Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has approved the return of missionary-owned schools to their original church proprietors in a landmark decision that ends decades of government control over such institutions.
This development was made public after Governor Okpebholo held a meeting with the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Gabriel G. Dunia, on Monday at the Government House in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
A statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, revealed that a committee will soon be constituted to determine the specific schools to be handed back to the Catholic Church and other missionary bodies. The governor emphasized that schools currently under renovation by the State Government will remain under its care until construction and upgrades are fully completed.
Among the schools likely to be affected by this policy shift are Our Lady of Fatima College, Auchi; St. Angela’s Grammar School, Uzairue; St. John Grammar School, Fugar; St. Peter’s Grammar School, Agenebode; St. James’s Grammar School, Afuze; St. Joseph College, Otuo; St. Mary Grammar School, Eme-Ora; and St. Aloysius Gonzaga Grammar School, Ososo.
The decision marks a reversal of a policy dating back to the 1970s, when missionary schools across Nigeria were forcefully taken over by state governments in the wake of the civil war and subsequent national restructuring.
Speaking during the meeting, Bishop Gabriel Dunia praised the move, noting that several past administrations had ignored repeated appeals by the Church for the return of its educational institutions.
He stressed the critical role missionary schools play in nation-building, stating that the Catholic Church regards its schools as essential not only for intellectual development but also for instilling core moral values in students.
“These institutions help in building ideal moral character, which constitutes the bedrock of a good society,” Bishop Dunia stated.
The return of these schools is expected to reintroduce moral and religious values into the academic environment, particularly in communities where these institutions had historically played pivotal roles.
What you should know
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has approved the return of long-seized missionary schools to their original church owners, beginning with Catholic institutions.
This move comes after persistent demands by the Church, particularly the Diocese of Auchi, which views the schools as vital for both academic and moral development. The affected schools include iconic grammar and secondary schools across Edo North.
A committee will be formed to facilitate the handover, though ongoing government renovations will be completed before transition. This policy reversal ends decades of state control dating back to the 1970s and is seen as a win for faith-based education in Edo.
