Edo State Government To Return 36 Schools To Catholic Church

The Edo State Government has announced plans to return 36 primary and secondary schools to the Catholic Church, decades after the schools were forcefully taken over by the civil government in the 1970s.

The decision was made following a meeting between Governor Okpebholo and Bishop Gabriel G. Dunia of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi on June 16, 2025.

The schools slated for return include those formerly owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City and the Catholic Diocese of Uromi.

The affected schools include Catholic Modern School, Oghada; St. Kizito College, Eguaholor; Christ the King College, Urhonigbe; St. John Bosco College, Ubiaja; Sacred Heart Girls’ College, Ubiaja; and Our Lady of Lourdes Grammar School, Idigun-Uromi, among others.

Okpebholo assured that a committee will be set up to identify all schools for handover.

A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua on Tuesday, stated however that schools currently undergoing renovation by the state government will remain under its supervision until completion.

Speak on the matter, Bishop Dunia emphasised that the schools are crucial for intellectual development and cultivating moral character.

According to the statement, the decision to return some schools to the missionary aimed to address long-standing grievances and potentially enhance educational standards through faith-based initiatives across Edo State.

Edo State Government To Return 36 Schools To Catholic Church is first published on The Whistler Newspaper