Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has restated his government’s commitment to promoting equality and inclusivity in the state, and sought the support of all stakeholders to achieve a prosperous and progressive state, free from all forms of discrimination and prejudice.

The governor gave the assurance in commemoration of the 2023 International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination marked yearly by the United Nations and its sister agencies.

Obaseki, who described racial discrimination as a flagrant violation of human rights and a barrier to achieving equality, justice, and peace, said his government would sustain efforts at ensuring an equal opportunity for every Edo citizen to live their life to the fullest.

A statement from the office of the Special Adviser, Media Projects to the Edo State Government, Crusoe Osagie, quoted the governor as saying: “As we mark the 2023 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, I want to take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to promoting equality, inclusion and social justice in Edo State.

“Racial discrimination is a global issue that affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. It is a flagrant violation of human rights, which threatens our collective wellbeing and undermines our efforts to build a just and inclusive society, and requires the collaboration of all stakeholders to end the hydra-headed social problem.”

According to the United Nations, the 2023 theme of the international day focuses on the urgency of combatting racism and racial discrimination, 75 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).