In a move that has intensified ongoing controversy, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has approved the handover of an additional 28 schools to missionary organizations, just one week after transferring eight institutions in a similar decision.
Hobnob News recalls that on June 16, 2025, Governor Okpebholo, following a meeting with Bishop Gabriel Dunia of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, first announced the transfer of eight schools to missionary bodies. This latest development brings the total number of returned institutions to 36, spanning Catholic primary and secondary schools across all three senatorial districts of the state.
Governor Okpebholo stated that a committee would be constituted to properly identify all schools slated for handover. He also clarified that any schools currently under renovation by the state would remain under government supervision until ongoing work is completed.
The decision has triggered significant backlash, particularly from the Muslim community in Edo State, who criticized the governor for what they termed a unilateral action taken without broad consultation.
In a recent communique, the Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), led by its chairman Alhaji Abdulazeez Nosakhare Igbinidu, urged the government to suspend the handover process. The group called for deeper stakeholder engagement and the provision of viable alternatives for those who may be adversely affected.
“We plead with the government to consult more with stakeholders with the intention of ameliorating the negative effects the above points will cause,” the NSCIA said in the statement.
The group expressed concern that the handover could limit access to free and inclusive education for non-Catholic students. They warned that many families may not be able to afford private school fees, which could lead to increased dropout rates and possible imposition of religious practices on students from different faiths.
“Governments over time have invested in these schools, providing benefits to all residents regardless of religious affiliations. The handing over of these schools may deny some students access to free education, which your administration currently provides,” the communique stated.
As the debate intensifies, observers are urging the government to strike a balance between restoring ownership rights to missionary organizations and protecting the rights of all citizens to equitable and affordable education.
