Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State recently accused the former Governor, Godwin Obaseki, of withholding books donated by President Bola Tinubu from the students of Edo State. According to Okpebholo, the books, which featured the President’s image, were kept out of circulation by the previous administration for political reasons. He described this action as an act of “wickedness.”
In a statement on Monday, the Governor explained that the books would now be distributed to students across the state. He supervised the distribution of textbooks, notebooks, and other educational materials in Benin City, the state capital. Okpebholo ordered that the books be sent to all 18 local government areas in Edo State.
The distribution of the books is part of Okpebholo’s broader plan to improve the education system in Edo State. He also announced the first phase of a project to remodel public schools, including eight schools across the state’s three senatorial districts. This initiative aims to enhance the learning environment for students, some of whom have been attending schools with poor facilities.
While inspecting New Era College in Benin City, Okpebholo pointed out the deteriorating conditions in the school, where students were seen sitting on the floor. He emphasized that the previous administration failed to improve the state’s education infrastructure, which had led to an unacceptable state of affairs.
Okpebholo criticized the former governor for not distributing the donated books and for not providing basic learning facilities for students. The governor promised to renovate schools, starting with New Era College, and vowed to ensure that every student receives the necessary resources to learn effectively.
The Edo State Universal Education Board (SUBEB) Executive Chairman, Paddy Iyamu, confirmed that the Governor’s instructions to distribute the books across the state would be followed. With these changes, Okpebholo’s administration hopes to make significant improvements to the educational system in Edo State, benefiting students and teachers alike.
