Okpebholo hails Army for remodelling Edo schools

File photo: Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.

The Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has commended the Nigerian Army for its intervention in the education sector, describing its remodelling of Ezomo Primary and Secondary Schools as a boost to learning in the state.

Okpebholo gave the commendation on Friday through his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, during the inauguration and handover of the remodelled schools in Uzebu and Oliha quarters, Benin City.

According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Friday Aghedo, “the project was commissioned by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, under the Army’s Special Intervention Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) initiative.”

“The Nigerian Army is a worthy development partner and an institution whose commitment to community development deserved emulation.

“The state government appreciates the Army for selecting the schools and communities for the intervention as the project would provide a more conducive learning environment and contribute to educational development,” he added.

Okpebholo also urged well-meaning individuals, corporate organisations and affluent indigenes of the state to complement government efforts through investments in community development.

He said building a prosperous Edo required collective responsibility and called on stakeholders to support his administration’s SHINE Agenda.

Earlier, Shaibu said the intervention was aimed at improving educational facilities and strengthening relations between the military and civilian communities.

He urged the Edo State Government, host communities and school authorities to take ownership of the facilities and ensure their proper maintenance for the benefit of pupils and students.

The Commissioner for Education, Mr Washington Osifo, also applauded the Army, “describing the intervention as a significant contribution to the state’s educational development.”

Osifo said the Okpebholo administration had constructed and renovated more than 100 schools since assuming office.

He added that the government had provided thousands of classrooms, procured more than 5,000 students’ chairs and recruited over 5,000 teachers.

The commissioner further disclosed that the state would commence the recruitment of an additional 3,000 teachers in the coming weeks to strengthen manpower in public schools.

According to him, the government had also procured and distributed more than 100 mobile science laboratories, each equipped with at least 200 scientific apparatus, to promote practical science education.

He said plans were underway to procure two additional batches of 100 laboratories to expand access to practical science learning across public schools.

The project was facilitated by Maj. Gen. Thompson Ugiagbe under the Army’s CIMIC initiative, which promotes community development through quick-impact interventions.

The initiative also seeks to strengthen public trust, encourage institutional partnerships and deepen relations between the military and civilian populations.

The inauguration and handover of the schools underscored the role of strategic partnerships in improving educational infrastructure and advancing grassroots development.