Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has nominated businessman and community leader Martin Anayochukwu Oli as a commissioner, marking the second major appointment of a non-indigene into his administration.

The nomination was announced by the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Umar Ikhilor, and confirmed in a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Patrick Ebojele. The move is being framed by the government as a deliberate step toward building a more inclusive and representative cabinet.

Oli hails from Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State and has long been active within the Igbo community in Edo. Known primarily as an entrepreneur with extensive private sector experience, he has also been involved in grassroots initiatives focused on improving livelihoods and expanding economic opportunities for residents, particularly traders and small business owners.

Government officials say this track record of community engagement was central to his selection. Ebojele described Oli as a “community advocate” whose work has strengthened ties between Edo’s indigenous population and its large non-indigene communities.

The appointment follows that of Abdulkarim Kadiri, a prominent Hausa-Fulani leader in the state, who was named Special Adviser on Community Matters earlier in Okpebholo’s tenure. Together, the two appointments are being held up as evidence of a broader policy to recognise the contributions of all residents, regardless of ethnic origin.

Edo State is home to a mix of ethnic groups, including Igbo, Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and others, many of whom have lived and traded in the state for decades. Their economic activities, cultural presence and social networks have become deeply woven into the state’s urban and semi-urban centres.

By bringing non-indigenes into key roles, the Okpebholo administration is signaling that competence, commitment and community service will weigh heavily in appointments. Officials argue that such diversity in the executive council can help government better understand and respond to the needs of different communities, reduce tensions and foster a sense of shared ownership of public policy.

Oli’s nomination has been forwarded to the Edo State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation, in line with constitutional requirements. If confirmed, he will join a cabinet that the governor insists must reflect both the political will of Edo people and the demographic reality of a state shaped by migration, commerce and cultural exchange.