🏛️ AFEMAI HALL OF FAME
ADAMS ALIYU OSHIOMHOLE
From Iyamho to the National Stage — and Across the Roads of Afemai
Before the Senate.
Before the APC national chairmanship.
Before Government House…
There was Iyamho.
Born in Iyamho, Etsako West, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole rose from the factory floor to become a national labour leader, Governor of Edo State and one of the most prominent political figures to emerge from Edo North.
But for many people across Afemai, perhaps the most visible part of his governorship was not a title.
It was the road.
🛣️ A GOVERNORSHIP THAT REACHED THE HINTERLAND
During Oshiomhole’s eight years as Governor of Edo State, his administration undertook numerous road, bridge and erosion-control projects across Edo North.
Contemporary reporting documented projects including Ekperi–Anegbette Road and Bridge, Ayogwiri–Apana–Imiegba–Imiakebu/Okpekpe, Iyamho–Iyora–Jattu, Jattu–Ibie, Auchi–Jattu–Afashio–Ikabigbo and other connecting roads.
Among the projects associated with his administration were:
🔹 Ekperi–Anegbette Road & Bridge
Opening up communities that had long struggled with difficult terrain and flooding.
🔹 Ayogwiri–Apana–Imiegba–Imiakebu–Okpekpe corridor
A major intervention that connected previously isolated communities. Contemporary reporting described bridges and difficult mountainous terrain being tackled in the project.
🔹 Auchi–Jattu–Afashio–Ikabigbo corridor
A major road connection through the heart of Etsako West.
🔹 Jattu–Ibie and surrounding road projects
🔹 Sebe–Ogbe–Otuo Road, including the Ihievbe-Ogbe connection
🔹 Ososo–Ojah–Uneme–Igarra corridor
🔹 Ivioghe–Igiode–Uzanu Road
🔹 Auchi township roads and erosion-control works
Contemporary reporting specifically documented Oshiomhole inspecting erosion-prone roads in Jattu and road/drainage projects in Auchi.
And then there is Okpekpe.
🏃🏾♂️ FROM ROAD PROJECT TO GLOBAL SPORTING STAGE
The road into Okpekpe became more than infrastructure.
The improved access helped create the environment in which the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race emerged in 2013. Recent reporting recounts how the road built under Oshiomhole’s administration inspired the idea of turning Okpekpe’s spectacular terrain into a road-race course.
A road that some once questioned became part of the story of an international sporting event.
That is the unexpected legacy of infrastructure: sometimes a road does more than connect two places. It connects people to possibilities.
📜 THE JOURNEY
1952 — Born in Iyamho, Etsako West.
1999–2007 — President, Nigeria Labour Congress.
2008–2016 — Governor of Edo State.
2018–2020 — National Chairman, All Progressives Congress.
2023–Present — Senator representing Edo North.
But beyond the offices and titles, there is another timeline worth remembering:
LABOUR → GOVERNANCE → ROADS → CONNECTIVITY → OPPORTUNITY
From Iyamho to Auchi.
From Ekperi to Anegbette.
From Apana to Imiegba and Okpekpe.
From Otuo towards Ihievbe.
From Ososo towards Igarra.
Across Afemai land, the physical footprint of his administration remains part of the conversation about development.
Whatever one’s political perspective may be, the infrastructure story deserves to be documented alongside the political story.
🏛️ WHY THE AFEMAI HALL OF FAME?
The Afemai Hall of Fame is not about declaring anyone perfect.
It is about documenting people whose journeys, achievements and contributions have become part of the story of our people.
Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole’s journey — from Iyamho, to the labour movement, to Edo Government House, to national party leadership and the Senate — is undeniably one of those stories.
Today, Afemai People celebrates that journey.
👇🏾 YOUR TURN
Which Oshiomhole-era project had the greatest impact on your community?
Was it:
🛣️ Ekperi–Anegbette?
🛣️ Auchi–Jattu–Afashio?
🛣️ Apana–Imiegba–Okpekpe?
🛣️ Otuo–Ihievbe-Ogbe?
🛣️ Ososo–Igarra?
🛣️ The Auchi erosion interventions?
🛣️ Or another project?
Tell us the community and the project you remember.
Let’s document the stories behind the roads.
Afemai history is our history.
Our people are our heritage.
And the stories we document today become the history tomorrow’s generation will inherit.
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