By Mercy Akuba
The chairman Edo State chapter of Labour Party, LP, Comrade Ogbaloi, K S E has bagged the Edo State Politician of the Year 2023 award.
The Award ceremony which had in attendance the Who is Who in Edo State was organized by the Leadership and Development Initiative organization, a highly reputable cooperate Organization to inspire People occupying Leadership positions and promote good governance and impactful development in the society.
According to the project coordinator of the Leadership and Development Initiative, Mr. Duke Okosun said the award was conffered on comrade Ogbaloi based on his transformative leadership, rear dexterity in the administration of political affairs and non antagonistic style which had seen Edo State Labour Party moved from a low ebb position to a point where it has become a Party to reckon with in the politics of Nigeria.
The awardee, he said has distinguished himself as a humble, dogged, pragmatic and result oriented Politician whose leadership style has impacted on the lives of his members, his Party and the Edo People as a whole.
Responding, comrade Ogbaloi, thanked and assured the organizers of the ceremony that the honour will spur him to sustain and work more to improve on the already existing all -inclusive leadership style to further promote development and transparency.
“I am overwhelmed and highly elated by this honour . I was busy doing my best innocently, but never knew some persons/organisations, were watching and fixing an appraisal about me from afar. Yes, over the Years, I have played politics devoid of bitterness and that I think is the way to go if we are ready for our democracy to grow with the needed speed.
“I dedicate this honour to Labour party, the Obedient family and the ordinary Edo People who stood firmly with Labour Party to bring power back to the People”
He however called on Edo People to be resolute and focused as the Governorship Election draws closer . He said his party, is working tirelessly to present a Candidate that would bring good governance to the People if elected as Governor of the State.
Kelly further appealed to Edo People to reserve their vote for Labour Party Candidate who will bring the dividend of Democracy to their doorsteps.
Comrade Ogbaloi, K S E was born in the early sixties to Chief T.A. Ogbaloi (community leader) by his wife, Mrs. Ife Ogbaloi from Orake Otuo, in Owan East Local Government area, Edo State.
He attended Idesa primary school and finished in 1976, got admitted into Edeki Grammar school same year for his secondary Education and finished in 1981.
He was employed as a teacher and was attached to Iraua Primary School Otuo, where he taught briefly before moving down to Benin City for a greener pasture.
In Benin city, the young Ogbaloi, was employed in “Wayne West Africa” an oil field service company where he got encountered with labour activism in 1986.
He processed the advantages provided by the Nigeria labour Congress and his union, the national union of shop and distributive Employees(NUSDE) an affiliate of the Nigeria labour Congress, and attended several seminars/courses organized by them at the administrative Staff College, Badagry, NLC hamattan School Bauchi, others were in South Africa and Keyan respectively, He was in the contingent of the Nigeria labour congress to the international labour organization,(ILO) session 106th, Geneva in 2017.
At this time, Ogbaloi had gone through all the administrative layers of his Union, haven served as state Chairman, NEC member, Deputy President and acting President. He became the substantively Elected President of the National Union of Shop and Distributive Employees (NUSDE),in its Delegate conference, 2009 and automatically, a member of the CWC and NEC of the Nigeria labour congress, by his very accession to the enterprise level of his Union.
Comrade, Ogbaloi who is currently a Fellow of the chartered institute of administration (FCIA), attended the University of Benin and holds a Diploma in Public Administration, BSc in Political Science and Public administration and an MSc in Comparative Politics and Development Studies.
In 2015, K S E ogbaloi was elected Chairman of Edo State Labour Party and ever since then he has given his best to reposition the Party . His tireless , dogged and pragmatic efforts has endeared the Party to all well meaning nigerians
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These endless contributions have led to Labour Party parading Men and Women with high profile and Personality as Aspirants ahead of the forthcoming Governorship election in Edo State.
His unique leadership style led to NEC approval of one year extension as Chairman of Labour Party in April, 2023 in Asaba , Delta State to enable the party focus on the Governorship race.
Comrade Ogbaloi K S E no doubt has lived up to expectations, leading him to now being recipient of many Awards,amongst which are “The Integrity Icon of Nigeria(iion), Award of Excellence by the “Global Forum for peace, Justice and Human Rights” Award Award of Honors by “Edo Policy Round Table”
He is a successful family man.