Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has commenced an comprehensive remodelling of public schools across the state.
The announcement was made by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, in a statement shared on Facebook today.
The project was unveiled yesterday during the distribution of notebooks, textbooks, and other instructional materials in Benin City, the state capital.
Speaking at the event, Governor Okpebholo directed the immediate distribution of the materials to schools in all 18 Local Government Areas of the state.
He condemned the previous hoarding of educational materials as an act of “wickedness,” emphasising his administration’s commitment to improving education for Edo children.
The governor, accompanied by the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Paddy Iyamu, former Oredo Federal Constituency lawmaker Omoregie Ogbiede-Ihama, and other government officials, also inspected facilities at New Era College, Benin City.
New Era College, established as a specialized institution for young athletes by the late Samuel Ogbemudia, a former governor of Old Bendel State, was in a state of disrepair.
Okpebholo expressed dismay over the dilapidated facilities, including classrooms where students were forced to sit on the floor.
“These books you see here were donated by the President Bola Tinubu, for the benefit of Edo children, but the former Governor, Godwin Obaseki, refused to distribute them because the President’s face is affixed,” Okpebholo alleged.
“This is wickedness of the highest order.”
The governor pledged to restore New Era College, instructing the SUBEB chairman to begin preparations for the school’s reconstruction immediately.
He further criticised his predecessor’s flagship education programme, EdoBEST, claiming it failed to deliver meaningful improvements for students.
“What we see here today is not best for our children. My administration will ensure visible transformation within weeks,” he vowed.
The governor reiterated his commitment to prioritising education, promising to address the neglect and decay left behind by the previous administration.
Iyamu confirmed that the governor’s directive for material distribution would be strictly implemented, ensuring the books reach every school in the state.
