a first-timer, Hon. Dekeri has within three years been listed among the most active lawmakers in the 10th House of Representatives, with several impactful bills and motions to his credit.
Among his bills are those seeking the establishment of a Federal College of Education and a Federal Medical Centre in Okpella @4445 and Uzairue, landmark institutions whose socio-economic benefits for Edo North cannot be overemphasized.
His legislative activism has also earned him recognition as one of the few first-term members whose voice resonates on national issues affecting his constituents.
What stands Hon. Dekeri out, observers note, is his interventions are not driven by budgetary allocations alone, but by committed personal resources and a deep-seated philanthropic spirit he nurtured long before his election.
The lawmaker, an acknowledged philanthropist and industrialist, began his legislative mission with a clear focus on building educated persons from scratch and revamping the education sector.
He started with the payment of enrollment fees for Senior Secondary School students.across Etsako to enable them to sit for WAEC, examinations, a gesture that has continued till date and has been extended beyond Etsako to other parts of Edo North.
Going by available figures ,in 2023, no fewer than 10,000 in students across Edo state have had their WAEC fees paid by Hon. Dekeri, with Etsako Federal Constituency accounting for the largest share. By 2024, about 5000 students benefited from the scheme which was limited to those from Edo north,
The huge number of parents and guardians who have benefited from the scheme, and the many more still in need, prompted Hon. Dekeri to move a motion on the floor of the House calling on the Federal Government to make JAMB, NECO and WAEC enrollment free, citing prevailing economic hardship.
Beyond education, his interventions have cut across skills development, teacher capacity building and community empowerment.
A glimpse of some of the projects facilitated in 2024 and 2025 include classroom blocks and livelihood support initiatives spread across the constituency.
Under classroom projects: Six-Classroom Block at Afokpella; Three-Classroom Block at Ebele Primary School, North Ibie; Three-Classroom Block at Osagbe Primary School, Othame, Agenebode; Three-Classroom Block at Ogute Secondary School, Okpella; Three-Classroom Block at Afowa Mixed School, Uzairue; Three-Classroom Block at Esivue Primary School, Aviele; Three-Classroom Block at Asama Primary School, Ogbonna; and Three-Classroom Block at Eveva Primary School, Okugbe, Okpella.
Other notable projects and programmes include two Mini Garri Processing Lines and a Corpers’ Lodge at Okugbe, Okpella.
According to his Edo liaison office, with support from Abdulmaliki Inusa Momodu, Senior Legislative Aide, and Vitalis Eshokene, Director of Finance, the most recent empowerment programme held in April 2026 benefited over 1,115 artisans who received work tools including welding machines, hair dryers, sewing machines, mechanic toolboxes and other equipment.
Similarly, in 2025, not less than 84 teachers were trained and provided with laptops to enhance their teaching and professional capacity.
The office noted that these are only some of the interventions facilitated by Hon. Dekeri since assuming office has extended projects to communities where his impact is yet to be significantly felt, and to ensure an equitable spread across Etsako Federal Constituency
