A Quest for New Ideas in Etsako East with Hon. Roland Igbadumhe at the State Assembly
Agenebode, Etsako East | April 10, 2026
Every community reaches a point where it must look beyond the usual and ask: _What’s next?_ For Etsako East Local Government Area, that moment is now. With the Edo State 30-year Regional Master Plan guiding long-term growth, and with new markets, roads, health centres, and artisan empowerment programmes already on the ground, the conversation has shifted from “what we lack” to “what we can build.”
That shift is shaping discussions around *Hon. Roland Igbadumhe*, the voice of Etsako at the *Anthony Enahoro Complex, Edo State House of Assembly*. Popularly called “Youngest Old Man,” Igbadumhe is known across Edo as a comedian, entertainer, and philanthropist. He served as Senior Special Assistant on Entertainment to former Governor Adams Oshiomhole and has since carved a record in civic work: building an orphanage in Okpekpe, supporting widows, and backing youth-focused programmes across the LGA.
*From Slogan to State Assembly Action*
Igbadumhe’s legislative agenda is built on three words: *“Reset, Rebuild, Rebrand.”* On the campaign trail, those words meant accessibility, healthcare, education, women and youth empowerment, and care for the aged. At the State Assembly, they are becoming policy priorities. His stated goal is simple: ensure that “the voices of the people are heard, respected, and translated into meaningful action”.
*Etsako East: What’s on Ground*
The LGA is not starting from zero. Recent developments include:
– *Economic hubs*: New lock-up shops in Agenebode main market to cut traders’ daily costs and create storage for farm produce.
– *Basic services*: Solar boreholes, Primary Health Centres, NYSC lodges, and classroom blocks expanding across wards.
– *Skills support*: 1,176 artisans in Etsako Federal Constituency recently empowered with tools for hairdressing, welding, farming, and mechanics.
– *Planning*: The Edo Regional Master Plan, described as a “living document,” positions Etsako East as “virgin land” for structured growth.
The foundation is there. The next job is _innovation that connects these pieces_.
*New Ideas for the Assembly Table*
If “Reset” was about correcting course and “Rebuild” about fixing systems, “Rebrand” must be about changing what Etsako East is known for. Three ideas fit Hon. Igbadumhe’s profile and the LGA’s current needs:
*1. Grassroots Creative Economy Bill*
Use his entertainment background to push a motion for _LGA Creative Hubs_. A “Reset Studio” in Agenebode could train youth in skit production, podcasting, and digital marketing. It adapts the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub model for Ward-level impact and gives the Assembly a pilot for job creation in the creative sector.
*2. Water-to-Wealth Constituency Projects*
Pair each new solar borehole with a micro-enterprise cluster: pure water packaging, block molding, and dry-season vegetable farms. Run them as cooperatives owned by women and youth. It extends the life of current water projects and aligns with his history of widow and youth support.
*3. Ward 9 Agro-Processing Park*
Igbadumhe previously attracted projects to Ward 9: Imiegba, Itsukwi, and Imiakebu. Scale that model into a 5-acre park for garri, palm oil, and plantain flour, with farmers as shareholders. The Assembly can support it through motions on land access, tax relief for processors, and PPP frameworks.
*Why It Matters*
Representation is not just attendance at plenary. It is the ability to pull state budgets, private partners, and policy attention to Etsako East. Igbadumhe’s focus on dignity in representation, stability in leadership, and development gives him a clear path: champion policies that promote youth empowerment, strengthen local businesses, and ensure transparent governance.
*The Quest Ahead*
The quest for new ideas is really a quest for systems_. Systems that turn boreholes into businesses, markets into export points, and talents into income. Etsako East has the land, the people, and now a legislator whose background blends entertainment, philanthropy, and public service.
The 30-year Master Plan is the map. Ongoing projects are the vehicle. Bold, testable ideas are the fuel. With Hon. Roland Igbadumhe at the State Assembly, “Reset, Rebuild, Rebrand” has a chance to move from slogan to statute, and from statute to street-level impact